The Foresters Friendly Society is a British friendly society which was formed in 1834 as the Ancient Order of Foresters. As of 31 December 2016, the society had approximately 75,000 members. Its head office is located in Southampton, England. History The society was formed in Rochdale (in Greater Manchester, Lancashire, England) in August 1834, when over 300 branches of the Royal Foresters society (established in the 18th century) formed the new Ancient Order of Foresters. In 1874 the American and Canadian Foresters seceded from the Ancient Order of Foresters and set up the Independent Order of Foresters (IOF). The IOF's UK operation is now called Forester Life, based in Bromley, Kent The society became incorporated on 1 January 2003 (in accordance with the provisions of The Friendly Societies Act 1992), that year acquired Tunstall Assurance Friendly Society, followed by the Leek Assurance Collecting Society in 2005. On September 26, 2014, it acquired the Post Office Insurance Society (POIS), which added 21,000 members and a further £69.0 million in assets The society's local branches are termed "courts", rather than "lodges" as in other friendly societies. They were named after the law courts of the royal forests, and performed the Ancient Ritual of the Society. The most famous was Court LUD No. 10,100, which was formed in 1947, by members of the London District Management Committee. However, owing to lack of members willing to take office, this court was erased in 2004. Since the society became incorporated the number of courts has slowly reduced and remained stable over the last 10 years at 189 Courts in the British Isles. Internationally, there are courts in Georgetown, Guyana and Paramaribo, Suriname. The society offers a range of member benefits, and in 2018 nearly £1m was paid out in discretionary grants and benefits, and charitable donations. The society had its own magazine – Foresters Miscellany, which ran from 1862 to 2008, when it was incorporated into a replacement called The Forester. In late 2016, the publication of Foresters Miscellany restarted with issue 1618 and continues today celebrating Foresters social and fundraising activities in local communities. Products The society provides its members with savings policies – including tax exempt savings which are only available via friendly societies. They also offer an Investment Bond, Guaranteed Savings plan and in June 2017 the society launched a Lifetime ISA. Foresters also offer insurance policies against sickness and death. There