ALL ABOUT OUR GOLDIES CHARITY
Songs and smiles! Lets pop in to the weekly Goldies Cymru session that takes place in Rhydypennau Library in Cardiff. Get ready to join in with the folks as they belt out “Sweet Caroline”.
This hugely popular weekly session is lead by Sue Thomas, our brilliant Goldies leader …. Goldies is good for you, it brings a smile to your face and there’s nothing better than a good old fashioned singalong.
Now in its 16th year and more commonly known simply as “GOLDIES," our founder is the highly respected Bath-based musician Grenville Jones who recognised how singing and music, brightened the lives and wellbeing of the many people across his choirs. Grenville himself took the first daytime singing and activity sessions in sheltered housing community rooms in and around Bath back in 2007. Since that time the work of the Charity has spread across England and Wales (GOLDIES Cymru).
Forced by COVID to cancel daytime sessions, they have now restarted across England and Wales - these are in community rooms, church halls and libraries – they are taken by our dedicated freelance leaders. More sessions are starting back in the months ahead and Grenville is always anxious to point out that the charity he started, is NOT about choir singing, but sing-alongs to the popular memory-evoking hits of the 50s onwards.. SONGS and SMILES lie at the heart of all we do.
In England there are now nearly 100 monthly Goldies' 'Sing & Smile' sessions taking place across B&NES, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, East London, Essex, Gloucestershire, Mendip, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, South Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Swindon, Wiltshire and Yorkshire. Find out where your local group is by clicking HERE.
GOLDIES recognises the issues of loneliness amongst the increasingly older population. It gives vulnerable people a REASON to get out, to be with others, laugh, sing out, and to make new friends.
We ask everyone attending please to make a donation of £3 per session to help us sustain them and support our work
with older isolated folk.
Contact the office for more information on 01761 470006 or email [email protected]
Forced by COVID to cancel daytime sessions, they have now restarted across England and Wales - these are in community rooms, church halls and libraries – they are taken by our dedicated freelance leaders. More sessions are starting back in the months ahead and Grenville is always anxious to point out that the charity he started, is NOT about choir singing, but sing-alongs to the popular memory-evoking hits of the 50s onwards.. SONGS and SMILES lie at the heart of all we do.
In England there are now nearly 100 monthly Goldies' 'Sing & Smile' sessions taking place across B&NES, Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, East London, Essex, Gloucestershire, Mendip, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, South Somerset, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Swindon, Wiltshire and Yorkshire. Find out where your local group is by clicking HERE.
GOLDIES recognises the issues of loneliness amongst the increasingly older population. It gives vulnerable people a REASON to get out, to be with others, laugh, sing out, and to make new friends.
We ask everyone attending please to make a donation of £3 per session to help us sustain them and support our work
with older isolated folk.
Contact the office for more information on 01761 470006 or email [email protected]
There is a dedicated website for Goldies in Wales with full details of sessions and much, much more!
www.goldiescymru.org.uk
www.goldiescymru.org.uk
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
The Health and Wellbeing effect on elderly and isolated older people across England and Wales by the Golden-Oldies charity has resulted in considerable positive evidence and feedback. Recently, with National Lottery support, new daytime Sing & Smile ‘Goldies’ sessions have started in Wales in Conwy, in partnership with the local Borough Council’s Health and Wellbeing team. Now in 2024, recent evidence from a new session in Wales further underlines how the Goldies charity brightens lives and improves wellbeing. One attendee is an 89 year old lady who lives alone. This is what she told us …
“I suffer with COPD. I don’t go out often as I am left breathless and struggling to walk. I am on the Community Wellbeing Team mailing list and receive emails about sessions that are running. I had been looking for a number of years for a singing group, as I know singing is good for people with COPD. I have benefitted from the sessions greatly and, after was able to walk to the shop and walk home. I would have to stop to get my breath. However, after the session I was able to do this without stopping.”
For full details of Goldies sessions click here
“I suffer with COPD. I don’t go out often as I am left breathless and struggling to walk. I am on the Community Wellbeing Team mailing list and receive emails about sessions that are running. I had been looking for a number of years for a singing group, as I know singing is good for people with COPD. I have benefitted from the sessions greatly and, after was able to walk to the shop and walk home. I would have to stop to get my breath. However, after the session I was able to do this without stopping.”
