Discretionary Healthcare Grants & Member Benefits | POIS

Member benefits
to make every day better

From practical and emotional support when you need it most, to discretionary grants to help give you a head start. We’re proud to offer you honest, everyday member benefits. We thought you’d appreciate that.

Free membership with all our products

Amazing things happen when you take out a product. We are a part of Foresters Friendly Society, so you’ll also get access to the terrific Membership benefits available to members.

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Kate, Northumberland

“Thanks to the support given by Foresters Friendly Society I have been able to study efficiently throughout the year and I really appreciate the help the grant has given me during an extremely stressful year. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Foresters and all it does.”

Healthcare grants

In 2022 we awarded £485,334

You don’t need anyone to tell you how much everyday healthcare can add up. It’s a filling at the dentist one week, for example, and an eye test the next. These discretionary healthcare grants can help towards the cost of every day dental and optical care.

 

Financial support for you

In 2022 we awarded £53,850 

No matter how hard we try and get by, sometimes we need a little helping hand. Discretionary grants from the Foresters Support Fund are available to help members of any age through testing times. Perhaps you’re facing illness, or your house has been damaged for some reason. You don’t need to go through it alone when we’re here to help.

 

Educational awards

In 2022 we awarded £85,440

Bettering ourselves through education can cost a pretty penny. If you have children or grandchildren or are upskilling yourself, then you’ll know all about it. We can offer discretionary Educational Awards if you’re aged 16 and over and in further education, studying for a recognised qualification. We could help towards the cost of books and travel with up to £300 a year.

 

Convalescent grants

In 2022 we awarded £55,460

Recovering from an illness can be stressful and costly, both for the patient and their loves ones. These Convalescent grants could help you rest and get better. Members may be eligible for support with costs towards a stay and non-members, such as your partner or a family member, can stay with you for an additional charge. For further information about staying in a convalescent home near you, please call 0800 101 8310.

 

Financial support for children

In 2022 we awarded £92,700

The Foresters Child Support fund was set up to commemorate members who died during the First World War. Nowadays it’s there to offer financial assistance for children up to and including the age of 19.

Circumstances that would be considered for a grant include:

  • Children who have lost one or both parents
  • Children who have parents that are incapacitated
  • Children who are themselves incapacitated or have special needs
  • Children who are carers.

 

Help at Home grants

If you need help at home, covering the costs can be prohibitive. To support members, discretionary grants are available to contribute towards the cost of Help at Home domiciliary care. Members can reclaim up to £720 in any two-year period, to go towards Help at Home costs. Alternatively, members can apply for a combination of one week Help at Home financial support and one week convalescence via our Convalescent grant, making this benefit flexible to your needs.

 

Call us on 0800 622 417 to find out more about any of our discretionary grants, including how to make a claim. Downloadable claim forms and information on how to make a claim also be found here.

 

“I applied for the Educational Award to assist with funding the purchase of textbooks for my course and to help fund the cost of participating in field trips and field studies which are fundamental to my course.

Thanks to the textbooks and knowledge gained on the field trips, I have achieved some fantastic results in my first year at Oxford University. I’m grateful to Foresters Friendly Society for providing extra support when I needed it.”

Joe, Cheltenham

“The stay at the convalescent home allowed my husband and I to have a break and a welcome change of environment. This was particularly valuable for my husband, as it meant he was able to have some respite from care and household duties.”

Gill, Chesterfield

“Thanks to the Educational Award grant I was able to purchase all the revision books I need to help me study for my A Levels in Physics and Maths.”

Jordan, Yorkshire

June, Derby

“The Foresters Support Fund grant has helped to purchase a mobility scooter, which has given me flexibility to enjoy outdoor activities with my husband. It was great to be able to revisit our old walking trails, which we both enjoyed (e.g. Monsal Trail)”

Foresters Care

In 2022 we awarded grants worth £3,320

Working alongside the vastly experienced RedArc, Foresters Care has supported thousands of people through serious and long-term physical and mental illnesses, trauma, eldercare and bereavement, across all life stages. Assigning a Personal Nurse to each case, all of whom are highly experienced qualified nurses, this enables Foresters Care to provide tailored help by telephone according to our member’s requirements. The same nurse provides long-term support giving important continuity. Your Personal Nurse can provide long-term advice and emotional support, can help you make the most of services offered by the NHS, specialist charities and social services. They can also arrange a second medical opinion so you can get the right diagnosis and treatment, and guide you through any post hospital care.

If you are a member and would like to speak to Foresters Care please call 0800 276 1023, Monday – Friday, 9am-5pm

Foresters Care is provided by RedArc Assured Ltd, a personal nurse advice service.

“Thank you very much for this amazing grant, which has allowed me to buy an iPad for my autistic son. Because of this support, my son has been able to use a range of educational apps, which have really helped his developmental progression. He also gets a lot of enjoyment from using it.”

Zoe, Shropshire

The membership benefits we provide aren’t regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority or the Prudential Regulatory Authority, and are regularly reviewed by us to ensure they are relevant to our members.