The AFS is the official representative body for UK friendly societies. Its main activities are:

• providing representation to government and regulators on the collective interests of its members
• responding on behalf of its members to government and regulatory consultation papers
• providing a public voice on matters of interest to friendly societies and promoting the movement wherever possible including through the media, conferences and by individual contact
• providing a point of reference for academics and those seeking a wider or more detailed knowledge of societies and their histories
• providing avenues for the interests of individual societies to be heard by a wider audience
• organising and participating in conferences, seminars, forums and working parties on behalf of its members
• producing literature on the friendly society movement
• commissioning research on friendly society related issues
• seeking to create change to protect and develop the interests of its member societies and their individual members
• seeking to keep its membership up to date with developments affecting the industry