MORE SONGS, MORE SMILES!
Now in its twelfth 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 well being 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. Grenville is always anxious to point out however that the charity he started, GOLDIES is NOT a choir, but singing the popular memory-evoking hits of the 60s and onwards lies at the heart of all it does. GOLDIES recognises the issues of loneliness amongst the increasing older population. It gives vulnerable people a REASON to get out, to be with others, laugh, sing out, and to make new friends.
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As winners of the National Lottery Educational Category in 2018 we are delighted to announce that Goldies has launched its new 2020 Primary Schools Inter-generational programme for all primary schools in Wales and also in Essex. There is a new website: www.back2school.org.uk which will give you all the information you need – FREE project guidance books, stacked with ideas and suggestions for your school event when you invite older folk from your local community to come “Back 2 School.” The new programme is based on sharing memories of school days past and of course… there are NEW easy-to-sing medleys which you can also download free of charge. The new website is accessible in both Welsh and English and if you need further information then please contact info@back2school.org.uk |
An academic study of the impact of 'Goldies' daytime Sing&Smile sessions and community events on the lives of older and isolated people was undertaken in 2018. In its' conclusion "this evaluation concludes that there is a significant increase in positive mood, wellbeing and community spirit through attendance at 'Goldies' sessions. Many participants reported that they lived alone, experienced poor health and needed a reason to socialise. By attending a session 93% of participants claimed that they felt more involved in knowing their community."
On Wednesday October 9th our latest BIG SING took place at the Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli with hundreds of Goldies from across our Mid and West Wales Goldies Cymru Sessions. The day saw our session leaders on stage leading the singing with special entertainment and a memorable performance by the brilliant children from The Central Primary School, Port Talbot. They performed a number of songs to the delight of the audience. This event was made possible through the support of The National Lottery Community Fund - Wales. Here are some pictures from the day.
On Wednesday October 9th our latest BIG SING took place at the Ffwrnes Theatre, Llanelli with hundreds of Goldies from across our Mid and West Wales Goldies Cymru Sessions. The day saw our session leaders on stage leading the singing with special entertainment and a memorable performance by the brilliant children from The Central Primary School, Port Talbot. They performed a number of songs to the delight of the audience. This event was made possible through the support of The National Lottery Community Fund - Wales. Here are some pictures from the day.
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WE LOVE GOLDIES |
Read our latest roundup from many of the folk who
attend our daytime Goldies sessions by clicking HERE. |
WITH 200 DAYTIME SESSIONS ACROSS ENGLAND AND WALES WE ARE NOW DEVELOPING OUR WORK WITH OLDER ISOLATED PEOPLE IN EAST LONDONWith wonderful support of The Mercers' Company, the Golden-Oldies Charity are now hoping to work with Age Support Organisations in East London to introduce new daytime Sing&Smile sessions. If you live in that area and you would like to contact us then please email our founder, Grenville Jones - glj@golden-oldies.org.uk
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The charity still only employs one full time staff member and it has seen quite remarkable progress in the past 12 years. It now runs daytime singing and activity sessions at over 150 locations across SW England as well as in Staffordshire, Essex and Yorkshire. There are an increasing number of sessions in South Wales where we are known as Goldies Cymru with a dedicated Wales/England website. There are now 60 dedicated session leaders and those attending are older people who are socially isolated as well as people with learning difficulties and dementia. For many, attending a GOLDIES session is their lifeline. Regular training days are attended by session leaders from across England and Wales as well as Trustees, members of our management board and Goldies supporters.
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 our founder Grenville Jones - he would love to hear from you - glj@golden-oldies.org.uk
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 our founder Grenville Jones - he would love to hear from you - glj@golden-oldies.org.uk
Sing and Smile with GOLDIES
Our pictures above were taken from recent Goldies events from Bradford, Braintree, Uttoxeter, Swindon, Exeter, Cardiff and illustrate how we are brightening hundreds of lives across England and Wales. Coming soon - news of our next primary schools inter-generational programme. Goldies has exciting plans to develop its work across the UK reaching out to many more isolated lonely older people.
If you feel that you could help us, perhaps as a Session Leader, a Volunteer or through direct financial assistance, we would love to hear from you. Please contact our founder Grenville Jones by email on
grenville@golden-oldies.org.uk or you can telephone our office on 01761 470006 Thank you!
If you feel that you could help us, perhaps as a Session Leader, a Volunteer or through direct financial assistance, we would love to hear from you. Please contact our founder Grenville Jones by email on
grenville@golden-oldies.org.uk or you can telephone our office on 01761 470006 Thank you!