For full details of Goldies sessions click here
FOREVER YOUNG 2024
FOREVER YOUNG – Thursday April 25 and the Pavilion in Bath was the venue for a Goldies celebration day – bringing together children from Primary Schools with older residents. Our video shows a group of Goldies session leaders from around the Bath & North East Somerset area singing out for Goldies!
On Thursday December 14th it was announced that Grenville Jones had received the Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award on behalf of the Goldies Charity as the daily award winner and the UK’s 2217th recipient.
Grenville's response to winning the award was:
“On behalf of the Golden-Oldies Charity and the hundreds of older people whose lives are brightened by Songs & Smiles I wish to send a huge message of thanks to you for recognising the value of our work.”
We are always looking for new session leaders across England and Wales. If you would like to know more about being a Goldies session leader, then PLEASE, PLEASE contact the Goldies office, we would love to hear from you
- [email protected] or telephone 01761 470006
- [email protected] or telephone 01761 470006
WHY OUR WORK IS SO IMPORTANT?
12% of older people feel trapped in their own home - 6% of older people leave their house once a week or less - Nearly 200,000 older people in the UK don’t get help to get out of their house or flat - 17% of older people are in contact with family, friends and neighbours less than once a week and 11% are in contact less than once a month - Over half (51%) of all people aged 75 and over live alone - 36% of people aged 65 and over in the UK feel out of touch with the pace of modern life and 9% say they feel cut off from society - Half of all older people (about 5 million) say the television is their main company - These statistics on loneliness and social isolation were taken from a report produced by the Campaign to End Loneliness.
Our Goldies Charity Shop is in Keynsham High Street, supporting our sessions in the Bath and North East Somerset area. Great bargains, special offers and much, much more... The next time you are in Keynsham, make sure you drop in to pick up a bargain. We welcome good quality donations and the shop telephone no is 0117 329 3910.
STUDY ON OUR GOLDIES CHARITY
A new Academic impact study was commissioned at the end of 2019 and the full report is now available (April 2020) This study was made possible the support of The National Lottery Wales and the Moondance Foundation. A number of Focus Groups took place and the conclusion statement includes a number of comments from those who attended. Here is just one of them: “It has totally changed my life. It brings me joy and peace. I struggled to cope with understanding the loss of my husband and found it hard to find any happiness. Goldies takes me out of depression and has helped me immensely.“
To access the full report CLICK HERE
To access the full report CLICK HERE
MORE GOLDIES NEWS ....
October 2024
Ho, Ho, Ho Christmas is on its way! We are busy here in the office planning for our Big Christmas Singing Events.
We kick off with North Somerset on Thursday 28th November at Nailsea Methodist Church from 11am – 2pm. Joining us on the day are Kingshill Church School and the Kooky Ukes with all our usual fun Christmas Sings!
Bristol/South Glos is next on 3rd December at St Michael’s Church Centre, Stoke Gifford from 1.30pm – 4pm. St Micheal’s Primary School will be singing with us and hopefully entertaining us on the day.
Our Wells Goldies have been kindly invited to Bishop’s Palace on 4th December for another sing in the Chapel. Such a beautiful setting, and even more so at Christmas.
On 5th December, our Swindon Groups will be getting together at Coleview Community Centre, Swindon from 11am – 1.45pm and will be entertained by Covingham Park Primary School. We hope to share some singing altogether.
Our South Somerset Groups will have their Christmas Sing on 6th December from 11am – 2pm at Martock Parish Hall. They will be joined by Martock Primary School and Reservoir Dogs Ukulele Group who have entertained us before at a previous event back in 2023 at Chard Guildhall. Lots of fun to be had by all.
On the very same day (6th December), Goldies Essex Sing&Smile Groups are meeting at Braintree Community Centre from 2pm – 4pm. They are being joined by Beckers Green School and Sue Edwards who is one of our Session Leaders has arranged for her choir the Braintree Male Voice Choir to entertain our attendees, they’re in for a real treat!
On 13th December some of our BANES groups will be attending The Key Centre in Keynsham from 2pm – 4pm. The Kooky Ukes are joining us a second time which is wonderful.
We bring the events to an end on 19th December with the Exeter Big Sing at Edwards Court. For more information, please ask Katie our Session Leader or call the office on 01761 470006.
