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February 2013
Issue 26
www.oddfellows.co.uk
Food & drink
Active Travel
Lessons from the Nation’s favourite baker
Regular visitor to Mallorca, Tony Harrison gives us his top tips for making the most of a trip to this jewel of the Med.
Prizes to be won
Mary Berry, CBE, believes that if more families ate together, the world would be a better place. With a 60 year career to her name, she tells us about the causes she’s campaigning for, and the legacy she hopes to leave behind. The 77 year old star of BBC show The Great British Bake Off also shares some of the humour and enjoyment that comes with being a celebrity in her eighth decade.
Also featured this month Around Britain: Take a trip to Royal Tunbridge Wells
Culture club: The latest reader’s reviews, and this month’s through the lens competition winner
WIN: a signed copy of Mary Berry’s new cookbook At Home, with Lucy Young, worth £20. See inside for details of how to enter. WIN: £50 of High Street vouchers in our through the lens photo competition! Send us your best photo inspired by the theme ‘family fun’ to enter. WIN: A dazzling pair of gardening gloves! Send George a green fingered question for your chance to win.
Health and wellbeing: It’s open house this month for the people of Skipton Home & garden: Your gardening questions answered by George Hill. Latest news: We reveal what recent changes to the Society will mean for you Sport & leisure: Why the world’s greatest tourist destination could be in Wales Money: Find out about the Society’s latest financial offering: the Junior ISA. The Oddfellows is the trading name of The Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society Limited, Incorporated and registered in England and Wales No. 223F. Registered Office 32 Booth Street, Manchester M2 4QP.
(See inside for more details)
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Culture club “I love going to the theatre once in a while, so when I heard my local Oddfellows Branch was arranging a trip I couldn’t pass it up.” Sharon – Manchester
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The Reader’s Review Book: My Animals and Other Family By Clare Balding Following the Olympics and Clare Balding’s rise to become a ‘national treasure’, I was interested to read more about her. The book describes her childhood at Park House Stables with her father – a champion horse trainer and somewhat neglectful misogynist. I found myself surprisingly caught up in the world of horse racing that she describes, and the process of working with the character and temperament of each horse to get the best out of them. There were some interesting nuggets on HM The Queen, whose horses are managed by Claire’s father. During one of their regular phone updates, just after Margaret Thatcher had become Prime Minister, Her Majesty asked him what he thought of the election result, to which he answered “well, it’s going to take a while to get used to a woman running the country”. Her Majesty apparently names all her horses herself too, and currently has one in training called ‘Bank Bonus’! By the end you get a sense of a strong, funny and fiercely competitive spirit. Someone with clear and admirable values best expressed by her hope that “others will have the courage to be themselves and stand up for what they believe in, fight for those who need protection, love who they want to love and be proud of it”. Reviewed by Mary Atkinson, Unity Office Care Department
The Film Review Film: Les Misérables The film’s director Tom Hooper does a stunning job of cramming Victor Hugo’s classic novel into two-and-a-half hours. As the thousands who have seen the stage show will know, the story revolves around prisoner 24601, Jean Valjean, who breaks his parole only to be pursued for years by lawman Javert. Its star-studded cast includes Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne and Amanda Seyfried, while comic relief comes in the form of dishonest innkeepers Mr and Mrs Thenardiers, played by Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter.
©Universal Pictures
Hooper’s decision to record the actors singing live on set really adds to the film’s emotional intensity. Highlights for me included Redmayne’s beautiful rendition of Empty Chairs and Empty Tables and Hathaway’s small but moving role as Fantine, with her memorable song I Dreamed a Dream. Jackman manages the role of Valjean with power and integrity while Crowe, despite being the least powerful singer, plays Javert with passion. I found myself absorbed in the poverty and desperation of the French people during the ill-fated June Rebellion. Yet from these desperate situations, kindness and love emerged. Take tissues it’s a thrilling and emotional experience, but well worth it. Reviewed by Wendy Atkins, Ipswich District
To sum it up: Enthralling, must-see 10/10
Culture club Through the lens – photography competition
We’re pleased to announce that Eric Febrache has won February’s Friendscene photo competition with this spectacular image of fireworks. Eric lives in Guernsey and has been a member of the Oddfellows for over 50 years - congratulations on winning the prize. The theme of this month’s photo competition is ‘family fun’.