WHY IS OUR WORK 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.
Lisa Brown is pictured (above) with just some of the happy attendees at the launch of our Goldies session at Havering Asian Social & Welfare Association.
Thanks to the Co-Op Chelmsford for their support - our picture shows our Beaulieu Goldies session in Chelmsford.
A packed session at our new Hawkwell venue!
Pictured above are Goldies who attended the launches of two new Goldies sessions in Bath and Swindon this month - May.
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MORE GOLDIES NEWS...DEC 2019 - COMBE DOWN CHRISTMAS PARTY
Session Leader Sarah: ‘Please extend our thanks to Wessex Water and Grenville for the Combe Down Goldies party today. We had such a lovely time together. We all enjoyed a light buffet, some bucks fizz, a fun movie and of course a Christmas Goldies sing! What a lovely way to see in the festive season.’ (see pictures left) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DEC 9TH - SALISBURY CHRISTMAS PARTY
Lovely Christmas Party took place at St Paul’s Church in Salisbury on Monday 9th December. The Salisbury group welcomed the Romsey and Warminster groups for a fun afternoon of singing and the sharing of some festive goodies! Vik was certainly the best dressed, check out the Elf picture (LEFT), what a star!! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DEC 2019 - HOW A "SING-ALONG" WITH GOLDIES IS CHANGING THE LIVES OF ISOLATED PEOPLE ACROSS THE UK
Elderly care provider, Elder spoke to Grenville Jones, choirmaster of Golden Oldies. When he set up the first Golden Oldies in 2007, he had no idea that his singing groups for older people would take off so successfully. With over 200 regular sessions now held across the UK, “Goldies” as it’s known, provides a sociable and relaxed place for singers and non-singers to meet and enjoy themselves. We talked to Grenville about the positive power of making music together at any level. Read the full story HERE. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOV 25TH - GOLDIES LAUNCHES AT HAVERING ASIAN SOCIAL & WELFARE ASSOCIATION
A fantastic attendance for the launch of a new Goldies session at the Havering Asian Social and Welfare Association - HASWA. The launch was attended by Goldies Founder, Grenville Jones and the session was led by the effervescent Rob Cadman (who leads Goldies development across Essex) The HASWA community room is in Elm Park, Kilmartin Way, Romford and regular sessions will start in January on the SECOND MONDAY OF EACH MONTH, led by Lisa Brown. Lisa is pictured (left) with just some of the happy attendees. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NOV 2019 - BIG THANKS TO THE CO-OP CHELMSFORD
Big thanks to Co-op Chelmsford and their members for raising a whopping £5,294 for Sing&Smile Chelmsford!!!! We are delighted to have been funded by the Co-operative, already making a huge difference to many residents of Chelmsford. There are now three fun daytime social Goldies Sing&Smile sessions run in partnership with the Salvation Army, Action for Family Carers and the Beaulieu Community Centre pictured here. Fun and friendship for all! @coopUK #MakingaDifference #ItsWhatWeDo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sHa8OhoUxI ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- June 2019 - The new Hawkwell sessions begin with a bit of a crowd (see picture to the left) Fortunately extra books were in the car! Laughter and smiles from day one with anticipation of sessions to come much in evidence.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thursday May 16th – two new Goldies sessions started in Bath and Swindon. Our pictures show some of the folk who attended the Bath Salvation Army Citadel, Green Park and the 2nd photograph shows the Toothill Community Centre, Swindon, the venue for a new monthly session supported by Swindon Borough Council. For details of all Goldies sessions click HERE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- March 18 - Goldies Cymru goes Bollywood
Starting on Thursday evening April 4 from 6-7pm a new Goldies Cymru session based on Bollywood music and dance will take place at Penylan Library in the community centre. Click HERE to read more... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- February 28, 2019 - Goldies interview with BBC Radio Cymru
Lovely Gwen from Rhydypennau Library was interviewed by BBC Radio Cymru on Thursday, 28th February. Gwen told the BBC how Goldies has brought her so much joy and comfort since loosing her husband. She had made wonderful new friends and has become one of the best line dancers in the group. With a big smile and lots of laughter Gwen asked to sing 'Calon Lan' with the wonderful Graham who supports Goldies and drops in to visit every now and then. Over 57 Goldies were in the room joining in the singing. What a wonderful day! Just one day short of St David's Day. Dyed Gwyn Dewi Hapus! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Company Number: 6369123 - Charity Registration Number: 1121600