As you can see, we have a full calendar of events. Please do contact us if you require information on any of our Christmas Singing Events at [email protected]
September 2024
Welcome to Sam Grief who has become a new Session Leader for some of our Bath Goldies Sing & Smile Groups. Sam will take over our patients only group at St Martins Hospital, South Down Methodist Church every 3rd Thursday of a month from 10.45am – 11.45am and Hanover Court Community Room, Larkhall every 1st Tuesday of a month from 2pm – 3pm. Please do pop a-long to the two open sessions and join Sam for a fun-filled hour. We wish Sam all the very best in her new position.
Welcome to Sam Grief who has become a new Session Leader for some of our Bath Goldies Sing & Smile Groups. Sam will take over our patients only group at St Martins Hospital, South Down Methodist Church every 3rd Thursday of a month from 10.45am – 11.45am and Hanover Court Community Room, Larkhall every 1st Tuesday of a month from 2pm – 3pm. Please do pop a-long to the two open sessions and join Sam for a fun-filled hour. We wish Sam all the very best in her new position.
August 2024
Frank Wilson is one of our regular Goldies Sing & Smile participants at our Yeovil, Queen Camel, and Martock sessions. Jaine Thorne our Session Leader tells us Frank regularly plays the harmonica at these sessions for our attendees who really enjoy his playing and singing a-long to the tunes. Thank you, Frank, and keep up the good work.
Frank Wilson is one of our regular Goldies Sing & Smile participants at our Yeovil, Queen Camel, and Martock sessions. Jaine Thorne our Session Leader tells us Frank regularly plays the harmonica at these sessions for our attendees who really enjoy his playing and singing a-long to the tunes. Thank you, Frank, and keep up the good work.
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July 2024
Goldies Chairman John Crick attended a lovely presentation evening held by Keynsham Town Council on 11th July in Keynsham Library. Goldies were lucky enough to be awarded money to help towards the costs of Keynsham sessions including our Sing&Smile at the Key Centre, Keynsham Methodist Church Charlton Road, BS31 2JA on the last Friday of a month from 2pm – 3pm and our bigger singing events. John is pictured receiving the cheque from Caitlyn at Keynsham Town Council who also works in our Goldies Charity Shop on Keynsham High Street. A huge thank you to all involved. |
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June 2024
A wonderful day was had by our Wells Goldies Sing&Smile Group along with residents from Mondyes Court in the amazing Bishops Palace on Wednesday 5th June. Starting with sandwiches, strawberries, (kindly supplied by our wonderful Wells session leaders Annie and Al), tea and cake followed by an hour of singing, dancing, fun and laughter in the beautiful Chapel after. Some of our Goldies took the opportunity to walk around the lovely gardens later in the day. Thank you to all those who attended and for the Bishops Palace for accommodating us.
A wonderful day was had by our Wells Goldies Sing&Smile Group along with residents from Mondyes Court in the amazing Bishops Palace on Wednesday 5th June. Starting with sandwiches, strawberries, (kindly supplied by our wonderful Wells session leaders Annie and Al), tea and cake followed by an hour of singing, dancing, fun and laughter in the beautiful Chapel after. Some of our Goldies took the opportunity to walk around the lovely gardens later in the day. Thank you to all those who attended and for the Bishops Palace for accommodating us.
May 2024
Goldies have moved!! Our head office has moved around the corner on Westfield Industrial Estate. You can now find us at Broadway House, Third Avenue, Westfield Industrial Estate, Radstock, Somerset BA3 4XD. Our phone number is still the same.
Goldies have moved!! Our head office has moved around the corner on Westfield Industrial Estate. You can now find us at Broadway House, Third Avenue, Westfield Industrial Estate, Radstock, Somerset BA3 4XD. Our phone number is still the same.
April 2024 - 'Forever Young' Intergenerational event
What a wonderful fun day everyone had our Goldies Bath Pavilion Intergenerational event on 25th April!
Our Goldies were entertained with wonderful singing from four local Primary schools, Welton, Chandag, Saltford and Combe Down after an opening speech from the Mayor.
Grenville’s Good Afternoon choirs joined us after lunch singing lovely harmonies with a Mary Poppins medley, On Top Of The World and Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head. Our Goldies session leaders had everyone on their feet dancing, jigging, clapping, and singing along to a few hits including Sweet Caroline, I’m a Believer and Bring Me Sunshine. We finished the day with everyone singing our ‘Forever Young’ song which was especially written for the event. It really was a fantastic day bringing the generations together through song.
