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.
Membership was a badge of honour, something to be valued. The membership certificate reflected this.
The structure of the order consisted of autonomous branches, called Courts that were responsible for their own funds, recruitment and administration. They were responsible for the relief of their own members with all decisions being made by democratic vote at regular meetings.
Most courts linked themselves into districts for mutual support. Every court was entitled to elect delegates to the AGM whose purpose was to make any changes to the common rules and to elect a group of members to act as the Executive Council (aka board of directors) each year who hosted and organised the AGM: The ultimate authority that was called the High Court.
Foresters Friendly Society has worked hard to become a modern mutual developing a range of financial products to meet the needs of working people in the modern changing world.
The Society has 189 courts, over 55,000 members and £268m funds under management. And it remains run by the members for the members.
190 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 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 -
We are accredited as a ‘One to Watch’ employer as part of Best Companies nationally recognised and respected scheme. One to Watch is a special status awarded to organisations where workplace engagement shows promising signs.
2021 -
We paid over £1.7million back to members in the form of discretionary grants and charitable donations. This is in addition to the £4.68million paid to policyholders in final bonuses and £1.96million in annual bonuses!
2021 -
We maintained our ‘One to Watch’ accreditation for the second year– a special status awarded to organisations where workplace engagement shows promising signs for the future.
2022 -
Building on our staff engagement survey, we achieved outstanding rankings as a Best Company to work for in the Q1 2022 listing, published by Best Companies.
2022 -
Our members raised a staggering £49,393 for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), including a £10,000 Board donation that we promised to add, to support the people of Ukraine.
2022 -
We re-launch our revised Help at Home member benefit, to help towards the cost of Help at Home domiciliary care, providing financial respite and support
2022 -
We are announced as winner of Best Junior Investment ISA Provider 2022 at the Inaugural YourMoney.com Investment Awards 2022.
2022 -
We are announced as winner of Best Over 50’s Life Insurance Provider at the 24th YourMoney.com Personal Finance Awards 2022.
2022 -
Our Over 50’s Life Insurance is independently awarded 5 stars by Fairer Finance for a third consecutive year.
2023 -
We are announced as winner of Best Junior Investment ISA Provider for the second consecutive year at the YourMoney.com Investment Awards.
2023 -
We are awarded Best Companies ‘One to Watch’ accreditation for a third consecutive year – a special status awarded to organisations where workplace engagement shows promising signs for the future.
2023 -
We achieved outstanding rankings as a Best Company to work for in the Q1 2023 listing, published by Best Companies.
2023 -
We paid over £1.71 million back to members in the form of discretionary grants and charitable donations.
2024
Download a quick summary of our history below.
Become a Foresters Plus member
£30 per year
Individual Membership subscription
For just £30 per year, you can enjoy all the benefits of being a Foresters Plus member, including access to discretionary financial grants, practical help, social events, new shopping and lifestyle discounts from January 2026, and more!
£55 per year
Household Membership subscription
For just £55 per year, you can enjoy all the benefits of being a Foresters Plus member.
Household Membership includes up to a maximum of 2 adults and 1 child up to the age of 16. Additional children thereafter £5.00 each per year, until 16 years of age.
Benefits include access to discretionary financial grants, practical help, social events, new shopping and lifestyle discounts from January 2026, and more!