All our active members’ Career Average Revalued Earnings (CARE) pensions were revalued in April 2025. The value of the CARE pension increased by 1.7%, in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) figure for September 2024. 

Our deferred members have also had their total pension increased by 1.7%, again in line with September 2024 CPI.

Members will see the increases in pension when they receive their Annual Pension Statement, which will be issued later this year.

We are seeking enthusiastic volunteers from our membership to serve as member representatives on the Board. You'll amplify the voices of Fund members, offering informed advice and guidance alongside a diverse group.

On 28 March the Avon Pension Fund Committee will meet to review its aerospace and defence investments. 

This follows significant work which the Fund has already undertaken, following petitions in December and appeals from Bristol City Council to divest from aerospace and defence companies which supply Israel.

The pension fund has £18m or 0.3% of its £6 billion assets invested in such companies, which primarily supply NATO partners and the UK government.

We’ve received questions about our investments, particularly those in aerospace and defence industries. The Pension Committee on 13 December was also asked about our investments in companies whose products are used by the Israeli military. 

The Committee will review the statements and the legal and financial position, and consider the issue at a public Committee meeting in early 2025.

It has been a year of encouraging progress and development. 

The Fund is in robust financial health, with an improved 98% funding level at 31 March 2024. 

This improved position has enabled us to deliver stable employer contributions, critical given ongoing strain in local government finances. 

On 14 November 2024 the government announced proposed changes to how your local government pension scheme (LGPS ) invests.  

Your contributions into the pension scheme and your benefits are set by law. There is no proposal to change these as part of this review.

Our 2024 Responsible Investment Report highlights the investment risks and opportunities the Fund faces. These include climate change, human rights and biodiversity. 

This year we examine the investment case for solar energy, positive impact via affordable housing investments and a forward look on natural capital investing.

We outline our focus areas for 2025 to ensure we meet our environmental, social, and financial priorities.

We’re investing £50 million to build affordable homes in the south-west and nationally over the next few years. 

Our new investment will fund approximately 250 new affordable homes for up to 1,000 people, a fifth of which will be in the Avon area.

Growth was a common theme for the financial year 2023/24. Whether looking at total payments to members, the number of employers in the fund or the overall fund assets, most arrows point upwards. 

Our robust financial position, with pension fund assets reaching £5.83 billion, brings an improved 98% funding position (up from 95% the previous year).

Have you ever wondered how the money in your pension is invested? If so, you may like to hear about our investment in local solar farms. We recently committed 3% of our assets to local impact investments like this South Gloucestershire solar farm. The solar farm will generate clean energy and help us achieve our new net zero 2045 goal. It will also generate a good financial return.