Foresters is there for you too
Take out any of our financial products and you’ll automatically become a member.
Our first members came to recognise they had a duty to assist their fellow men and women who sometimes needed help “as they walked through the forests of life”. This need arose principally when a breadwinner fell ill, could not work and received no wages. Providing financial and social support to our members has been the main purpose of Foresters Friendly Society throughout our long history. Back then, Members recognised that by paying a few pence a week into a common fund, they would be able to offer sick pay and funeral grants when needed.
Over 185 years of
helping our members
The Ancient Order of Foresters is founded.
1834
Legal status attained under the new Friendly Societies Act.
1850
Our members set up the UK’s first voluntary Lifeboat Fund.
1864
After the National Insurance Act of 1911, we became an ‘Approved Society’, allowing us to get involved in the state system of National Insurance, which virtually doubled our total membership.
1912
The Foresters’ War Memorial Benevolent Fund is established to provide financial assistance to members and their families who have been severely affected by the losses of the First World War.
1918
Centenary celebrations include a thanksgiving service, held simultaneously at over 500 locations while around 1,135 delegates attend the AGM, including visitors from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Holland and the United States.
1934
We celebrate our 125th anniversary.
1959
Over 600 members attend the 150th anniversary celebrations.
1984
Payments by the Foresters’ War Memorial Benevolent Fund reach £1 million.
1988
The Society is regulated by the Financial Services Authority.
2000
We acquire Tunstall Assurance Friendly Society.
2003
Acquisition of Leek Assurance Collecting Society.
2005
Our 175th anniversary is celebrated at our AGM in Manchester, close to where the Society began.
2009
We team up with Archery GB (the governing body for the GB Archery Olympic and Paralympic teams) as their Performance Partner in the run up to London 2012.
2010
Following the change in financial services regulator, we are now dual regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).
2013
Our partnership with Archery GB is renewed and we continue as Performance Partner for the next 3 years.
2013
Our Introducer Scheme is launched.
2013
Celebrations for our 180th anniversary take place at our AGM in Torquay.
2014
Acquisition of the Post Office Insurance Society (POIS).
2014
Foresters announces record sales results in 2015 with a 32% increase in premium income to £19million.
2015
The Society also paid out over £1million back to its members in the form of dental and optical grants, discretionary benefits and charitable donations.
2015
This is in addition to the £1.9million paid out in the form of final bonuses to its policyholders and £0.7million in annual bonuses added to their guaranteed benefits.
2015
Our Lifetime ISA is launched, as one of the first in the market place.
2017
We launch our Junior ISA.
2018
Our new Help at Home Service, part of our enhanced member benefits package, is unveiled.
2018
Our with profits fund maintains best in class performance in the independent Barnett Waddingham with profits fund survey.
2018
We paid £1.1million back to our members in discretionary grants and charitable donations. This is in addition to the £2.2million paid out in the form of final bonuses to our policyholders and £1.1million in annual bonuses added to their guaranteed benefits.
2018
Our with profits fund is again recognised as a top performer in the independent Barnett Waddingham with profits fund survey despite tough market conditions and is listed as the top performing fund in the small and medium categories with a 5 year annualised return of 5.39 per cent.
2018
After a stringent selection process, we partner with AXA Investment Managers in order to provide us with additional investment diversification and potential return for our policyholders.
2019
We are announced as winner of ‘Best Small Insurer’ at the Insurance Investment Exchange Awards 2019.
2019
We awarded over £1.6m in discretionary grants to our members in 2019, including over £330,000 in Healthcare grants covering dental and optical care.
2019
There are two ways to become a
Foresters member
FREE membership included
Take out one of our financial products
You might want to put something away for your children. Or save up for your future. Every one of our products includes free membership with access to a range of benefits.
£25 per year
Membership subscription
Don’t need a financial product? Don’t worry. You’ll also be welcomed as a member by taking out an annual subscription. For only £25 every year you can enjoy all the benefits of Foresters Extras, including financial support, practical help, as well as social and community events.