If the best things in life are free…
Why Do I Need to Save?
1. Introduction
2. Why choose a mutual for your savings plan?
3. Your savings safety net explained
4. Short-term savings: how much do you need?
5. Medium-term savings: the rainy day fund
6. Long-term savings: should you invest?
7. How to save even on a tight budget
8. Cut expenses without losing life’s luxuries
9. How Foresters Friendly Society supports its savers
10. Foresters competition
Contents
1. Introduction
Building a savings safety net is something we all know we SHOULD do – but many of us don’t (or think we can’t). In fact, we found that a THIRD of UK adults don’t have any kind of savings safety net*. Yikes! Many of those surveyed don’t believe that they are able to save either – but that’s why we’re here to help.
We’ve teamed up with Foresters Friendly Society to help you create a savings approach for a secure future – even if money is tight right now.
From having separate savings goals for life events to building a rainy day fund, we’ve got it covered. We understand how hard it can be to have any cash left over at the end of the month – especially after the tough pandemic year we’ve just had.
We’re here to show you it’s possible to build a savings safety net –even if you’re on a shoestring budget, and how saving with a mutual like Foresters Friendly Society can help you achieve your goals, and provide some additional support along the way.
*Foresters and MoneyMagpie Survey, March 2021
2. Why choose a mutual for your savings plan
Deciding where to save your money can be daunting when there are so many different types of financial institutions to choose from. With trust in the banks at a low, mutual providers such as Foresters Friendly Society have an important role to play when it comes to savings options to enable you to save for your, and your family’s, future.
What are friendly societies/mutuals?
Friendly Societies and mutual insurers have been around for hundreds of years. They were the original form of social network, where a group of people contributed to a mutual fund, to then receive benefits at a time of need.
Today, UK mutuals are big business. According to the Association of Financial Mutuals, they account for £133 billion in revenue every year and it is estimated that 1 in 3 of the adult population is a member of at least one mutual.
7 Reasons a Friendly Society Could Be the Place for Your Savings
1. A long track record
Friendly Societies are one of the oldest types of financial services providers and have been around for hundreds of years. The original idea was simple – that if a group of people contributed to a mutual fund, they could receive financial and benevolence support when they needed it – for example, in times of ill health. This was often the only way that a working person could receive help before the introduction of the welfare state. Many Friendly Societies, including Foresters Friendly, still exist today. In fact, Foresters Friendly has been supporting families and their finances since 1834, that’s over 185 years which makes them the 5th oldest mutual society in the UK!
2. They focus on affordable saving
Foresters Friendly offer a range of medium to long-term savings and investment plans, which are simple and affordable. Their aim is to make saving for the future an attainable goal for as many people as possible, and so offer child and adult savings plans starting from £25 a month. It might not sound like much but putting any amount away each month can help to build up a nest egg over time and the important thing is, it’s manageable.
3. No shareholders to pay
Another benefit of a mutual is that they are owned by their members, who have a say in business decisions at the annual general meeting, whilst being managed on a day to day basis by a professional Board and management team.
This means they don’t have any shareholders to pay. Instead, their profits are used for the benefit of their customers, referred to as members, for example in the form of policy pay outs, through the provision of a membership benefits package, or by re-investing them to enhance the customer service provided.
4. A responsible approach to money
Because they are owned by, and operate for, their members, Foresters Friendly takes a responsible, long-term approach to savings and investments. Their With Profits savings plans sit comfortably between no-risk cash savings and higher-risk stocks and shares and are an option for anyone who wants to save regularly and give their money an opportunity to grow.
In absolute terms, With Profit policies invested with a mutual/friendly society insurer have, according to Association of Financial Mutuals research, provided investment returns much greater than an average unitised product with a similar structure. As a result, With Profit investments are particularly worth considering for investors with a set timeframe in mind or who have a long-term view, such as planning for retirement or paying for a child’s education, as the longer you hold the plan, the more potential there is to benefit from the more predictable and superior returns offered.
During the financial crisis of 2008/2009, many mutuals delivered record sales volumes
People saw mutuals and friendly societies as a safe pair of hands, and those customers for whom With Profits savings were appropriate valued the product’s ability to smooth out the peaks and troughs of the market. It would appear that the pandemic of 2020 has created a similar pattern.
5. Customers are at the heart of what they do Friendly Societies, such as Foresters Friendly, use the revenues they generate for the benefit of their customers, who are also referred to as members.
