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Make Better Education your Legacy – A Better Understanding of Historic Places

The mission of the Historic Towns and Villages Forum is to provide support, information and education to communities, organisations and individuals on the future planning and management of historic cities, towns and villages. Our aim is that historic places are not just conserved for future generations, but provide socially, environmentally and economically sustainable places to live and work for all.

With your support, instead of seeing much-loved historic places changed by poor development or a lack of appreciation and care, the Historic Towns and Villages Forum (HTVF) could help more people to develop the skills and knowledge needed to improve how historic places are managed.

Leaving a gift in your Will to the HTVF is a very effective way to be part of increasing understanding about heritage and how to look after it in the future. It will safeguard practical sources of advice that people need today, keep your passion for historic places and the principles of conservation alive, as well as making a difference to future research or projects.

Places are part of our identity

Some of our best memories have historic cities, towns, villages or landscapes in the background. It’s part of who people are and every place tells a story of those who have lived and worked there – perhaps as a street scene, a market square, a building or a view. Historic places are attractive as well as fascinating, representing the lives and stories of people in earlier generations.

The HTVF aims to help everyone understand what makes places attractive and special, and how to manage change so that others can enjoy them too.

Friends and Supporters

The HTVF already benefits from the support of many individuals and organisations keen to see its work continue each year. Some are regulars attending events and being active members, while the others enable it to develop at arms’ length.

We are very grateful to receive an annual grant from the Herbert Lane Trust to underpin our work, as the Trust continues the work led by the former Association of Small Historic Towns and Villages (ASHTAV).  A key figure in ASHTAV was Herbert Lane, who left a legacy so that change in towns and villages could be a matter of local debate and agreement amongst people who care, and we could learn from the best.

The HTVF brings together a wide range of people and is able to address current concerns, needs and topics independently, without a political agenda.

What needs to be done

  • Our events and research programmes reach many different people, with different decision-making responsibilities, backgrounds, knowledge and passions.
  • Our work with young people opens eyes to how places evolve, are designed or could change, and who can influence this.
  • Our best practice guides share knowledge between people, places and over time.
  • With each new generation of school children or decision-makers, there is a continuing need to learn from the past to inform the future.

Whether linked to defined aims, specific audiences or not, your support will make a difference.

What you could do

Donations and legacies have traditionally been thought of as a sum of money, but rising costs and inflation can reduce their impact over time.  Leaving a legacy is a straightforward process, and gifts now vary greatly, such as:

  • A residue legacy: financial experts agree that giving a share of your estate – a gift of say 1% – can make a major difference over time to supporting your chosen organisation
  • A cash legacy: giving a fixed amount chosen by you in your Will (also known as a pecuniary gift)
  • An item-specific legacy: where an item of value is gifted, to be sold to raise funds for your chosen organisation
  • A codicil: where a gift of any sort can be added to an existing Will.

As the HTVF does not receive government funding, a gift in your Will will enable it to develop greater influence and reach, and increase the understanding of historic places among more people.

As decisions about legacies are personal, if you wish to find out about supporting the HTVF in other ways, please contact its Director Louise Thomas on htf@kellogg.ox.ac.uk or call 01865 612033.