ðɪ ˌɔːɹɡɐnəzˈeɪʃən wʌz fˈɔːɹmd ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi θɹˈiː, ænd hɐz fˈaɪvhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹ bɹˈæntʃᵻz ɪnðə jˌuːkˈeɪ, wɪð ɐ tˈoʊɾəl mˈɛmbɚʃˌɪp ʌv ɐpɹˈɑːksɪmətli sˈɛvənti nˈaɪn,zˈiəɹoʊzˈiəɹoʊ zˈiəɹoʊ ɪnðə jˌuːkˈeɪ ænd ɐbɹˈɔːd.
The organisation  was formed in 1943, and has 504 branches in the UK, with a total membership of approximately 79,000 in the UK and abroad.