Home StoriesPart of Inside our collections

The friendly societies and healthcare

Friendly societies were a way for like-minded people to form social networks and pool their resources to support each other in times of need. Their success also made them a significant healthcare provider in Britain before the creation of the National Health Service.

Words by Nicolette Loizou

  • In pictures

About the author

Nicolette Loizou

(she/her)

Nicolette Loizou is a Kent-based journalist, writer and photographer with a keen interest in how our lives correspond with health and society. Her work has been published in the Financial Times, Glamour and South China Morning Post and her latest book, ‘111 Places in Canterbury That You Shouldn’t Miss’, was published in March 2022.