A GROUP is celebrating its first birthday at Silsden.

The Golden-Oldies charity – which provides monthly activities nationally for older, isolated people – began sessions at the town's Methodist church a year ago.

Now former Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds, who attended the inaugural meeting in her civic capacity, is returning next Thursday (Nov 3) to help mark the milestone.

And she will present a £1,000 cheque to Golden-Oldies founder Grenville Jones to support the development of new groups in the Bradford district.

"The charity does fantastic work with older people," said Cllr Dodds.

"As Lord Mayor, I attended the hugely-enjoyable first session at Silsden. It was truly a fabulous event and the enjoyment on the faces of the older people was plain to see.

"In the Bradford district we have a growing ageing population and there is a need to engage with older people from many different communities and cultures."

Sessions also began at Burley-in-Wharfedale earlier this year, an open meeting has been held at Cross Hills and there are plans to introduce Golden-Oldies at Embsay in the new year.

There are currently 150 groups at locations across England and Wales.