Foresters Friendly ensure their staff and systems really do all that they can for their members to enhance the customer service provided, which is reflected in their consistently high levels of customer satisfaction.
They achieve this by investing in customer service and distributing any remaining profit to members in the form of policyholder bonuses. They also provide a range of worthwhile member benefits to their members at no additional cost. Each year, Foresters Friendly pays back over £1million in discretionary grants to its members as part of its member benefits package.
The membership benefits provided by Foresters Friendly Society aren’t regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulatory Authority and are regularly reviewed by them to ensure they are relevant to their members.
6. Tax-free savings
Did you know that tax-free saving options aren’t restricted to ISAs? There are other taxexempt savings plans, unique to friendly societies, that you can use alongside ISAs that allow you to save for your goals without paying income or capital gains tax, which are not available from other providers such as high street banks.
Under current legislation, this means that each person (including children) can save up to a maximum of £25 a month in a friendly society Tax Exempt Savings Plan. This provides you with an additional £300 a year tax free savings allowance!
Please be aware that tax rules may change and depend on individual circumstances.
7. Helping people to help themselves
Whilst the member benefits can add value to taking out a savings plan with a Friendly Society who offers them, it should be remembered that mutuals are, and have always been, about helping people help themselves and, as such, they continue to play a vital role in financial services and communities today.
As a Foresters Friendly Society member, not only do you have access to a range of benefits at no extra cost but, should you wish, you can even have an input in to how the business is run. There aren’t many financial organisations that can say that.
2. Your savings safety net explained
What do we really mean by ‘savings safety net’?
Are we talking about a rainy day fund? Or do we mean having-a-bit-extrafor-holidays?
In fact, your safety savings net is for a whole range of things. That’s why it’s important to work out your short, medium, and long-term goals. Doing this will help you have a target to save for – and makes sure you’re prepared for all financial eventualities.
• Short-term savings are for things like an unexpectedly large bill
• Medium-term savings are for life events like moving home
• Long-term savings are for the big things like retirement or saving for your child’s future.
So, before you start your savings plan, ask yourself these questions:
• Do I have accessible cash for unexpected bills, like car repairs?
• Is going on holiday important to me in the next year?
• What do I plan to do with my living situation in the next year, five years, and decade?
• Is marriage on the cards in the next few years?
• Am I planning to have (more) children in the near future?
• Am I saving enough towards my retirement?
Knowing what your short, medium, and longterm financial goals are will help you set targets for your savings – and stick to them!
Quick-Start Savings Tips
We’ll look in more detail at how to find more money to save later in the book (and it’s not all about “cut out your daily Starbucks”, either!). But first, let’s look at what you need to do to prepare for a clear savings strategy.
1. Check your household budget
Are you spending more than your monthly income? Make a rigorous household budget –including all the small things, your online and digital subscriptions, and, yes, that gym membership you pretend doesn’t exist. This budget comes in useful at all stages of your savings strategy – so make sure it’s really detailed (we’ll talk more about it later, too).
2. Locate your bank accounts
Do you know WHERE your money is? A whopping £4.5 BILLION is sitting in lost bank accounts in the UK right now. One in four UK adults thinks they have a lost or dormant bank or building society account. Rifle through your old paperwork and trace lost accounts – use My Lost Account (a free service) to discover your dormant savings sitting unused!
3. Check your tax band
You could be due a tax rebate of hundreds or even thousands of pounds – and HMRC won’t tell you! Access your Government Gateway portal or call HMRC if you think you could be owed tax. Make sure you check your tax code – if your employer has you on the wrong one, you could have overpaid your tax.
Changing the code could mean extra cash in your pocket each month – without asking for a pay rise!
Knowing there are so many things to save for can feel overwhelming. That’s why having a safety net strategy is the best place to start!
4. Claim marriage allowance
While we’re talking about tax, Marriage Allowance could net you extra cash. If you’re married and one of you is a basic rate earner but the other doesn’t earn above the annual Personal Allowance (£12,500), the lower earning spouse can transfer £1,250 of their annual Personal Allowance to their partner. This reduces the higher earner’s tax bill by £250 each year. You can also backdate to any year up to 5th April 2016 that you were eligible – getting a tidy rebate in your bank account!
5. Set up a savings account
The first step to saving efficiently is to have a separate bank account for it. In fact, people often choose to have more than one account (so they can save for different things) –something we’ll cover later. At the very least, you should set up one savings account – they don’t cost anything to have!
