An Interview with BBC Radio Sussex
In August Chris White-Smith, our Regional Partner in West Sussex, was interviewed by Sarah Gorrel, Presenter at BBC Radio Sussex.
When asked about the interview Chris says ‘Seven years ago, we launched Promedica24 into West Sussex, and were immediately looking for community events to support. We heard about The Glamour Club and immediately saw the connection between our business, and the growing prevalence of loneliness in the community, and what a great cause this was, to bring people together for a great few hours of fun and connection.
29 events later and the profile of our event has now captured the attention of the BBC no less, an opportunity I was delighted to take to discuss our progress to a wider audience, in the hope we may grow this event to other parts of West Sussex or the country.
Very proud and grateful to Janice and the team of volunteers, who have given us this amazing platform to promote our live-in care service to the West Sussex community. Here’s to many more to come.’
Interview between Sarah Gorrell, Presenter at BBC Radio Sussex, Chris White-Smith, Regional Partner at Promedica24, and Flora Gritti, regular attendee of The Glamour Club – 23rd August 2024
In this interview, Sarah Gorrell discusses The Glamour Club, a bi-monthly event in Worthing aimed at tackling loneliness by offering a sophisticated afternoon tea with music and dancing for people aged 50 and above, though all ages are welcome. Chris White-Smith, Regional Partner at Promedica24, which has sponsored all Glamour Club events since it was founded in 2018, explains how the event brings the community together and helps to combat loneliness. Flora Gritti, a regular attendee, shares her love for the inclusive atmosphere, where people from different age groups and backgrounds dress up and connect over food, music, and dancing. The Glamour Club’s mission to combat isolation through fun and glamour resonates with attendees, making it a popular, sold-out event.
Sarah Gorrell: “Sometimes we like to go out dancing and have a really fun night out, but we don’t want it to be a night because it’s quite nice to take to our beds at a reasonable time. Now, there’s a new trend in daytime raves for the 30s. Day Fever came back to Brighton seafront back in April, designed for that time when you reach an age where you don’t have the time or energy to be staying up late, dancing the night away – you still want to have a party, but you want to be in your bed at a reasonable time. If clubbing is not your thing, how about something a little more sophisticated?
“The Glamor Club is a series of bi-monthly events in Worthing. It’s created for those age 50 plus but everyone’s welcome. The idea is to bring people together for a great night out during the day, and there’s an event happening tomorrow. Let’s find out, first of all, from Chris White Smith, who’s from Promedica24 – the care provider who supports the event. Chris, I think however old we are, a lot of us will relate to the idea that we like a night out, but that sometimes we don’t want it to be a night, we want it to be a little earlier.”
Chris White-Smith: “Absolutely. Sarah, a great night out during the day, that’s what we offer.”
Sarah Gorrell: “So tell us a little bit more about what’s going on.”
Chris White-Smith: “So we have been involved now for seven years. My wife Jo and I at Promedica24 have been providing live-in home care across the whole of Sussex for the past seven years. Actually, Promedica24 has been caring for people nationally for over 20 years, and the home is precisely the environment where those who may be lonely are at their most vulnerable.
“So you can see the easy connection between what we do in fulfilling the wishes of all those who need support but prefer to remain living independently at home, the need to remain connected to the community, the Glamour Club, which is all about supporting and tackling loneliness in the community, and why we’ve been supporters of 29 events now for the past seven years.
“We have 60 to 70 guests regularly who come along, bi-monthly on a Saturday. Jo and I and all of our lovely volunteers don pinnies – we love putting those pinnies on and serving tea, sandwiches, and cakes to all our wonderful guests who have massive smiles on their faces and enjoy three hours of great entertainment every other month.”
Sarah Gorrell: “An afternoon tea. You can’t beat that. It’s a very sophisticated occasion. And you also have some older style music, but also stuff from the noughties as well. So a real mix.”
Chris White-Smith: “Absolutely. And, actually, most people are up on the dance floor for most of those three hours. It’s brilliant.”
