Make a will for free – and support students of the future

As we approach Free Wills Month, we’ve partnered with expert will writers, Octopus Legacy (formerly known as Guardian Angel), to offer you the chance to write your will for free today. 

With their help, you can make sure that your loved ones are protected and provided for while it also gives you the opportunity to make a real difference to the lives of students at Kent. Find out more about leaving a legacy to Kent. 

Give students the opportunity to succeed 

We hope that by using this service you might consider leaving a gift to the University of Kent to help support future students. For some, financial support can mean the difference between going to university and not. For many, it provides an opportunity to succeed and even excel.  

By leaving a gift in your will, YOU can make that difference! 

How your legacy can make a difference

Sophie Wallington

Sophie Wallington is a recipient Stella Dick Scholarship. Stella’s generous legacy gift offers two scholarships each year to support mature students.

‘When I found out that I would receive the scholarship every year of my studies I just burst into tears. It is life changing for me and my children – I still can’t believe it!  

It’s a privilege to be at university as a mature student and to represent the university in Stella’s name is an honour. The financial support means I can feel less mum guilt for being a student. For me, my studies are about more than earning a degree. It’s about showing and providing my children with a better life’. Sophie’s story 

Mark Parker 

Mark Parker is one of the 2023 recipients of the Christine and Ian Bolt Scholarship. The Bolt Scholarship was established by Ian Bolt in memory of his late wife Christine, former University of Kent Pro-Vice Chancellor, to enable postgraduate students to undertake research in the US.

‘I am extremely grateful to the Christine and Ian Bolt Scholarship for providing me with the chance to conduct research in the United States. Without this opportunity my thesis would be far inferior. 

Using the funds to research my PhD on Red Power activism, I have been able to travel Washington D.C., New Haven, and New York City. By situating myself in the places I’m writing about I’ve been able to discover a wealth of primary source materials  while also being able to immerse myself in the cities and gain a far deeper understanding.’ 

Remembering Kent: Why I’m leaving a legacy 

Ainsley de Silva (BSc Pure Mathematics, 1990) 

‘From first-hand experience, I really understand the life-changing impact of education – and I believe I was part of a very privileged generation who were able to come to university without the necessity of student loans – so  now as I’m approaching 60, I want to help those studying in the future to make a real difference. 

The Legacy Team have been a big help – ensuring we have the correct wording – and also providing clarity about how our legacy will benefit students at Kent in the future. 

It is reassuring to think that the legacy I leave behind is the help for others that could help change their lives’.