Remembering City

Academic excellence for business and the professions

Remembering City A guide to leaving a gift to City, University of London in your Will

www.city.ac.uk

Welcome from the President, Professor Sir Paul Curran Since I arrived as Vice-Chancellor in 2010, the warmth so many former students, staff and friends feel for City has never failed to impress me.

Throughout the years City has been at the forefront of education and research. Our alumni continue to exert influence in many fields as leaders and innovators and our world leading research presents solutions to some of society’s most complex issues. A symbol of the progress we have made was City joining the University of London in 2016, an achievement of which we are all very proud.

Membership of this elite group of global institutions provides a wealth of opportunities for students and staff alike.

Higher education operates in a rapidly changing external environment. With the full effect of Britain’s decision to leave the EU still to be experienced, with reduced government funding and given the difficulty many students experience with the cost of living in London, we need the help of those who share our values.

If you have chosen to support our endeavours or intend to do so by leaving a gift to City through your Will, we are extremely grateful. This is just one of the ways you can help City continue on its path to being a leading global university, committed to academic excellence, focused on business and the professions and located in the heart of London. If you are considering helping us in this way, this booklet provides more information about how to proceed and to ensure your wishes are met.

Helping City plan for the future provides a lasting gift which nurtures the affection our friends, alumni and staff hold for the institution and helps us maintain our academic excellence.

Thank you. Your support is much appreciated.

Professor Sir Paul Curran President

Why remember City, University of London?

City, University of London is an institution rich in heritage and tradition. It was founded in 1894 as the Northampton Institute on land bequeathed by the Marquess of Northampton and the Earl of Compton and granted university status by Royal Charter in 1966.

Generous benefactors include many of the Livery Companies of the City of London with whom City has long standing relationships.

Proud of its history, commitment to academic excellence and continuing focus on business and the professions, City uses education, research and enterprise to transform the lives of our students, community and the world.

As a leading global university City attracts over 19,500 students from more than 150 countries and we are ranked in the top 4% of world universities according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2016.

In September 2016, City began an exciting new chapter by becoming an independent member institution of the University of London.

This provides tremendous opportunities for us as an institution and for our students, who gain access to a larger student community, student societies, additional sports facilities, accommodation and libraries.

Each one of us has our own special memories of City and of our time here. Leaving a gift in your Will for a specific School, an area of research or simply as a general gift is a wonderful way to make a long-lasting impact.

Regardless of the way in which your legacy helps City, you can be sure that it will give the greatest gift of all, the gift of knowledge, to so many students in the years to come.

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Where your legacy gift can make a real difference

Supporting our students City is keen to reward and recognise those undergraduate and postgraduate students who excel academically. It enables us to continue our mission of attracting and retaining the most able students regardless of financial background.

A legacy gift to this area helps us to change lives and give those who might otherwise not have done so, the opportunity to undertake undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications.

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Why I’m leaving a legacy to City “I started my Computer Science degree at City in 1972 in the days of paper tape and the punch card. The course was then run by the Mathematics department and had only a small amount of programming (in Fortran, if you've ever heard of it) in the first year, with the bulk of the course being mathematics and statistics. In the second year there was more computer science and less mathematics and in the third year it was all computer science.

I have no real idea what student life is like at City now but back in the mid 1970s the beer was cheap, the mascot was a concrete carrot, the societies flourished and the civil engineers were the most raucous. In retrospect the Computer Science course was a bit basic and primitive compared to the computing of today and of course much is now obsolete, but it did set the foundations of knowledge for my subsequent career.

After graduation my first job was at the Meteorological Office working on Ferranti computers for a new instruments system which

served ten years before being replaced.

Once this had been developed I moved to systems programming on the Met Office mainframes. This has formed the basis of my career ever since; I am still involved in the systems programming side of the mainframe industry, but now in a technical support role for a software vendor.

I decided to leave a legacy to City because I wanted to make a difference somewhere, somehow. University can be both scary and exhilarating; it's where skills are learnt and doors are opened, where things are given and things are expected and it can sometimes be a bit bewildering. By leaving a legacy I know that I will be supporting the future of those that need it, helping to open more doors, increasing exhilaration and cementing skills. Or to put it another way, I feel you just have to pay back and pay forward what you've been given.�

Richard Suggitt BSc Computer Science 3

Where your legacy gift can make a real difference

Developing outstanding research Through research our academic staff seek to advance knowledge in our areas of specialism and to bring value to society. A legacy gift to this area enables us to continue our quest to find solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges.

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Patient Education App for Glaucoma City academics have developed a highly engaging new app, supported by Allergan Pharmaceuticals, to educate people who have been newly diagnosed with glaucoma about the condition. With an estimated half a million people in the UK living with undiagnosed glaucoma and with it affecting around 65 million people worldwide, glaucoma describes a group of eye conditions that result in progressive damage to the optic nerve connecting the retina to the brain, causing people gradually to lose vision.

The development team, led by Professor David Crabb and Dr Nicholas Smith, based the interactive app on findings from their research into glaucoma patients’ perception of sight loss.

This app provides glaucoma education in a simple, visual, jargon-free, easy-to-use format, which makes it more engaging and helps people better understand the potential impact of the condition. The app, designed for use on tablet devices, covers topics such as why eye pressure is important and the correct use of eye drops.

REACH – improving access to and enhancing the experience of antenatal care The REACH Pregnancy Programme, which involves academics from City, University of London and other institutions across the capital, aims to improve access to, value from and experience of antenatal care (ANC) for socially disadvantaged and ethnically diverse communities who experience some of the worst birth and infant outcomes in the UK. City academics are contributing to the Pregnancy Circles component, which involves group-based antenatal care to enrich care and build social networks. The expectation is that it may not only reduce inequality in antenatal access and experience, but also result in improved perinatal mental health and reduced rates of preterm birth and low birthweight. The Pregnancy Circles evaluation is led by Professor Christine McCourt, Professor of Maternal and Child Health in the School of Health Sciences.

