A young boy with dark brown hair in a grey hoodie crouches down on the towpath and looks out towards the canal.

Leave a gift in your Will

Keep the canals you love alive for generations to come, and shape your legacy.

It's easy to include a gift to our charity - you just need our name, registered charity number, and address. Our guide shows you what your gift can protect and the impact you can make by choosing to support us in this way.

Get your free guide

Complete our quick form to get your pack, which includes information on leaving a lasting gift in your Will

What could your gift in Will do?

Our much-loved, ageing network is facing increasing pressures from climate change; from volatile storms in winter to extended droughts in summer.

Your support will help us repair locks and bridges, protect threatened habitats and endangered wildlife, restore towpaths and embankments, and so much more.

Every gift of every size makes a valuable impact in protecting and preserving our canals and rivers, with 100% of all gifts going directly towards our work. Even a small percentage of your estate left to support the canals you love can make an incredible difference.

Read our gifts in Wills impact report 2025-26
Discover the incredible difference gifts make, the projects they’ve made possible and the stories of those who’ve left a legacy
Read our gifts in Wills impact report 2025-26
Discover the incredible difference gifts make, the projects they’ve made possible and the stories of those who’ve left a legacy

You can also read our impact report from 2024-25 and 2023-24.

The impact of gifts in Wills

Read stories from those who have chosen to keep cherished memories alive by leaving a lasting legacy to the canals they loved.

Join the community shaping the future of canals

If you’re planning to include a gift in your Will to our charity or you’ve already done so, please let us know.

We’d love to welcome you to the Thomas Telford Society, founded to recognise your commitment to the future of the waterways you love.

As a member, you’ll enjoy exclusive opportunities to connect with our work on a deeper level, gain behind-the-scenes insight into projects and witness the incredible difference that gifts truly make.

More about the Thomas Telford Society
We want to recognise and thank every single person who is continuing the legacy of canals and rivers through a gift in their Will
More about the Thomas Telford Society
We want to recognise and thank every single person who is continuing the legacy of canals and rivers through a gift in their Will

Our incredible gifts in Wills supporters

Meet some of our supporters and discover why they’ve generously chosen to include a gift to canals in their Will.

Get in touch with our team

If you have any questions, want to know more or would like to simply chat to Emily, Kelly or Tash, you can:

email us at: [email protected]
call Emily on: 07917 078121

FAQs on leaving a gift in your Will

Do I really need a Will?
Making a Will is great for your peace of mind. It's the only way to make sure you know exactly what happens to your property, money and personal possessions.
Although there's no law that says you must make a Will, it makes all the legalities much easier for those you leave behind. Dying without having an up-to-date Will means it is up to the law to decide how your estate is distributed, which might not reflect your wishes.
Are there any tax benefits if I leave a charitable gift in my Will?
A gift to charity is taken out of your estate before it's decided how much inheritance tax must be paid. Over and above supporting a cause that's important to you, some people choose to leave a gift to charity as a way to reduce how much tax is owed.
Contact HMRC or a solicitor for advice about the current Inheritance Tax thresholds and payment rates.
I don't have a lot, is it worth leaving a gift in my Will?
You don't need to be wealthy to leave a gift to charity in your Will. Each and every gift makes a difference. No matter the size or amount, your gift can transform canal spaces and enrich lives by water.
How can I find out more about leaving a gift in my Will?
If you would like to find out more about leaving a gift in your Will to Canal & River Trust, you can request our free gifts in Wills information pack online, or request a copy in the post.
You may also like to join us at a gifts in Wills enquiry event to see first-hand the impact your gift could make. For full details of events taking place near you, please contact us.
Can I leave a gift in my Will to a specific project or part of the network?
Unrestricted gifts are incredibly important as it gives us the flexibility to direct funds where the need is greatest at the time. Not all of our future needs can be envisaged today, as priorities and work may change.
However, many of our supporters wish to support a specific area of the waterways and you are of course very welcome to specify that your gift be for use at a particular site or region. If you are considering doing this, please contact us so we can best advise on ensuring your wishes can be fulfilled.
What details do I need to know to include Canal & River Trust in my Will?
In order to leave the Canal & River Trust a gift in your Will, your solicitor will need to include the following information:
Name: Canal & River Trust Registered charity number: 1146792 Address: National Waterways Museum Ellesmere Port, South Pier Road, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, CH65 4FW
Who should I get in touch with if I have any questions?
Please email [email protected] if you have any further questions, and we'll get back to you.