6. Start a penny jar
Remember piggy banks? We’re so used to digital currency these days, it’s easy to forget that cash makes it easy to save. Start a penny jar: every time you have loose change, sweep it into the jar. It quickly adds up! You can do this digitally, too: lots of free savings apps help you sweep the pennies into savings to make it effortless.
your savings safety net!
Let’s now look at the typical savings goals you might want to set yourself – for the immediate future and beyond.
With all those things in place, it becomes much easier to save than you may have thought!
When you’re not overpaying tax, you have somewhere to put your savings, and you know how much you want to save for certain goals –you’ll find yourself more motivated to create
4. Your short-term savings goals
How much do you need to save in an easy-access account? Money you can get your hands on in a pinch, when an unexpected bill lands, is the first step to your safety savings net.
A general rule of thumb is to have three months’ salary put away in a savings account. However, that rule of thumb is used to cover medium-term goals (like the rainy day fund), so don’t panic!
Realistically, your short-term savings goals should cover the biggest potential unexpected cost you reckon would land on your doorstep. For example:
• The excess on your car insurance if you have an accident
• The cost of replacing a boiler (around £1,200 – though check to see if you’d be eligible for a free replacement boiler under the Government’s ECO scheme)
• A month’s rent or mortgage payment (ideally two, just in case)
• A rise in your annual train ticket to commute to work
• Vet bills if your pet is taken ill
• The excess on your home or contents insurance if you’re burgled
• Dental surgery! (This is one we often forget until we’re in tooth-ache agony)
While it’s ideal to have more stashed away, aiming for a short-term buffer around £1,000 will help you in a pinch. The good news about this is – as we’ll see later on – it’s actually quite easy to find (or raise) that £1,000, even if you’re on a tight income.
Where to save?
The difference between your short-term savings safety net and your other savings is that you need to be able to access it immediately without penalty. Other savings are for planned goals (usually!), which means you can lock those away into fixed-term accounts or investments. This safety net, though, is cash you need RIGHT NOW.
An easy-access cash savings account doesn’t cost you anything to set up and have. There’s often no minimum amount you need to pay in each month (though do check the small print, as some accounts may not pay the advertised interest rate on a month you don’t meet the minimum!).
A cash savings account isn’t going to offer you amazing returns on your money. Interest rates on these accounts are historically low – and right now, lower than ever! However, that’s because you can access your cash whenever you need.
That’s why it’s important to have this type of account – but not to put your life savings in it. You can make most of your spare cash work much harder for you!
5. Your medium-term savings goals
Your medium-term goals are the larger life events that you think will come up in the next five years or so.
For this savings strategy, putting away a small amount each month can help you build a solid safety net for those big expenses without a last-minute scrabble for cash when the time comes! For example:
• The average wedding costs over £30,000 (*2019 data, this may change with a trend towards smaller weddings since Covid-19 – but it’s still a LOT!)
• First-time buyers need to raise at least a 20% mortgage deposit – and that means at least £44,000 (based on the average first time home price of £220,000)
• The costs associated with moving home are around £7,000
• Moving into rented accommodation requires an average deposit of around £1,000
• The cost of owning a dog averages £30,000 over their lifetime
• A new car costs upwards of £10,000 (on finance, it costs less over the lifetime of the contract if you put down a larger deposit)
• The average cost of a holiday is £1,580 (2018/19 figures because, you know… Covid) – and if you want a super-duper holiday of a lifetime, you’re looking at easily £5,000 per person or more!
These feel like huge numbers – but if you start now, it’s easy to build this medium-term fund with small amounts saved each month.
Breaking down your short, medium, and long term goals doesn’t mean saving into one, then the next, then the next. Your best approach (once you have that all-important emergency buffer) is to pay into your savings for EACH goal a little amount each month.
That way, you’ll see the amounts regularly increasing – and you won’t feel so overwhelmed by how much you need to save.
Where to save?
Here’s where it gets pretty cool. You can lock your money away for one to five years with a medium-term goal.
In addition, there are different savings accounts suitable for your various goals. If you’re saving for the holiday of a lifetime, for example, a stocks and shares ISA* is a great option for most people.
If, however, you want to save for your first house deposit and are 18 – 39 years old, now’s the time to open a Lifetime ISA*. These little-known savings accounts help you nab an extra 25% bonus (up to £1,000 a year) from the Government towards your house deposit!
