In 2023, Laura Simpson-Toyn, assistant legacy officer at Bransby Horses, was one of two recipients of the Legacy Futures Crispin Ellison Bursary Award.

The bursary awards £1,000 to each successful applicant, helping them further their professional development in legacy administration and management.

Laura, what made you think of applying for the Crispin Ellison Bursary Award?

My colleague, Melvyn Banham, a previous winner of the Crispin Ellison Bursary, inspired me to enter. I thought that my days of studying were over having studied full time and also part time for many years to qualify as a solicitor. However, Mel is a very supportive and encouraging manager and mentor and he was keen for me to gain the Certificate in Charity Legacy Administration if it was something I wanted to do.

What was the nomination process like?

It’s a very straightforward application process. There were just a few questions to answer. Once I submitted it, I put it out of my mind, but it didn’t take long — just a couple of months — before I heard that I’d been successful!

I was thrilled to have been one of the two lucky recipients of the 2023 Legacy Futures Crispin Ellison Bursary Award. I am very honoured to have made it through the internal shortlisting and that the external panel of judges chose me. I am so grateful to Legacy Futures.

How has the bursary helped with your professional development?

I started studying towards the ILM’s Certificate in Charity Legacy Administration (CiCLA) in June 2023 and I have so far passed the level 1 and level 2 assessments. The Level 2 revision class with Michael Clark, Head of Legacy Development at World Cancer Research Fund, was very helpful and well worth doing – I am grateful to him for his time. I am now working towards level 3.

Elements of my law degree and legal studies were in Wills and administration. However, the CiCLA is more practical and you learn things from a legacy professional’s point of view. This has been really helpful for my job.

What would you say to someone thinking of applying for the bursary this year?

Definitely go for it. It’s a straightforward process which won’t take you lots of time. Apply, then forget about it and you won’t be waiting long to find out if you are successful!