If we choose your photo to appear in the next edition you’ll win £50 of gift vouchers. You can enter by emailing your photo to ezine@oddfellows.co.uk, posting it on our Facebook wall or sending it in a tweet that mentions @OddfellowsUK. Click on the links to visit our social media sites. Terms and conditions 1) Entries can be submitted at any time and still be included in this competition. However the cut-off date for each edition will be the first day of the month. For example, this month’s competition closes on 1 March 2013. 2) If successful, you will be contacted by the Oddfellows to arrange delivery of your prize. 3) If your photograph contains an image of a person, building or private location please ensure you get permission from the person/building owner before submitting your entry. 4) By submitting a photograph to this competition you are confirming that you have given permission for the Oddfellows to use and reproduce this image in future publications and marketing material, both online and printed. 5) The Oddfellows will assume your consent has been given once your entry is submitted unless you directly state otherwise at the time of entering the competition. 6) All photographs must be taken by the person who is entering the competition.
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Food & drink “My favourite thing about the Oddfellows is that all the events are aimed at foodies like me. We even went on a tour of an English vineyard recently – I’ll drink to that!” George - Brighton
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Rising star
Like the red telephone box, Harry Beck’s Tube map and the Union Jack, she is part of the UK’s collective DNA. Her name has become a byword for traditional baking, home-cooked food and the ‘waste not, want not’ attitude that was once so common but now has to fight to be heard over the din of today’s throwaway culture. With five million book sales and a 60-year cooking career to her name, the 77-year-old now acts as a surrogate grandmother to millions, sharing the secrets she’s learnt during a lifetime spent in the kitchen on the hit BBC show The Great British Bake Off. Filmed in Somerset in the picturesque grounds of Harptree Court, the programme sees Berry and fellow baking expert Paul Hollywood guide ten amateur bakers who attempt to impress them with their culinary prowess.
By setting contestants a mixture of tasks, ranging from everyday dishes prepared under pressure to technical challenges that would cause problems for even the most seasoned baker, the pair ensure only the finest competitor will be crowned champion – without a soggy bottom in sight. Last summer more than six million viewers watched the final episode of the third series, and a fourth is planned for this year. As a result, Berry – whose kindly yet firm Queen’s English brings a warm, nostalgic filter to the show – now enjoys the sort of celebrity status usually reserved for people half her age.
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I want people to cook and to enjoy it as I do. I would like people to think: ‘She helped me to cook. She started me off and held my hand, and I love her recipes.
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When it comes to great British institutions, they don’t come much greater than Mary Berry, CBE.
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Food & drink “It’s taken everyone by surprise,” she admits. “People recognise me in the street now, but I don’t mind at all. I just smile back, because they’re never nasty about the show. “I think perhaps people like it so much because it’s like watching your next-door neighbour or your best friend – unlike many other cookery programmes, which produce food you couldn’t achieve yourself. “People see it and think: ‘Oh, I couldn’t do that.’ Then they see Paul or me doing a step by step masterclass guide and find that actually, yes, they can do it, and their friends and families say: ‘Wasn’t that wonderful? Aren’t you clever?’ It’s a wonderful way to get more people baking.” Berry’s on-screen relationship with Hollywood, a former head baker at top London hotel The Dorchester, is one of the show’s most talked-about elements. Their good cop, bad cop routine combines her motherly advice with his acerbic critique, resulting in a formidable partnership that’s not easily impressed. They often disagree as judges, but off-screen the pair’s mutual respect meant they hit it off instantly, as Berry explains.
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It should all start at home with the family, I’m sure. The more families eat together, the better. Parents can see what their children are eating, and everyone can communicate better.
“We get on very well. We keep to our own territories and consult each other a lot. I know about cakes, while he’s brilliant at handling bread – there’s nothing he doesn’t know about it.” But who would win in a bake off between them? “Oh, we’d each do a different area – although he’d have to make sure he won, of course!” Berry is a heroine to any aspiring baker. But every heroine needs a cause to fight for, and hers, it seems, is to get the art of cooking and baking back into the classroom and into the home.
