President's Welcome

President 2011, Julian Telling

As a Bristolian I believe Bristol is undoubtedly one of the country's best cities; I am of course biassed. The City is unique, with a long history deeply enriched by tradition. No less is true of the Grateful Society, established in 1758 and one of Bristol's oldest charities that support the elderly in our community.

It is reassuring that such a charity has for centuries succeeded by well-tried methods. Even so, the challenges outlined below may well mean that the Society will need to be ever more inventive in achieving its aims.

The Department of Work and Pensions recently announced that 10 million of us will live to 100 - that's a lot of birthday cards for the Queen to send out! Almost 1/3 of the UK population is over the age of 50 and we are living longer because of better living standards, diet and medical innovation. It is not all good news: people will have to work to a later age, sell assets and save more to support a retirement that could last 30 years or more.

At the moment 22.5% of our entire economic output goes on "age related expenditure" this is expected to rise to 27% by 2050.

Unfortunately care for the elderly is not a priority and already it is estimated that 300,000 elderly do not receive the care required.

I feel both honoured and privileged to be this year's President. The Society not only provides grants to the elderly but also supports a variety of projects, whilst pastoral care is given through the excellent work of the Society's Ladies Committee. Further details are available from the website

The Society's income is almost entirely derived from the Presidents Annual Appeal which traditionally runs for a short period in early November. A donation today really can make a difference in helping the elderly in the City and County of Bristol.

2011 will be remembered as the year of austerity, with serious consequences for the elderly, so your support is more crucial today than at any other time. Please make a difference today by making a donation.

Julian P Telling, President 2011

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