You can pay in up to £4,000 each year – and if you’re in a couple (and both first-time buyers) you can each have an account, DOUBLING the bonus. So, if you pay in the full £4,000 each year for five years, that’s a total £25,000 for your house deposit (£20,000 saved by you, plus £5,000 bonus). With two people saving, that’s £50,000 in five years – enough for the average first-time deposit. Nifty, right?
There is a caveat with Lifetime ISAs, though. As they are designed to help you save towards buying your first home or for your retirement, you can ONLY take money out with the bonus in two situations:
1. As a first-time buyer to use for your house deposit, or
2. Once you’ve turned 60 years old
If you need to access your cash for anything else, there’s a penalty fee and you won’t get the bonus money, either.
*A Stocks & Shares investment may provide a higher potential for returns but with slightly more risk so there is the possibility that you may not get back what you have paid in depending on the investment conditions when you cash-in your plan.
6. Your long-term savings goals
You’ve got plans for a house, a wedding, a car… now what? How about your long-term plans? Do you know what you’re doing for your retirement in ten, twenty, even thirty years’ time? What about having children, or saving for your children?
The long-term savings goals are the Real Biggies. They’re the ones that build up over a long period of time so that, when those expenses come, the money is there. Because these are the really long-term goals, it’s best to lock the money away for potentially better returns. In addition, putting it somewhere that it’s a bit of a faff to withdraw will help you achieve your savings goals – there’s less temptation to ‘dip’ into this pot of funds!
What kind of costs should you consider for these savings goals?
• Upgrading to a larger family home to accommodate a growing family could set you back more than £68,000
• The average cost of having a child is £185,000 for lone parents (£151,000 for couples) from birth to the age of 18
• Undergraduate tuition fees cost up to £27,750 (before living expenses – and who knows what they’ll be when your children are ready to attend in twenty years’ time)
• A couple needs around £20,000 per year for a comfortable retirement – which can last thirty years or so! (So, at least £600,000!)
• Long-term care costs for residential care homes average £2,816 a month, or £3,552 a month for nursing care.
Much like your medium-term goals, the earlier you start saving for these long-term goals, the easier it is to build your savings pot. Little and often is a great way to secure both your immediate and long-term financial future.
What to do with lump sums
At some point in our lives, many of us will receive a lump sum of cash. This could be through inheritance, or because we’ve been made redundant – or perhaps we’ve scored the biggest bonus of our lives!
Whatever the reason for your lump sum, it’s important to decide what to do with it. Splitting it into easily accessible savings and longer-term savings will help you achieve a comfortable financial position both now and in the future.
If you’ve already filled your annual ISA allowance (currently £20,000 per year), there are still more tax-efficient saving opportunities that are perfect for lump sum surprises. An Investment Bond*, for example, could help your money work harder over the longer term than if it were to sit in a cash savings account and can offer potential tax-efficiencies too.
Where to save?
Your long-term savings goals can be tucked away for a while. An Investment Bond is one option – as are your ISAs, too. Consider also paying into a personal pension (or topping up your workplace pension) to secure a comfortable retirement, too. It’s taxefficient and helps you to save for your future.
Saving for your children
Many long-term savings goals – such as university fees – are really for your children, rather than yourself. That’s admirable!
It also means you can take advantage of tax-efficient savings options for children. There are lots of different options, such as a Junior ISA*, that help you save money for your child’s future. Remember, too, that if you want to help your children have a comfortable retirement, you can even set up a pension for babies! That’s the longest of long-term savings goals – but paying in a little each year quickly helps secure a comfortable retirement for your child.
*A Stocks & Shares investment may provide a higher potential for returns but with slightly more risk so there is the possibility that you may not get back what you have paid in depending on the investment conditions when you cash-in your plan.
7. How to save even on a tight budget (and where to find free money!)
It’s possible to save even when you’re struggling to find enough money at the end of each month. There are a few strategies to doing this.
Step one: pay yourself first.
That means – rather than waiting for the end of the month – put your savings away as soon as you get paid. Determine a minimum amount you want to save each month and automatically save it. Set up a Direct Debit between accounts to shift cash into your savings pot the day you’re paid.
Work out your household budget and take a look at things in the ‘would like to have’ list. Do you have a takeaway once a week? Could you switch to own-brand at the supermarket? Is it VITAL that you have Netflix, Amazon Prime, AND Disney+ - or could you rotate subscriptions to save money?
