New Partnership Programme Helps UK Foresters Members Be Prepared For Emergencies

    BROMLEY, ENGLAND, March 03, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Foresters, the international financial services organisation, has partnered with the British Red Cross to offer training and emergency kits to vulnerable families in communities across the UK.

Emergencies and extreme weather, such as floods, can occur across the UK every year and thousands of UK citizens find themselves in need of assistance.

The Foresters Prepared with Care programme will be implemented via Foresters community grants, a Foresters member benefit. Anyone who owns a Foresters product automatically becomes a member and can use community grants up to GBP2,500 to organise and deliver their own Foresters Prepared with Care event as a programme.

The members and their guests will:

- provide access to life-saving first aid training led by local Red Cross volunteers
- assemble emergency preparedness kits to take home and share with their friends, families and community. The kits will include essential items such as torches, fresh water, hand sanitisers, emergency blankets, etc.

Steve Dilworth, MD, Foresters Member Network UK, says: "The consequences of not being prepared for a disaster can be devastating.

"In the UK we are fortunate enough not to experience natural disasters and extreme weather on such a huge scale as other parts of the world, so we are proud of the work we are doing with the British Red Cross in order to make a difference to those who need help. A similar programme is being developed in the USA through the American Red Cross, so this a significant international development."

ABOUT FORESTERS

At Foresters we believe in enriching the lives of our members, their families and the communities they live in. We're member-based, family-focused, and community spirited.

Our products benefit both your family and your community. We champion the well-being of families through quality financial products, unique member benefits and inspiring community activities.

We share our financial strength with over one million members across the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States. Throughout our 140-year history, our purpose has been to enrich the lives of members, their families and communities. The priorities remain today and will guide our future.

As an example, our work with Cash for Kids in their 2014 Mission Christmas Appeal helped around 314,000 children to have a better Christmas. The whole campaign raised over GBP10.7m and involved more than 2,600 Foresters volunteers.

Internationally, Foresters has over GBP14bn* funds under management and has been assigned an 'A' excellent rating by A.M. Best.**

Safeguarding our members' interests is at the heart of what we do. Being financially strong and responsive, with sound governance and continuing professional service have always helped us to protect our members' benefits.

*As at 31st December 2013

** An 'A' excellent rating is assigned to companies that have a strong ability to meet their ongoing obligations to policyholders and have, on balance, excellent balance sheet strength, operating performance and business profile when compared to the standards established by A.M. Best Company. In assigning Foresters rating A.M. Best stated that Foresters outlook rating is 'stable', which means it is unlikely to change in the near future, assuming Foresters financial strength is maintained and operations grow. A.M. Best assigns rating from A to F, A being superior and A and A- being excellent ratings. This rating was assigned on 3rd July 2013. Our International Head Office is located at 789 Don Mills Road, Toronto, Canada M3C 1T9.

DAC Ref No. 2013321 FM/CO 01/15

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