The Children's Mutual is a United Kingdom-based financial

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s and

insurance Insurance is a means of protection from financial loss in which, in exchange for a fee, a party agrees to compensate another party in the event of a certain loss, damage, or injury. It is a form of risk management, primarily used to protect ...

provider aimed at children. It is the trading name of the Forester Fund Management Limited, part of Forester Life Ltd, which is owned by the Foresters Financial a

mutual organisation A mutual organization, also mutual society or simply mutual, is an organization (which is often, but not always, a company or business) based on the principle of mutuality and governed by private law. Unlike a cooperative, members usually do not ...

. Previously, The Children's Mutual was a trading name of the Tunbridge Wells Equitable Friendly Society Limited, a mutual organisation, until the Society's business was transferred to Forester Life Ltd in April 2013.

History

The organisation behind The Children's Mutual brand has a long history. Established in 1881, what later became the Tunbridge Wells Equitable Friendly Society (TWEFS), was formed to provide a scheme for working people to help protect them against loss of income during illness and build up a lump sum for their old age. When the National Insurance Bill was launched in 1911, The company were one of the friendly societies chosen to help the Government administer the new state scheme. Over time, The Company expanded into other areas of financial services, especially long-term savings for children, which increasingly became their specialism. In 2003 TWEFS re-launched as The Children's Mutual to recognise this specialist positioning and to prepare for the launch of the Government's new Child Trust Fund (CTF) scheme. In April 2013, The Children's Mutual and The Tunbridge Wells Equitable Friendly Society transferred their engagements to Forester Life, following a member vote at the Special General Meeting in February.

Operations

The company's provides a range of products focused on providing share-based stakeholder and non-stakeholder Child Trust Fund (CTF) accounts. In addition the Company offer a

Shariah Sharia, Sharī'ah, Shari'a, or Shariah () is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition based on scriptures of Islam, particularly the Qur'an and hadith. In Islamic terminology ''sharīʿah'' refers to immutable, intan ...

stakeholder Child Trust Fund which recognises that a significant number of Muslim parents want to be able to access the advantages of the scheme in a way that complies with their faith. The Children's Mutual also provides the Growing Up Bond, a share-based investment plan. In 2008, the company was the recipient of Best Child Trust Fund provider for 2006, 2007 and 2008 from Investment Life & Pensions Moneyfacts Awards. In the 2006 Financial Adviser Service Awards, The Children's Mutual won a 4 Star Award in the Life and Pension Provider Category. The company acted as partner for a range of well known financial services and child-orientated brands in providing Child Trust Funds, such as Boots,

Asda Asda Stores Limited (), trading as Asda and often styled as ASDA, is a British supermarket and petrol station chain. Its headquarters is in Leeds, England. The company was incorporated as Associated Dairies and Farm Stores in 1949. It expanded ...

Mothercare Mothercare plc is a global brand for products for parents and young children. The company's shares are listed on AIM in London. Mothercare was founded in the United Kingdom in 1961, and specialized in products for expectant mothers and in ge ...

and

Lloyds Bank Lloyds Bank plc is a major British retail banking, retail and commercial bank with a significant presence across England and Wales. It has traditionally been regarded one of the "Big Four (banking)#England and Wales, Big Four" clearing house ...

.Boots and The Children's Mutual
The total number of members and other customers that The Company serves more than doubled from 330,000 to well over 700,000 between 2006 and 2007, with funds under management increased from around £600 million to nearly £1 billion. In 2007 it was estimated that one in five new CTF accounts actively opened by parents was placed with The Children's Mutual.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Children's Mutual Child welfare in the United Kingdom Financial services companies established in 1881 Investment management companies of the United Kingdom Asset management companies