See where you can give up a little each month. Tiny amounts add up: £10 a month is £120 a year; £25 a month (one takeaway!) is £300 a year.
But it’s not all about cutting the things you love (check the next chapter for more tips on how to do that without feeling thrifty).
The second way to save on a tight budget? Look for free money! There’s a ton out there – you’d be surprised. Make sure you:
1. Check your utilities accounts
If your energy accounts are in credit, you’re entitled to that money back. Claim it! And adjust your monthly payments based on meter readings, rather than estimates.
2. Find grants to apply for
People on a low income are often eligible for grants they had no idea even existed. There are some strange ones out there – such as a one-off grant for a vegan living in a particular parish. Yes, really! Find these grants using the Turn2Us Grant Finder free tool – you could be amazed at what you can apply for.
3. Check your council tax
Are you overpaying your Council Tax? If your income has severely reduced this year, you now live alone instead of with someone, or your household circumstances have changed, you could be due a Council Tax reduction. Some local authorities will backdate claims (though not all), so it’s well worth checking!
4. Check your tax code
While we’re talking about taxes, HMRC won’t always tell you if you’re owed a tax refund (especially if you’re self-employed). Check your tax code and your online HMRC account to find out if you’re due a rebate.
5. Make the most of switching referrals
Lots of places, like energy suppliers, will give you and your friend free money for switching through a referral scheme. If you like your current supplier, find out what their referral scheme is – and tell your friends all about their service! This could net you a lot of free cash over time.
6. Use cashback sites
While we’re talking of referrals, one place you can often nab them is with cashback sites. For all of your online shopping, make sure you go through a cashback site. This earns you cash back on everything you spend at listed retailers – which can mean a tidy sum that adds up over time! Refer friends for extra free cashback, too.
7. Clear your clutter for cash
Clear your wardrobe, technology, and even that shoe collection you’ve been hiding in the attic. Post on EBay or local sales sites to sell them – and put the money straight into your savings account. It’s amazing how much money we’ve all got just sitting at home in unused items (unwanted Christmas gifts, for example!).
8. Apply for benefits you’re entitled to
Even if you’re in work, you could be eligible for some types of benefit. For example, if you have a long-term health condition that impacts your ability to work or care for yourself, you may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment. This isn’t meanstested and is designed to help with the extra costs that come with being disabled.
9. Apply for a Help to Save account
If you’re on certain benefits, like Universal Credit, you could be eligible for a Help to Save account. This is a Government-based scheme that entitles you to a huge bonus of free money! Save up to £50 a month and receive a 50% bonus at the end of years two and four –that means claiming up to £1,200 free in total! Read more about it here.
As you can see, when you start to look around there are actually several ways to boost your income with free money. It just takes a little bit of legwork!
Find a second income
One more way to save more each month is to earn more. It doesn’t have to mean getting a second job, though!
A side income is ad-hoc and can include things like:
• Creating and selling online courses
• Completing online surveys
• Being a mystery shopper
• Selling crafts you make at home
Or, if you want a more regular income, think about setting up a business you can run from home. These all require a little more marketing, insurance, and red tape – but offer greater returns. Consider a side job like:
• Dog walking
• Child minding
• Cleaning
• Driving and deliveries
• Ironing services
• Graphic design
• IT support
The list goes on and on! We’ve got a bunch of articles about setting up a side business here – give them a look for inspiration
8. Cut expenses without cutting luxury
Now it’s time for the harder part. We said it’s not ALL about cutting out the things you love – but it is one way to make sure you have more money to stash away.
The good news is that it’s surprisingly easy to do without feeling like you’re living a boring life where you never leave home (we’ve all done plenty of that in the pandemic, no more, thank you!).
Follow these steps to cut expenses without cutting out luxury!
1. Check your mobile and broadband accounts
Mobile contracts are notoriously expensive as you’re paying for a costly handset alongside the minutes and data. If you’re out of contract but still pay the same each month, you’re overpaying! Keep your current phone and switch to a SIM-Only deal. It’s much cheaper! Do the same for your broadband, too. That tempting introductory first-year rate can rocket in the thirteenth month without you noticing. Shop around to find the best deal –and if you like your current supplier, go back to them with the quote to see if you can negotiate.
2. Haggle on insurance policies
Shopping around is a great way to reduce your insurance premiums, too. Home, contents, car, and even travel insurance can all be haggled – you just need confidence! Use a comparison site as well as visiting suppliers’ websites for direct quotes. When you’ve found the best quote, see if the provider you actually want to go with will offer a like-for-like deal.
