File YFF/6 - Documents and Photographs relating to the York Female Friendly Society's history

The York Female Friendly Society was established in February 1786 as a benefit society for girls of the Grey Coat School in York, and was founded by a group of wealthy York-based female philanthropists, led by Faith Gray and Catherine Cappe. It was instituted in 1788 when the first official rules and orders were established, and incorporated under the Friendly Societies Act, 1793.

The society was founded to support working class women and girls during times of need, by helping them to help themselves. To this end, the society was established as a subscription society, whereby members paid a subscription, and received certain benefits in return, such as sick pay and awards for long service. The society was therefore promoted as a way for individuals to save for their own future.

Membership of the society was made up of both Honorary Members and General Members. General members were those who paid a subscription and received benefits, with membership open to girls leaving York's Grey Coat (from 1786), Blue Coat (from 1788), and Spinning and Knitting Schools (from 1788) and to other individuals nominated by honorary members (from 1788). Honorary members paid a higher rate of subscription but did not receive any benefits. Instead, honorary membership was a way for wealthier women in York to participate in philanthropy. The organising committee and officers for the society were made up of honorary members.

Subscriptions from general members were paid into the 'General Fund', from which sickness benefits and other benefits during times of incapacitation were paid. Subscriptions from the honorary members were paid into the 'Private Fund', which was initially used only to make discretionary payments to members, such as payments for long service to those employed in domestic service. A third fund, the 'Annuity Fund' was later established in 1800, which provided annuities and pensions to subscribers in old age.

A Senior Stewardess was appointed from the honorary members, who acted in the capacity of a president of the society and managed much of the day to day administration. Several Junior Stewardesses, also appointed from the honorary members, supported her in this role.

Although all practical administration, decision making, and business of the society was conducted by the female honorary members of the society, the funds themselves were invested in government stocks in the names of the male Trustees of the society. This investment of society funds in government stocks with a good rate of return ensured the society had healthy finances to administer to their members.

Major changes to the administration of the society were made in the early 20th century, partly as an attempt to tighten up the management of funds, and partly in response to the introduction of national legislation which brought in state welfare benefits. The first of these major changes came about following the passing of the National Insurance Act, 1911, which enacted compulsory pensions and sick payments to workers across the country. This resulted in the society closing their annuities fund in order to continue with one Pensions scheme, and in the society registering as an ‘Approved Society’ for the administration of these benefits. The society was split into two new sections: the ‘Voluntary Section’, which was the continuation of the old society and provided members with a range of subscription-based benefits; and the ‘Compulsory Section’, which collected national insurance payments and administered national pensions and sick pay.

Approved Societies were abolished in 1946 prior to the establishment of the National Health Service (NHS), and thereafter the society continued with ‘voluntary’ members only. Membership declined after the introduction of the NHS, with many of the former benefits of membership now available to women nationally as employment benefits. The decision was taken to dissolve the society in the 1970s, with this enacted in 1977. The remaining funds was distributed among the remaining members, who continued to meet annually and received small payments from the funds until 1984. Moyra Johnson carried out much of the administration during this latter period and closed the final account for the society in 1986.