This year marks a very special milestone for Shepherds Friendly – 200 years of supporting families through the moments that matter.
To celebrate, we’re hosting a year-long programme of events that shine a light on the values that have guided us since 1826.
Supporting our members, always
On Christmas Day in 1826, several local groups came together to form a society built on a simple promise: to support one another and provide financial security for those unable to work because of sickness or injury.
Two centuries later, that founding purpose still guides everything we do. We continue to help our members plan for the future, protect what matters and feel supported when life takes an unexpected turn.
As a mutual, we’re owned by our members, not shareholders. That means more of our profits go back into supporting you. While our products and services have evolved, our commitment to putting members first remains the same, and always will.
What you can look forward to this year
As we celebrate our 200th anniversary, we’re bringing members along with us through a series of activities that highlight our community, our history and the values that make mutuality so important today. Here’s a glimpse of what we’ll be sharing throughout the year:
Real member stories: We’ll be shining a light on the people at the heart of our society, sharing stories from members about how our products have supported them through life’s ups and downs.
Celebrating our longest-standing members: As part of our bicentennial, we’ll be reaching out to some of the members who have been with us the longest to say thank you.
A new “What is mutuality?” video: We’ll be releasing an easy-to-follow explainer video that breaks down what it means to be part of a mutual — and why this people-first approach continues to matter 200 years on.
Burying a time capsule: Later this year, we’ll be looking to bury a special bicentennial time capsule filled with reflections on today’s world, messages from our members, and items celebrating our shared history.
Together, these activities will help us reflect on where we’ve come from, celebrate where we are today and look ahead to the future of our mutual community.
A message from our CEO
To mark this special milestone, our CEO, Jonthan Sandell, has recorded a short message to say thank you to our members and reflect on what being a mutual means, both today and for the future.
As we celebrate our 200th year, we’re excited for everything still to come. Over the next few months, we’ll be sharing more stories, events and updates that highlight what makes our community so special.
Keep an eye on our channels for the latest news and join us as we continue building a future shaped by our members, for our members.
