Why we are leaving a legacy to the University of Brighton

We both went to Strathclyde University in 1964, the year it became one of the new technological universities. Our university education has been an enormous benefit to us throughout our lives and careers and we wanted to help youngsters from the Hastings area benefit in the same way we have done.

We have both been able to help the University of Brighton establish its fifth campus in the town to raise aspirations and overcome under-achievement.

We have no children and it was a natural step for us to decide to make a bequest to the Hastings campus because we believe the work of the university can make a very direct impact on the lives and futures of local people. We have therefore specified that our bequest should be used for the benefit of students from the Hastings area.

We also contribute annually to the Hastings campus and know that all additional financial support that can be provided by alumni and friends is hugely helpful. Donations of any size help the university to innovate and to be creative in the way it prepares its students for life after graduation.

Lawyers prepared our wills, but we made the decision to become university benefactors ourselves. So far we see no need to alter them, but circumstances change. Getting people to make wills is a difficult task, made much easier if it is done when you are younger and not faced with mortality. The closer to death the harder it can be to start the process.

We have always given to charity because we believe everyone should contribute in some way to help others. Our legacy to the University of Brighton in Hastings is just one way of achieving this.

Jacqui Lait and Peter Jones
Members, University of Brighton Ambassadors