The Oddfellows

What The Oddfellows does

The Oddfellows is the trading name of The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society Limited, a UK non-profit mutual friendly society founded in 1810 and headquartered in Manchester. It operates a membership-based model serving approximately 40,000 members across 99 branches in the United Kingdom, hosting roughly 815 social events each month. Members join via subscription, choosing between Standard membership and an "Extra Benefits" tier (which adds dental and optical cover from year two), with annual billing and a minimum three-year commitment to switch packages. The primary member base is older adults and retirees seeking social connection, with additional tiers for Young Oddfellows (children and young people up to age 18) and Archive members.

The core product is a bundled membership combining social, welfare, and financial benefits. Social benefits centre on the branch network's events, group holidays through Oddfellows Travel, and member discounts. Care and welfare benefits include a Care and Welfare Helpline, the Oddfellows Citizens Advice Line (delivered via partnership with Citizens Advice), a Legal Aid Scheme (up to £20,000 for employment matters), Convalescence Home, Carer's Respite, and Convalescence Care Benefits (the latter delivered via Home Instead), Accidental Death Benefit (£1,000–£2,500), Emergency Financial Aid (up to £750), Benevolence Grants, and Educational Awards available after five years. Through its wholly-owned subsidiary Unity Mutual, the society also offers insurance and investment products. The technology surface is intentionally minimal: a content-managed website, a members' login portal, and Zoom-based online open days, with no mobile app, public API, or disclosed proprietary technology.

The business model is straightforward subscription revenue from membership fees, supplemented by Unity Mutual financial product income. The society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and PRA (registration No. 109995), and is owned by its members rather than external shareholders. Distribution is multi-channel: branch-based outreach, online self-serve registration, phone and email enquiries, and online open days. Marketing leans on organic social, email, branch events, and editorial content, with member testimonials published on the website. There is no venture capital, private equity, or external parent ownership, and no disclosed M&A activity.

Name

The Oddfellows

Legal name

The Independent Order of Odd Fellows Manchester Unity Friendly Society Limited, Incorporated

Website

https://oddfellows.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1810

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Oddfellows is a UK non-profit mutual friendly society, founded in 1810, serving roughly 40,000 members across 99 branches. It offers subscription membership combining social events, care and welfare support, legal aid, and financial benefits, with insurance products delivered through its Unity Mutual sub-brand, primarily targeting older adults.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Friendly Society Mutual Membership Services

NAICS

Social Assistance (624), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Memberships & Invitation-Only Experiences (HSACAMAL)

Keywords

• Friendly society
• Mutual membership
• Community events
• Welfare benefits
• Social connection

Headquarters

HQ city

Manchester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: The Oddfellows generates revenue through annual membership fees. Members pay to join and maintain membership, which provides access to a range of benefits including social events, care and welfare support, legal aid, and discounts. The organization is a not-for-profit mutual run for the benefit of its members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Oddfellows is a not-for-profit mutual friendly society that sells annual membership subscriptions to individuals, providing access to local social events and activities (around 815 per month across 99 UK branches), care and welfare support (helplines, Citizens Advice line, Legal Aid Scheme, convalescence and carer's respite benefits), and financial protections such as accidental death benefit, emergency financial aid, dental and optical benefits, and orphan and educational gifts. Its Unity Mutual sub-brand additionally offers insurance and investment products to members and their families.

Product overview

The Oddfellows is a friendly society offering a unified membership product with multiple tiers (Standard, Extra Benefits, Young Oddfellows, and Archive membership). The core offering centers on social connection through local branches and events, combined with care and welfare support including helplines (Care and Welfare Helpline, Citizens Advice Line), convalescence benefits (Home Benefit, Carer's Respite Benefit, Care Benefit), and legal aid. The Society also provides access to financial products through its Unity Mutual sub-brand, member discounts via third-party offers, and historical archives. The membership is designed as a comprehensive package addressing social, welfare, and financial needs of members, particularly retirees and older adults.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Unity Mutual: Offering a range of financial products for all the family, that are simple, flexible and affordable.

