for a weekly subscription, members would be entitled to payment in times of sickness, death or unemployment
workers tried to protect themselves against the uncertainties thrown up by the Industrial Revolution, a mobile population and the decline of traditional occupations
1847 - had become an organisation with central bodies to which individual societies could affilitate
Manchester Unnity of Oddfellows had 434,100 members by 1870
1877 - registered membership of friendly societies had reached 2.7 million
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Benefits
security freed from the process, procedures and shame of pauperism
companionship
working-class people were fulfilling one of the aims of the poor law amendment act - self-help institutions should be the main source of relief for the poor
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Disadvantages
charged an entry fee and expected a weekly contribution to funds
fined members who missed a payment
refuse membership to people who had a history of illness or who were over 40 years old
those in dangerous occupations, such as mining, were often rejected
some were badly managed and collapsed
those who could not afford to join a friendly society turned to burial societies
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Burial Societies
the fear of a pauper funeral drove many to contribute to burial societies
payment as little as 1d a week
would provide a burial allowance of £4, sufficient for a funeral
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