It was during her own schooldays that Berry was first inspired to bake by her domestic science teacher, Miss Date. Her career since demonstrates why she is held in such high esteem today: cookery editor of the magazines Housewife and Ideal Home, author of more than 70 cookbooks and co-founder, with her daughter, of a company that sells salad dressings and sauces to Harrods and Fortnum & Mason. Now, after more than six decades of grating, kneading, mixing and whisking, she considers the legacy she hopes to leave behind. “I want people to cook and to enjoy it as I do. I would like people to think: ‘She helped me to cook. She started me off and held my hand, and I love her recipes.’”
“I think it’s so important. Boys and girls need to be able to cook by the time they leave school. There are many subjects they don’t need, but they certainly need a nutritious meal when they move out and go to university or to a job and they’ve suddenly got to feed themselves.
Berry admits that the way we cook has altered dramatically, both in the ingredients available and our changing tastes. This means she’s always learning new tricks, experimenting with foods and changing her recipes.
“It’s not on the national curriculum yet, but already more parents and grandparents have taken to teaching their children how to cook at home. I cook with my grandchildren all the time.
For anyone hoping to hear that even the great Mary Berry occasionally burns the dinner, there’s no such confession. Instead she offers the best advice she was ever given about cooking – a few words of wisdom that have forever helped her avoid disaster.
“It should all start at home with the family, I’m sure. The more families eat together, the better. Parents can see what their children are eating, and everyone can communicate better. Thankfully, because of Bake Off and shows like it, people are realising it’s not that difficult after all.”
“Choose something simple that you know your guests will enjoy – and always follow a good recipe.”
Food & drink Mary Berry’s really posh cottage pie This is a really special minced meat pie, which is made with port and dried wild mushrooms – popular for all occasions. Ingredients Serves six 30g (1oz) dried wild mushrooms 2 tablespoons sunflower oil 1kg (2¼lb) lean minced beef 1 onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves, crushed 3 tablespoons plain flour 1 × 400g tin chopped tomatoes 150ml (5fl oz) port
Seasoning 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped 2 tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce For the potato topping 1kg (2¼lb) old, floury potatoes, peeled Approx 5 tablespoons milk A large knob of butter 75g (3oz) mature Cheddar
1 beef stock cube
Prepare ahead The pie can be made up to 8 hours ahead and kept in the fridge.
Freeze It freezes well without the potato topping. Defrost and spoon the mash on top, then cook as above.
AGA The mince can be brought to the boil on the boiling plate, then covered and cooked in the roasting oven for an hour. Roast the completed dish on the second set of runners for 30 minutes until golden and bubbling.
Preheat the oven to 160°C/140°C fan/Gas 3. You will need a fairly shallow, 2.5 litre (4 pint) ovenproof dish. Measure the dried mushrooms into a heatproof bowl and pour over 400ml (14fl oz) boiling water. Set aside to soak for 30 minutes then drain and reserve the liquid. Roughly chop the mushrooms. Heat the oil in a frying pan, add the mince and fry until brown all over (you may need to do this in batches). Add the onion and garlic and fry for a few minutes. Sprinkle over the flour, stir for a minute, then blend in the chopped tomatoes, Port and reserved mushroom liquid. Add the stock cube, stir and season with salt and pepper. Bring to the boil, cover and cook in the oven for 45 minutes – 1 hr, or until the mince is tender. Remove from the oven and stir in the thyme and Worcestershire Sauce, then spoon into the dish and spread out evenly. Set aside to cool while you make the topping. Increase the oven temperature to 200°C/180°C fan/Gas 6. Boil the potatoes in boiling salted water until tender, drain and return to the pan. Add the milk, butter, salt and pepper and mash until smooth. Spread the potatoes over the cold mince and fork the top. Sprinkle with the cheese then place in the oven for 35–40 minutes, until bubbling and golden on top. Serve hot. Recipe from Mary Berry at Home by Mary Berry and Lucy Young (BBC Books, £20)
Win a signed copy of new book Mary Berry At Home, with Lucy Young, worth £20! Helped by her talented assistant Lucy Young, Mary has created timeless, mouth watering dishes for cooks young and old to make and enjoy. To enter, simply sign someone up to the Friendscene magazine. Email subscribe@oddfellows.co.uk with the email address of your friend or family member before Friday 1 March and you’ll both be in with a chance to win. Competition terms and conditions 1) Please ensure you get the permission of the person you are nominating to subscribe to Friendscene before you submit their details. Only once we have received confirmation of their willingness to subscribe will you both be entered into the prize draw. 2) Only one entry allowed per applicant (aged 18 or over). 3) The deadline for entries is before Friday 1 March – any entries received after this time will not be counted. 4) The winning entries will be chosen at random from all entries and notified within three weeks. 5) This prize cannot be exchanged for another option. 6) The Oddfellows reserves the right to change the details of this competition without prior notice. The prize may be subject to change, up to the value indicated above. For further details please contact ezine@oddfellows.co.uk.
