With legacy income nearing £800,000 in the last financial year, the Trust recognised the opportunity to grow this important area of fundraising, while strengthening supporter care and long-term sustainability. Investing in a full-time role was an important step in helping the organisation build stronger relationships with supporters and develop a more ambitious approach to gifts in wills and in memory giving.

Sassy joined the Trust from the arts and heritage sector, bringing with her a creative approach to fundraising and a strong understanding of supporter relationships. Before moving into legacy fundraising, she worked at the Brontë Parsonage Museum, where she developed bespoke donor programmes and led initiatives designed to open access to the museum for different communities.

Sassy developed programmes for all ages - from nine months to 99 years old - including Bronte Babies early years sessions and a Death Café. These helped build her confidence in navigating sensitive conversations with compassion and empathy. Those experiences continue to shape the way she approaches legacy fundraising today.

Although relatively new to the sector, Sassy has quickly made an impact across the organisation. As the sole dedicated legacy professional within the fundraising team, she manages day to day legacy cases while also helping to shape the future direction of the programme.

Creating a supporter-centred approach

Legacy giving is deeply personal, and much of Sassy’s work focuses on ensuring supporters and families feel cared for throughout every interaction. From liaising with solicitors and executors, to developing stewardship journeys, her approach combines professionalism with warmth and sensitivity.

Alongside the operational side of the role, she has also focused on building awareness of legacy fundraising across Yorkshire Wildlife Trust itself. By creating stronger relationships with colleagues across different teams, she has helped improve understanding of the importance and nuances of gifts in wills and in memory giving.

At the same time, Sassy has brought fresh thinking and creativity to the role. She has developed marketing plans for both legacy and in memory fundraising, while also exploring how the Trust can build a more ambitious and future focused programme.

Her passion for learning and development has been central to this work. Since joining Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, she has completed the ILM Legacy Essentials course, undertaken the Chartered Institute of Fundraising’s Legacy course and completed additional training in in memory giving. Outside formal learning, she regularly spends time engaging with webinars, sector guidance and archived resources to deepen her understanding of the sector.

Receiving the Crispin Ellison Bursary Award

In April 2026, Sassy was awarded the Crispin Ellison Bursary Award at the Legacy Giving Awards, an experience she describes as both emotional and energising.

“I felt incredibly proud to receive the bursary,” she says. “I have only been in my role at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust for six months, but I have already learnt so much, and this award will allow me to carry on learning.”

“To receive this bursary at the Legacy Giving Awards in a room full of fantastic charity professionals all doing amazing work was incredible, I felt energised and excited to be part of this sector.”

The bursary will support Sassy in undertaking further specialist training, helping her continue to build her confidence and expertise within legacy management.

“The training will be transformative for my professional development, enabling me to grow into a confident and credible leader within the legacy sector,” she explains. “It will strengthen my technical expertise and decision making, giving me greater assurance when managing complex cases.”

She is also keen to highlight the personal importance of being able to continue learning and developing professionally.

“I am excited to be learning again. I think as adults we sometimes are not given those opportunities, so I feel really privileged to receive this award and be able to do that.”

Looking to the future

For Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, investing in dedicated legacy expertise is helping strengthen support for conservation across the county. Sassy believes the bursary will not only shape her own career but also strengthen the organisation’s ability to protect wildlife and natural habitats for generations to come.

“Importantly, I am looking forward to this award helping secure a more sustainable future for Yorkshire’s wildlife, as I will be able to robustly support important conservation work across Yorkshire for years to come.”

Looking ahead, Sassy hopes to become a recognised expert in legacy management and a confident leader within the sector. She is particularly passionate about helping to shape innovative approaches to supporter care and legacy strategy.

“I want Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to be a lead beneficiary on legacy cases, known for excellent supporter care,” she says. “I am particularly motivated to develop creative marketing and programme strategies that push boundaries and help shape the future of legacy giving, both within the Trust and across the wider charity sector.”

“This bursary will give me a solid foundation in the sector and allow me to use those stepping stones to be innovative and forward thinking.”

As Yorkshire Wildlife Trust continues to develop its legacy work, Sassy’s story reflects the value of investing in people, learning and supporter relationships. Through thoughtful stewardship, creativity and a commitment to growth, she is helping to build a legacy programme designed to support both people, and wildlife, long into the future.