You get to choose how long you save for

Choose how long you want to make payments into the plan - between 10 and 25 years. Decide when you want your child's plan to mature - any time after their 16th birthday and after a minimum of 10 years.

You can even select the exact date your child receives their tax exempt payment - we find birthdays are very popular!

You should only take out the Ethical Child Savings Plan as long-term savings, and be aware that only your child will have access to the cash sum when the plan matures.

What we mean by 'Ethical'

Foresters Friendly aims not to invest in any company believed to be harmful to people, animals or the environment. We automatically rule out businesses involved in arms manufacture, tobacco, pornography, animal testing or gambling.

Read more about how we invest ethically.

Saving for children tax-efficiently with Foresters Friendly Society

One of the best things about this plan is that the payment your child receives is free of Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax.  Like ISAs the tax is automatically deducted from UK share dividends, so there's even more money towards that car, gap year or degree course.

Only a Friendly Society can give you the additional tax advantages of a Tax Exempt Savings Plan.  Please be aware that tax rules might change and depend on individual circumstances.

Making affordable payments

Saving for your child's future doesn't have to cost much.  You can save from £15 to £25 a month if you apply online or £25 a month if you apply by post.

If you stop making contributions in the first year the plan will lapse with no value and we won't be able to refund your money.

How will my child's ethical savings grow?

All the money paid into the Ethical Child Savings Plan goes into the ethical section of Foresters Friendly Society's Order Insurance With Profits Fund, which is invested across a balanced mix of assets - including property, UK government bonds, equities and cash - to help minimise over-exposure to risk.

There is no interest rate on the plan, instead, the Order Insurance With Profits Fund provides your child's plan with the potential for growth, by way of bonuses.  From the outset there is the potential for bonuses to be added to the plan each year and an additional bonus may also be paid out when the plan matures.

We can't guarantee the addition of these bonuses. We have a good track record but, as always, past performance is not a guide to future performance.   Once bonuses have been added they will become part of your child's guaranteed cash sum.

Please be aware that there is a possibility - if the fund under-performs - that the child may not receive the full amount that has been saved.

For more information about the Ethical Child Savings Plan or how our Order Insurance With Profits Fund works, please read the Ethical Child Savings Plan Key Features Document.

Other benefits of taking out an Ethical Child Savings Plan

As a Foresters member, your child will have access to Foresters Extras - a range of discretionary benefits we offer at no additional cost.

Once your child has been a Foresters member for 6 months, they can take advantage of benefits such as:

• a £25 book voucher to assist with the cost of your child's education, which can be claimed each year (running January to December)
• discretionary grants, including Educational Awards to assist with the costs of higher education or training
• discounts on high street brands via mywebclub

These membership benefits aren't regulated by the FSA, but we constantly review all our benefits to make sure our members get the best options.