Sarah Gorrell: “And in terms of who can come along – is anyone welcome?”
Chris White-Smith: “Everyone’s welcome. Obviously, we do have a limit on numbers, and we are sold out every month. We’re sold out tomorrow – it’s our summer Hawaii Five-O! party, where everyone will be donning their Hawaiian shirts and looking very glamorous as always. But we have events coming up in the autumn, at Christmas, all the sort of classic times of the year: Valentine’s Day, Easter.
“But I just need to, if I may, give a massive shout-out and a mention to Janice, who’s the founder of a charity called It Socks to be Lonely Sometimes, which was launched to tackle loneliness in the Worthing community, and which was the inspiration, really, for The Glamour Club. And to the amazing volunteers who come along to every event and make it so special for our guests. And of course, it wouldn’t be the same without the famous Worthing Town Crier, Bob Smytherman, who takes the energy in the room to another level, and who’s attended virtually every event. Without them, these events just wouldn’t happen.”
Sarah Gorrell: “Well, thank you for joining us. We’re going to talk a little more about this to a regular at the events, because I suspect that this does actually become quite, you know – once you’ve been to one, you want to go to more. So, let’s talk to Flora, who’s from Littlehampton, is 67, and has been going to The Glamour Club since 2019. Flora, this sounds like a lot of fun. I can understand why you go over and over again.”
Flora Gritti: “Thank you, Sarah, you’re correct. It is an absolutely amazing event. Saying it’s an evening function during the day is spot on. Janice Moth came up with this idea to tackle loneliness and isolation through the medium of The Glamour Club. It’s all-inclusive. It’s not ageist at all. We have as young as 8, and my friend that I take with me is 92. There’s an opportunity for any age, any gender, any disability, everything is encompassed and welcomed, and it’s just an absolute blast.”
Sarah Gorell: “Aside from weddings, you don’t see that age range quite often. At events, we kind of divide into different ages. So it’s lovely to have the whole spectrum and people coming together and enjoying themselves. But let’s just go back to the first one that you went to. Did you go on your own? And is it one of those things that is easy to go to if you haven’t got anyone to take along with you?”
Flora Gritti: “Well, I actually wrote a poem about this. I said that it was it was scary. And although I went in by myself, I knew somebody in there, so that did make a difference. And what I tried to put over in the poem is that you’ve really got to gather your loins, hitch up your skirt, put your smile on, and just go for it, because being at home on your own is, you know, one of the lowest feelings that you can explore.
“What Janice Moth has created is an opportunity for people to come together over great food, cakes (which I love), music, and friendship. I make it my business to go around to everybody in the session during the event, speak to people and make them feel welcome, I hope. And you know, just involve them in in being part of the event.”
Sarah Gorrell: “It sounds like it’s quite a glamorous thing where people really get dressed up. So have you got your outfit sorted for this next one? Because this sounds like quite the occasion!”
Flora Gritti: “I’ve got my outfit sorted! But, as I said to a friend who I’ve also invited and is coming for the first time tomorrow, you could come in your underwear if you want to – well, maybe not! Although, we have had a few people who have been in very scant costumes. So yes, you could come in anything. My 92-year-old goes, I don’t want to dress up and the title Glamour Club puts me off. And I went, but that’s not the point. It’s about what the event is standing for. So yes, Janice has given it a beautiful title because it is glamorous. It is great to be, you know, having fun, smiling, laughing, listening to music, and enjoying the company of other people. I sit next to people I don’t know, and I go home with a new friend!”
Sarah Gorrell: “Fantastic. You can’t say better than that. And actually, whether you’re 8 or you’re 92, we all need a little bit of glamour in our lives. Thank you so much for joining us. Really lovely to talk to you both. So, The Glamour Club, it’s full for the next event, but they do host a number of events if you’re interested in going along. I do love an afternoon tea, and a variety of dancing is also on offer.”
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