What a wonderful fun day everyone had our Goldies Bath Pavilion Intergenerational event on 25th April!
Our Goldies were entertained with wonderful singing from four local Primary schools, Welton, Chandag, Saltford and Combe Down after an opening speech from the Mayor.
Grenville’s Good Afternoon choirs joined us after lunch singing lovely harmonies with a Mary Poppins medley, On Top Of The World and Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head. Our Goldies session leaders had everyone on their feet dancing, jigging, clapping, and singing along to a few hits including Sweet Caroline, I’m a Believer and Bring Me Sunshine. We finished the day with everyone singing our ‘Forever Young’ song which was especially written for the event. It really was a fantastic day bringing the generations together through song.
March 2024 - 'Forever Young' Intergenerational event
Goldies are very excited to announce our forthcoming ‘Forever Young’ Intergenerational event - kindly sponsored by Mc Carthy Stone Foundation, the Rotary Club Of Bath and the Charter Trustees Of The City of Bath - at Bath Pavilion on 25th April. The Mayor will be opening the event with four local Primary schools - Welton, Chandag, Saltford and Combe Down - entertaining our Goldies with a few songs they’ve been working on. There will be a little Goldies Sing&Smile session, followed by a performance by Grenville’s Good Afternoon Choirs. At the end everyone will come together singing ‘Forever Young’ which is a song written and composed specially for the day that we have all been busy learning.
Goldies are very excited to announce our forthcoming ‘Forever Young’ Intergenerational event - kindly sponsored by Mc Carthy Stone Foundation, the Rotary Club Of Bath and the Charter Trustees Of The City of Bath - at Bath Pavilion on 25th April. The Mayor will be opening the event with four local Primary schools - Welton, Chandag, Saltford and Combe Down - entertaining our Goldies with a few songs they’ve been working on. There will be a little Goldies Sing&Smile session, followed by a performance by Grenville’s Good Afternoon Choirs. At the end everyone will come together singing ‘Forever Young’ which is a song written and composed specially for the day that we have all been busy learning.
February 2024 - New Essex Leader
A huge welcome from Goldies to Sue Edwards who is our new session leader for Chelmsford Beaulieu. Sue has taken over from Rob Cadman and will continue to run the session on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 11.30am - 12.30pm at Beaulieu Community Centre, Beaulieu Square, Chelmsford, CM1 6AU. Sue would love to see you there, so please pop along. Sue will shortly be taking over our Goldies Hawkwell session at Emmaunel Church, Main Road, SS5 4NR 2pm - 3pm every 2nd Tuesday of a month. We're sure Sue will be a great asset to Goldies.
A huge welcome from Goldies to Sue Edwards who is our new session leader for Chelmsford Beaulieu. Sue has taken over from Rob Cadman and will continue to run the session on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 11.30am - 12.30pm at Beaulieu Community Centre, Beaulieu Square, Chelmsford, CM1 6AU. Sue would love to see you there, so please pop along. Sue will shortly be taking over our Goldies Hawkwell session at Emmaunel Church, Main Road, SS5 4NR 2pm - 3pm every 2nd Tuesday of a month. We're sure Sue will be a great asset to Goldies.
Christmas 2023 - Festive Big Sings
What a wonderful Festive season we had in December with our 5 Christmas Big Sings!
Our Goldies had so much fun coming together to share Singing and Dancing. We had entertainment from Ukulele Groups, Primary School Choirs, Chair Pilates, Chair Dancing, Christmas Quizzes and Raffles (prizes donated by local businesses and Goldies) with lovely food and plenty of tea and coffee!
At our North Somerset event we even had a surprise visit from Frosty the Snowman and a Goldies snowball fight!
C***** from North Somerset said ‘There are just so many smiling people, this event has really made my Christmas’.
Our Goldies had so much fun coming together to share Singing and Dancing. We had entertainment from Ukulele Groups, Primary School Choirs, Chair Pilates, Chair Dancing, Christmas Quizzes and Raffles (prizes donated by local businesses and Goldies) with lovely food and plenty of tea and coffee!
At our North Somerset event we even had a surprise visit from Frosty the Snowman and a Goldies snowball fight!
C***** from North Somerset said ‘There are just so many smiling people, this event has really made my Christmas’.
Company Number: 6369123 - Charity Registration Number: 1121600
OSCR Number SC05 1241