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Latest news “I’ve promised myself I’ll try new things, and I can do that thanks to the Oddfellows. My friends never thought I’d try paragliding, but it was of the best things I’ve ever done!” Karen - Nottingham
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Bicentennial book offer The definitive book of the Society’s history, ‘The Oddfellows, 1810-2010: 200 years of making friends and helping people’, is now available at a discounted rate of £12 (plus postage), exclusively to members. Written by fraternal specialist and Open University academic Daniel Weinbren, the book documents the Society’s history from its beginnings in 1810 to its bicentennial celebrations three years ago. It’s a well researched and readable book that brings history to life through illustrations, photographs, documents and commemorative memorabilia from the archives. There are also contributions from many current members, whose memories and recollections have been passed down through the generations. It’s a must read for Oddfellows members, the general public and history buffs alike. To purchase a copy, send a cheque made payable to ‘The Oddfellows’ to Oddfellows Book Offer, Abbey House, 32 Booth Street, Manchester, M1 4QP. Alternatively you can order a copy from the Oddshop by visiting www.oddfellows.co.uk and clicking on ‘2010 Bicentennial Merchandise’.
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An invaluable source of information and fills an important and neglected aspect of our social and economic life The Journal of Co-operative Studies
Incorporation explained At the Society’s Annual Movable Conference (AMC) held in Southport last May, deputies from Branches across the UK voted in favour of the Society incorporating. This came into effect on 1 January 2013, the result of which will enable the Society to take advantage of commercial opportunities. On a day to day level members will notice hardly any changes, no matter what commercial activities the Society determines to undertake in the future. Branch social activities, fundraising efforts and the ethos of looking after our members all remain unchanged, as does the traditional Branch structure. The Society hopes that incorporation will secure the Society’s future for generations to come. This change in the way the Society operates will allow it to run more smoothly and more like a business. Incorporation will allow greater investment in the services and products that benefit all members.
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Around Britain “These days we take ‘staycations’ in the UK to keep costs down. But wherever we go there are always Oddfellows events to entertain us.” Lesley - South Yorkshire
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Profile: Royal Tunbridge Wells
(Copyright Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, above and below left)
Almost 400 years ago, a courtier to King James I became convinced that the water near this Kent town had healing properties, turning it into the must visit spa destination for the wealthy classes for the next 150 years.
Drink to that We always meet in local clubs or pubs so our members can relax with a drink if they wish. There’s usually a folk band playing for us and we always try to put on a buffet as well. As a result we often get more than fifty guests turning up to enjoy themselves.
Despite medicine moving on since then, Royal Tunbridge Wells has remained popular among visitors and residents alike, as the Oddfellows’ local District Secretary Philip Leng explains.
Phil Leng
I joined 27 years ago and, like many of my fellow members, I’ve never looked back. Copyright Tunbridge Wells Borough Council
The Society’s been busy in the area since the 1800s, and today we cover Sevenoaks, Hastings and East Grinstead, as well as Bexhill and Rye on the south coast. We get plenty of visitors here too, particularly in Royal Tunbridge Wells where they come to enjoy the countryside or the old spa at the Pantiles, where the water was once given to rich patrons. The District is getting more active all the time, with seven regular meeting groups now up and running across the area. Our speakers and guest talks are some of the best too. We’ve recently had a criminologist, a court artist and even belly dancers!