Preliminary results from test antenatal care groups have indicated promising outcomes.

The academics are already finding that data emerging from Pregnancy Circle participants, facilitators and observations include high levels of service satisfaction, participant empowerment, woman-centred care and social connectedness, as well as midwife learning and satisfaction with more evidence required to assess full outcomes.

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Where your legacy gift can make a real difference

Developing our campus and facilities World class facilities are a prerequisite for a world class student experience.

For many students, campus infrastructure is often a major factor in attracting them to a place of study and in creating a warm and stimulating environment. It is essential that the services and facilities that support our students and staff are of a quality that matches our academic ambitions.

A legacy gift in this area will enable the continuing transformation of our campus for all those who choose City now and in the years to come.

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A vibrant physical environment and highquality academic spaces are crucial for meeting the needs of students and staff.

City has invested more than £120 million in important structural developments on campus since 2012. They aim to improve the motivation and learning experience of our students and create a sense of community and place.

Main Entrance and 240-Seat Lecture Theatre Project The recent refurbishment, extension and relocation of City’s main entrance aims to impress every visitor on their first point of arrival.

By connecting Spencer Street and Northampton Square, the new entrance allows easy access to departments and study spaces.

The reorganisation of the main entrance, which is used 16,000 times every day, enhances access and circulation. It also provides an unobstructed view of the elegant and leafy Northampton Square, which makes a real difference to the quality of the visual experience.

Key features in the redevelopment are a new 240-seat lecture theatre and a multipurpose space near the entrance, designed to allow the sharing of ideas and to enhance City events.

CityBar CityBar is one of the new multi-functional social spaces on campus that welcomes students who would like to spend time with their friends and socialise. The bar is an attractive place during the day and hosts a wide range of City events in the evening.

CitySport City’s impressive sports venue opened its doors in 2015. The largest student sports facility in central London, occupying over 3,000 square metres of floor space and furnished with leading-edge equipment, CitySport allows students, staff, alumni and members of the public to benefit from the latest trends in health and well-being. The expansion of City’s sports facilities has provided every student with the opportunity to join sports teams and represent City externally.

Tait Building Since 2013, City’s Tait Building, home to the School of Mathematics, Computer Science & Engineering, has seen a major reconfiguration.

This has resulted in the establishment of a new entrance and several specialist student facilities.

Some of them include clinical skills rooms and research laboratories.

By July 2017, Tait Building will house new student-facing facilities including new Students’ Union space, informal learning and quiet study spaces, a multi-faith area and a new cafeteria.

Ashby Street Optometry Clinic This facility, built in July 2015, brings public optometry clinics, research areas and learning spaces together to enable Optometry students to gain practical experience.

While final year Optometry students have the chance to dispense contact lenses and spectacles to patients with visual impairments, other City students and staff members can benefit from the free sight tests available at the facility.

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How to leave a legacy You can help City, University of London by remembering us in your Will. Whatever size gift you choose to make, it will be gratefully received and used effectively to enhance the future of City.

Leaving a legacy to City is one of the most simple and flexible ways of giving We strongly advise that you seek professional legal advice when making or changing your Will. We will be pleased to discuss with you (or your solicitor) the appropriate wording for leaving a gift or provide you with a Codicil form to amend an existing Will.

Conditional legacy This provides for the possibility that if one of your named beneficiaries does not survive you, that part of your estate will be left to City.

Specific or non-money legacy If you choose to, you may donate particular items such as property, stocks and shares, works of art or books. Please consult City in the first instance.

Pecuniary legacy This type of gift should be selected if you would like to leave a specified sum of money to City.

Choosing the right legacy for you

Legacy Donor Circle

There are five different types of legacy with which you can support City, University of London.

If you leave a gift to City in your Will, you will be automatically enrolled in City’s Legacy Donor Circle.

Reversionary legacy This gift has the advantage of providing for your family first and then benefiting City.

It involves leaving your assets to trustees so that the beneficiaries can enjoy the benefits during their lifetime, with the whole or a portion reverting to City on their death.

Residuary legacy A gift which comprises all or part of the net remainder of your estate once all other legacies, debts and fees have been met. This is a particularly simple gift as you neither have to quantify the sum nor worry about inflation when writing your Will.

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As a member of the Circle, you will be invited to an annual legacy event held once a year in London. The event provides an opportunity to meet fellow alumni and friends, hear from academic colleagues and find out about research and other news from City.

Thank you very much for your interest in leaving a legacy to City, University of London in your Will.

We would be delighted to discuss how your future gift can make a difference and reflect your wishes.

To discuss any aspect of the legacy in confidence please contact: Development and Alumni Relations Office City, University of London Northampton Square London EC1V 0HB United Kingdom

Email enquiries developmentoffice@city.ac.uk

Telephone enquiries +44 (0) 20 7040 5231

Find out more, visit www.city.ac.uk/alumni

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Development and Alumni Relations Office City, University of London Northampton Square London EC1V 0HB United Kingdom

Email enquiries developmentoffice@ city.ac.uk

Telephone enquiries +44 (0) 20 7040 5231

Find out more, visit www.city.ac.uk/alumni

City, University of London is an independent member institution of the University of London. Established by Royal Charter in 1836, the University of London consists of 18 independent member institutions with outstanding global reputations and several prestigious central academic bodies and activities.

www.city.ac.uk

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