Foresters Renew Their Commitment to Child Safety in the Community

KENT, ENGLAND, December 24, 2012 (Press-News.org) A vital school patrol service that needed funding in order to continue for the next school year has received a generous GBP3,000 sponsorship from Foresters UK - meaning that primary school pupils will continue to safely cross a busy main road with the aid of a lollipop person.

Foresters - the international financial services organisation whose UK head office is in Bromley, Kent - pledged GBP2,500 to the school crossing this time last year, after the axing of many lollipop patrols all over the borough.

Following a cost-cutting exercise in February 2010, the Council agreed to continue maintaining and insuring the crossings, but the schools were left to fund the GBP5,000 lollipop patrol salary themselves - or have an unmanned patrol.

Having sponsored the school crossing during 2012 at the Parish Primary School in London Lane, also in Bromley, Foresters have agreed to support the crossing for another year.

Foresters UK Membership Director Steve Dilworth said:"One of the major ethos of Foresters is help in the community and this year we helped the Parish School by supporting the financial cost of having a manned school crossing. This year we have been able to continue that funding and in turn guaranteeing the children's safety as they come and go from school."

Hilary Richardson, head teacher at the school, said: ""On behalf of everyone at Parish School, I would like to thank Foresters for agreeing to sponsor our School Crossing Patrol to the sum of GBP3,000 for the 2013/14 school year. This will mean that added to the contribution made by the Local Authority, we will be able to maintain this vital service for the following twelve months.

"It is great that Foresters are able to help in such a way, and show such an interest in the safety of the children in the local community".

Councillor Colin Smith from Bromley Council added: "The Council is absolutely delighted to learn of Foresters continued generous support for Parish's crossing patrol and I thank them sincerely for their ongoing commitment to 'Partnership working' during these dire economic times.

"They are a shining example of a local company putting something extra back in to their local community and I would encourage others who might potentially be in a position to emulate them, to please seriously consider doing so."

To find out more about Foresters UK, please visit: www.foresters.com

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 135-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 2011 Christmas Toy Appeal helped 215,000 children to have a better Christmas and 600,000 toys and gifts were delivered to needy children. Our support for UK children's hospices has helped these organisations to provide a range of services to nearly 10,000 families.

Forester Life has funds under management of GBP850m* and is part of Foresters, the international financial services organisation.

Internationally, Foresters has over GBP10bn* 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 31 December 2011

**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 30th December 2010. Our International Head Office is located at 789 Don Mills Road, Toronto, Canada M3C 1T9.