Unit prices explained

• Money contributed to a Family Investments Child Trust Fund Account goes into a unit trust called the Family Investments Child Trust Fund
• If you have chosen our ethical option, then the money goes into a unit trust called the Family Charities Ethical Trust
• If you have taken the account out through Barclays, the money will go into a security called Prosper 1
• These contributions are pooled together with money from other investors and invested in carefully selected assets. For example, shares, fixed interest securities, and/or cash
• These assets are then managed by fund managers on behalf of the investors. The Family Investments Child Trust Fund and Family Charities Ethical Trust are managed by New Star. Prosper 1 is managed by BarCap
• Each contribution by an individual will purchase 'units', which represent a share of the assets held by the trust
• The number of units in your child's account will be shown on their CTF statement, which we will send you every year
• The value of each unit is based on the value of the assets held by the trust, divided by the total number of units in issue

The value of your child's CTF account would be calculated by multiplying the number of units by the value of each unit. You should note that it is possible for values to fall as well as rise.