Products and services

• Standard Membership Core annual membership tier providing access to local branch social events, Accidental Death Benefit, Legal Aid Scheme, Orphan Gift Fund, Emergency Financial Aid, Benevolence Grant, the Citizens Advice Line, the Care and Welfare Helpline, and Educational Awards available after five years of membership.
• Membership with Extra Benefits Enhanced annual membership tier that includes all Standard benefits plus Dental Care Benefit and Optical Care Benefit (£30 per claim from year two). Members can switch between Standard and Extra Benefits packages after a minimum of three consecutive years on their current package.
• Young Oddfellows Membership Annual membership product for children and young people up to age 18, providing age-appropriate benefits including annual gift vouchers, access to branch welfare support, and reduced fees on future adult membership.
• Archive Membership Membership tier providing access to the Society's historical archives for personal, academic, or non-commercial research use.
• Care and Welfare Helpline Member-only telephone helpline providing guidance on health services, social care, housing, carers' support, and later-life planning (including Lasting Power of Attorney). Available from day one of membership.
• Oddfellows Citizens Advice Line Member-only advice line delivered in partnership with Citizens Advice, providing two dedicated full-time advisors covering welfare benefits, housing, debt, employment, consumer issues, family matters, and legal queries. Free to members from day one of membership.
• Legal Aid Scheme Legal assistance for personal injury, medical negligence, and employment disputes through appointed solicitors, with up to £20,000 of cover in employment tribunal matters. Family members may apply for personal injury and medical negligence cases.
• Convalescence Home Benefit Short break of up to one week at partner convalescence hotels (Yorkshire Foresters Home in Bridlington, Merton House Hotel in Ross-on-Wye, or Rustington Convalescence Home in Sussex) to support recovery after illness, operation, bereavement, or trauma. Available from the third year of membership.
• Carer's Respite Benefit Respite support for members who are full-time carers, covering the costs of a break at partner facilities or arranging care for the person being cared for. Available from the third year of membership.
• Convalescence Care Benefit Up to 15 hours of care support at home (or other services and equipment to aid recovery) delivered through partner Home Instead, covering personal care, appointment chaperones, home help, and shopping assistance. Available from the third year of membership.
• Branch Care and Welfare Support In-person welfare support delivered by volunteer Branch Welfare Visitors offering home visits, companionship, and a listening ear for members experiencing illness, bereavement, or other difficult circumstances.
• Unity Mutual Financial Products Sub-brand of The Oddfellows offering a range of insurance and investment products for members and their families, described as simple, flexible, and affordable.
• Local Branches Network of approximately 99 local branches across the UK hosting regular social events, activities, and member support. Branches are the primary physical touchpoint for member engagement and onboarding.
• Events and Activities Member-only social events hosted by local branches including meetups, talks, walks, quizzes, coffee mornings, exercise groups, singing groups, and group holidays. Approximately 815 events are held each month.
• Group Holidays Organised group travel holidays and weekend breaks throughout the UK and Europe, available to members through the Society's travel offering (Oddfellows Travel).
• Member Offers Discounts and special offers from selected third-party providers, made available to members as part of the membership package.

Quantifiable outcome

• Members receive approximately £1,000-£2,500 Accidental Death Benefit
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Citizens AdvicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Oddfellows has partnered with Citizens Advice to provide members with access to two dedicated, full-time advisors through the Oddfellows Citizens Advice Line. Advisors help with welfare benefits, housing, debt, employment, consumer issues, family matters, and legal queries. The service is free for members from day one of membership.
• Home InsteadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Oddfellows partners with Home Instead, a specialist care provider, to deliver the Convalescence Care Benefit. Home Instead provides services such as personal care, appointment chaperones, home help, and shopping assistance for members recovering from illness or trauma.
• Yorkshire Foresters HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner convalescence hotel in Bridlington, East Yorkshire, offering accommodation for members using the Convalescence Home Benefit.
• Merton House HotelminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner convalescence hotel in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, offering accommodation for members using the Convalescence Home Benefit.
• Rustington Convalescence HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecialist facility between Littlehampton and Rustington, Sussex, offering personal and nursing care for members who may need a higher level of support during convalescence.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Royal London: Royal London is the UK's largest mutual life and pensions provider, operating on a member-owned basis with combined financial protection and member services. It is comparable as a UK mutual insurer with overlapping customer demographics, though at much greater scale.
• Working Men's Club and Institute Union: The Working Men's Club and Institute Union is a federation of UK community clubs providing local social venues and member programmes. It is comparable to the Oddfellows in operating a UK network of member-led local clubs delivering social connection, though typically with premises and licensed activity rather than welfare/financial benefits.
• Age UK: Age UK is the UK's leading charity for older adults, providing advice, welfare services, and community programs to the 50+ demographic. It is highly comparable to the Oddfellows in target customer (older adults), care/welfare services offered, and UK-wide local presence, though without the friendly society membership structure.
• Liverpool Victoria (LV=): LV= is one of the UK's largest friendly societies, offering insurance, investment, and retirement products to members. It shares the friendly society/mutual structure and the combination of insurance with member benefits, though at substantially larger scale.
• Royal British Legion: The Royal British Legion is a UK membership charity serving current and former military personnel with welfare support, care, and community programmes. It is comparable to the Oddfellows in operating a UK-wide membership network delivering welfare, care, and social connection to a defined beneficiary population.
• Royal Over-Seas League: The Royal Over-Seas League is a UK private members' club offering social, cultural, and welfare support to its membership. It is comparable to the Oddfellows in operating a paid private membership model with social events, hospitality, and member welfare services, though on a smaller and more exclusive scale.
• Foresters Financial: Foresters Financial is a UK-friendly society offering mutual financial products and member benefits including social, welfare, and lifestyle programs. It is the closest direct peer to the Oddfellows, sharing the friendly society structure, member-owned model, and combined financial/welfare proposition.

Broad incumbents

• English Heritage: English Heritage operates a UK membership scheme providing access to historic sites, alongside member events and benefits. It is comparable as a UK-wide paid membership organisation with subscription recurring revenue, though focused on heritage access rather than welfare/financial services.
• National Trust: The National Trust is the UK's largest membership organisation, with millions of members paying annual subscriptions for access to heritage properties and gardens. It is comparable in operating a large-scale UK paid membership model with regional/local engagement, but its core offering is property access rather than welfare/financial benefits.
• Royal Horticultural Society: The Royal Horticultural Society is a UK membership charity offering subscription-based benefits to gardening enthusiasts, with regional events and member services. Comparable as a long-established UK paid membership organisation with a defined interest-based community, but serving a different hobbyist segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/OddfellowsUK
• Instagraminstagram.com/the.oddfellows.uk
• Xx.com/oddfellowsUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-oddfellows-friendly-society

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Oddfellows