People tell me that they always Members on a ramble have fun here, with plenty of activities and good company too. Many have made long-lasting friendships and found there’s always someone here to help. Did you know? Over 3,800 buildings were damaged in the town during the Second World War.
Vital statistics •
Oddfellows first met in the town in the 1860s
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The District has more than 750 members today
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The old Oddfellows Hall still stands proudly in the town centre
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Active travel “I love the Oddfellows’ Active Travel Club. My friends and I go on active and culture trips, weekends away and holidays abroad. It lets me meet new people, and it was free to join!” Roger - London
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Hidden Mallorca
Rafa Nadal, Claudia Schiffer, Jamie Redknapp and even the Spanish Royal Family all spend their summer holidays here. So what makes the island so appealing?
Regular visitor and Assistant Property Manager for the Oddfellows, Tony Harrison, tells us why he keeps coming back, and gives us his top tips for making the most of a trip here. “I originally started visiting Mallorca in the ’70s with my family for the cheapness and convenience. Now, having travelled across the world, I’m happy returning to the island again and again. I rarely go anywhere else these days as it offers me everything I need.”
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I can finish work on a Friday in Manchester and be sat on my terrace in Mallorca? enjoying a glass of local wine six hours later.
Tony Harrison Oddfellows
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With a fantastic climate that’s only a few hours from the UK, it’s easy to see why Mallorca is so popular among us Brits. But the largest of the Balearic Islands doesn’t just offer sun, sea and sand. Secluded bays, charming hillside villages and traditional restaurants adorn the mountainous landscapes, providing a stunning backdrop for dramatic walks with superb views of the Med.
Top: Palma City Left: Satellite picture of Mallorca (Continued on the next page...)
Active Travel
The town of Soller near the north west coast of Mallorca “I enjoy the island’s laidback culture of fresh and affordable local cuisine. Visitors can eat out very cheaply, even in the tourist traps. Eating in a Cantina, which is essentially a family kitchen, with local wine can cost as little as €12. And the wine is more than acceptable! The island is covered in almond, olive, orange and lemon trees so there is no shortage of local produce, and seafood is, of course, a speciality. It’s easy to avoid the ‘concrete jungles’ which have sprung up along the south of the island too. You can enjoy a quieter, more sedate and scenic lifestyle inland, taking advantage of the fantastic transport system. Though hiring a car gives visitors more flexibility, exploring the island can easily be done by bus or train. And if you are trying to get somewhere but don’t know which bus to catch, a local will be happy to help. The locals are extremely welcoming and value their lucrative tourism industry, without which both the island and Spain would suffer. Though the native language is Catalan, a little bit of Spanish goes a long way. Checking out the Italianate architecture in old Palma or rambling along the rugged northern coast are just a few of the options. The forests and mountains make Mallorca popular with hikers and cyclists too. Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins recently competed in the Mallorca Challenge cycle race, a four-day, 600km event across the island. At 1,445m, the island’s highest point, Puig Major, is actually higher than Ben Nevis.
Port de Soller The laidback, Mediterranean culture and amenable climate are a refreshing change to life in the UK. With arguably the best of both worlds. I live and work in the UK, but visit Mallorca whenever I get the chance - last year a total of eight times. I can finish work on a Friday in Manchester and be sat on my terrace in Mallorca, enjoying a glass of local wine six hours later. That’s the best thing about it for me, and by booking flights six months in advance I can get some great deals too.” Mallorca summed up: “a relaxed, enjoyable haven”
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Home & garden “Sorting out the garden is how I like to relax. An expert gave a talk at my local Oddfellows branch – it helped me no end.” Christine - Derbyshire
Ask George
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George Hill was a professional gardener by trade. After completing a seven year apprenticeship at Leighton Hall near Shrewsbury he became Head Gardener at Burwarton House. The 22,500-acre estate near Bridgenorth is owned by Lord Boyne, cousin and Lord in waiting to HM The Queen. He worked there for nearly 40 years and still lives nearby in retirement, where he gives expert talks and appears on gardeners’ question panels. Is your garden giving you grief? Well, fear not, because George Hill is here to answer your gardening questions. Send him your question by emailing ezine@oddfellows.co.uk. If we publish your question we’ll send you a brand new pair of dazzling gardening gloves absolutely free, thanks to Joe’s Garden. Q: It almost feels like spring and I want to get the garden sorted. But where should I start? Dan, London A: Start by pruning and tidying most of your shrubs. Remove any branches damaged by the winter winds and replace any that are beyond repair. After that, dig some fertiliser into your herbaceous borders to help the plants during the summer. Q: Can you walk me through how to trim my fruit trees? Jean, Nottingham A: It depends which type you have, but if you’re growing peaches or apricots on a wall or in the open, don’t prune them too much. You want to protect the blossom from any late frosts. For fig and cobnut trees, cut them back really hard and trim the tree into a goblet shape to keep the air circulating around it. Q: Is it too early to start planting veg outside? Alison, Edinburgh A: No – now’s the time to start sowing early vegetables. If you like broad beans, sow the seeds individually in three-inch pots now and you’ll get a nice early crop – but not too many as you’ll get bigger crops by sowing another crop outdoors in the spring. You can start growing early lettuces or leeks now for the autumn as well.