3. Use coupons and discounts
Yes. Be that person at the checkout. Have no shame! Clip your coupons, save your Clubcard vouchers, and get every discount you can. When you’re shopping online, always search for a discount code for the retailer before you complete your checkout, too.
4. Reduce your entertainment costs
If you love going out for dinner (when restaurants are open, that is), you don’t have to give it up. Instead, look for online deals to reduce the cost of your bill. Or, consider signing up to schemes like Tastecard if you’re a regular diner. You’ll have access to lots of two-for-one or half price dinner deals.
5. Look for free tickets
Like a night out on the town? Keep an eye out for promotional events and free tickets. Set up an email address (so you don’t have to sift through lots of spam!) and use it to sign up to event lists in your local area. Comedy nights, art installations, even theatre tickets can all be snapped up for cheap or free if you’re willing to take a chance and make last-minute plans.
6. Take your own
If you’re in the habit of regularly buying your lunch at work every day, try one lunchbox day a week. Get your work friends in on it, too –they’ll love to save money as well! Let’s say you spend £5 a day on lunches – saving just one day a week means you’ll save £240 a year. Or, if you have more of a takeaway coffee habit, use a reusable travel mug. Most coffee chains offer 50p off each time you use your own mug. Do that every working day and you’ll save £127.50 in a year without trying!
These are just a handful of ways you can save on your spending without feeling like you’re missing out. Check out our article, 66 Ways to Get Free Stuff and Life For Free, for more inspiration!
9. How Foresters Friendly Society supports savers
For Foresters Friendly Society, what they do is about so much more than just money. It’s about helping their members make the most of life.
It’s about our members
As a Friendly Society, or Mutual, it means all Foresters’ profits are distributed to their members through policyholder bonuses and a range of worthwhile member benefits they also provide to help make life easier along the way.
From discretionary healthcare grants to help to cover the cost of every day dental and optical care; to discretionary Educational awards for members aged 16+ who are in further education to help cover the cost of books or travel expenses, to practical and emotional support through Foresters Care and the Help at Home Service - their members are truly at the heart of everything they do.
“Thanks to the Educational Award from Foresters Friendly Society I was able to buy some of the core texts for my course. Additional support received from my local Foresters branch, who matched the amount given from the Educational Award Fund, meant that I was also able to purchase a laptop, which will really help with my studies.”
Charlotte, Lincolnshire
Foresters Friendly have a long and strong track record of giving back to their members in this way, through their member benefits package, and they are proud to have paid £1.7million to members in discretionary grants in 2020 alone.
Caring for your money in a responsible way
Foresters Friendly never forget it’s your money, so they take extra good care of it.
Not driven by profit, they aim to deliver strong investment returns to members. As the 7th largest UK mutual in terms of funds managed, they take this responsible approach into their investments too, ensuring they act in a socially conscious way, not only towards their own members, but also towards the society at large, by ensuring a strict scrutiny on the companies they invest in.
Foresters Friendly demonstrated its commitment to responsible investment by joining a global community seeking to build a more sustainable financial system when they become a signatory to the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).
Getting out and about
Thanks to regular social and community events, Foresters’ members keep a busy diary. From charity fundraising events, to dinner dances, walks in the countryside, theatre trips or just a coffee and a biggish slice of cake. There is always something coming up for members who want to get involved through their local social branches.
Giving something back
What is life if you can’t help people? Supporting charitable causes is a huge part of Foresters Friendly’s approach. So every year they nominate a cause for their Annual Charity Appeal. It’s a marvellous way for their members throughout the UK to focus on helping a good cause each year and complements the many local charities that their social branches support.
Over the last 10 years, Foresters members have fundraised over £700,000 for its chosen charities.
Don’t just take their word for it! Why not listen to Foresters members tell their own stories – and hear how Foresters Friendly has supported them?
“I cannot believe the amount of support, warmth and compassion I have received from Foresters Friendly Society as a result of applying for assistance through the Foresters Support Fund.
I applied for the grant as I am currently out of work, through no fault of my own, and have been facing financial pressures with a mortgage, bills and a daughter at University to take care of. This fantastic grant has helped take the pressure off financially.
I have been a member of the Society for years, and now I really feel a part of something special.”
Ann-Marie, Stoke-on-Trent