Members with green fingers Oddfellows members are eligible to receive a special 10% discount on anything at www.suttons.co.uk, from seeds and bulbs to gardening equipment and greenhouses. To take advantage of this exclusive offer, click here*. *You will need to be signed in as a member to access the Members' Benefits page.
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Sport & leisure “I’ve never really been ‘sporty’, but I try to keep fit. My local Oddfellows branch now hosts a walking club. It’s great to get some fresh air, and we always have a good time.” Diana – Essex
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Wales Coast Path
In May 2012, Wales became the first country in the world to have an official trail for walkers around its entire coastline. In the same year that coastline was voted the world’s top tourist destination by travel guide publisher Lonely Planet. We’ve taken a trip to the seaside to find out what makes the Wales Coast Path so special to walkers, weekenders and wildlife lovers alike. A massive 870 miles long from Chester to Chepstow, the path hugs the coast for its entire length. Commended for its accessibility, much of the route is suitable for cyclists, families, horse riders and people with restricted mobility, as well as walkers of course.
Top photo: Ceibwr Bay, Pembrokeshire. Above: Church Bay on Anglesey
Sport & leisure
Llanddwyn Island, looking across to Snowdonia Many sections of the path are easy to tackle as day walks, with good public transport connections to match. Funded by the Welsh Government with support from the European Regional Development Fund, the path encompasses two National Parks, 11 National Nature Reserves and dozens of SSSIs or Sites of Special Scientific Interest. It provides many opportunities for walkers to enjoy both stunning scenery and diverse wildlife, from Kashmiri goats on the Great Orme in Llandudno to Europe’s largest population of bottle-nose dolphins in Cardigan Bay. Whether you take in views of Snowdonia, the delights of the remote Gower peninsula or explore the sheltered caves and golden sands along the way, there’s sure to be something for everyone to enjoy.
Highlights include… • The Pembrokeshire Coast (Britain’s only coastal National Park) boasts dramatic cliffs and sandy beaches. As the most westerly point in Wales, it is also home to Britain’s smallest city, St David’s, and its impressive 13th century cathedral • Head over the Menai Bridge to the Isle of Anglesey and you’ll find picturesque beaches, small bays and world-class geology in this designated Area of Outstanding National Beauty • The Vale of Glamorgan on the south coast offers a rich heritage; from Norman castles to Iron Age hill forts. The landscape here is a combination of rugged coastline backed by rolling Welsh countryside. Visit www.walescoastpath.gov.uk to plan your walk
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Health & wellbeing “The Oddfellows give so much. I wish more people knew about the great services they have to offer.” Paul - London
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Open House at the Three Links Members in Skipton launched a new daytime social group this month, giving carers, the cared for and older people a place to socialise, relax and enjoy themselves. Open House’, is the result of a partnership between the Branch and All Together Now; a Craven based initiative by Carers Resource and CareFree; two charities that support carers and older people. Together, the organisations will run the monthly event at the town’s Three Links Club; which is owned and run by local Oddfellows members. This new event gives local people the chance to drop in for coffee or refreshments in the morning, read a paper or a magazine, have a chat, enjoy some lunch or join in group activities in the afternoon. Jean Phillip, District Chairman for Skipton, said: “We’re committed to supporting our members here in all sorts of ways. Now, by working in partnership with All Together Now we’re able to offer a monthly event for them and the wider community to get together and socialise.”
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Open House does exactly what it says on the tin. The group is open to older people looking to have some fun, have somewhere to go for friendship or just enjoy a break from their usual routines.
Debi Hawkins from Carers Resource said: “Open House does exactly what it says on the tin. The group will be open to older people looking to have some fun, have somewhere to go for friendship or just enjoy a break from their usual routines.” The launch event on 12 February was a great success. It was attended by around 60 people who were able to try out a wide range of activities including art, sewing, hand massage, computing, chair based exercise, and even ‘guess that tune’ with a live saxophonist. The next ‘Open House’ will take place on February 26 and then the fourth Tuesday of every month thereafter. For more information on this event contact Jean Phillip on 01756 791593
Attendees at the Open House launch event enjoying a game of Rummikub and a cuppa For people living in other parts of the country who would like advice on where to get help and support as a carer or receiver of care, contact the Care and Welfare helpline on 0845 606 3102 or email care@oddfellows.co.uk
Did you know?* • 1 in ten people in the UK is a carer - That’s almost six million of us • That number is expected to rise by 60% over the next 30 years • The value of care provided by unpaid carers is worth £119bn per year to the UK *Statistics from Carers’ Trust (www.Carers.org)
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Money “When I had money worries the Oddfellows put me in touch with the right people who could help. They were with me every step of the way.” Pam - Cambridgeshire
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Society to launch Junior ISA Andy Wilkinson, Senior Advisor within the Oddfellows Insurance Department, has been busy overseeing the creation of the Society’s latest financial offering; the new Junior ISA. Here he explains the facts ahead of its launch later this month.
Junior
The Junior ISA, or ‘JISA’, is open to any child who does not currently have, or qualify for, a Child Trust Fund (CTF). To be eligible a child must have been born after 1 January 2011 – the date when the CTF scheme was scrapped by the Government – or be under 18 years old but born before 1 September 2002 and live in the UK. It works in a similar way to its adult counterpart, providing a tax efficient way to save with an annual contribution limit set by the taxman. The Government currently allows a combined total contribution of up to £3,600 per year into a JISA. That total is set to rise to £3,720 this April and then again in line with inflation every April thereafter. There are two types of JISA on the market; ‘stocks and shares’ ISAs for investing and ‘cash’ ISAs for saving. The Society will offer a stocks and shares JISA only, (as it is not allowed to offer cash deposits), which is expected to be launched late February. For a minimum lump sum contribution of £50, or by setting up a minimum Direct Debit contribution of £10 per month, anyone with ‘parental responsibility’ for an eligible child can set up a JISA. Once invested, the money becomes the legal property of the child and cannot be withdrawn until the child turns 18. Although held in the child’s name, the JISA can be topped up by anyone – making it a flexible way for parents, grandparents or other friends and family to invest money tax efficiently for a child. The Society aims to keep costs low with an annual management charge 1.5% per year on the fund. More information can be found by calling 0161 832 9361, emailing insurance.enquiries@oddfellows.co.uk or by writing to The Oddfellows, 30 Mather Avenue, Liverpool, L18 5HS.
Important Information: The Oddfellows Junior ISA will be marketed (sold) on an execution only basis, no advice given or sought (self-sold). The Oddfellows are here to help. Whilst we can provide you with factual information, we cannot advise you what to do. The launch of the JISA will not affect existing Oddfellows CTF policies or insurance policyholders. Full Terms and Conditions will be available from 28 February by visiting the Oddfellows website www.oddfellows.co.uk or contacting the Society on 0161 832 9361. If you are not sure whether the Oddfellows Junior ISA could be suitable for your circumstances you should contact your financial advisor. If you do not have one you can find details of a local financial advisor by telephoning IFA Promotion on 020 7833 3131 or via www.unbiased.co.uk. Using the services of a financial advisor may incur charges, please confirm this with the advisor.
The Oddfellows is the trading name of The Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society Limited, Incorporated and registered in England and Wales No. 223F. Registered Office 32 Booth Street, Manchester M2 4QP. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA), registration No. 109995.