PRESS RELEASE Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934 or email [email protected] Tuesday, January 30, 2024 SINGING ON PRESCRIPTION Reports this week from scientists at the University of Exeter underlines how singing can keep your mind sharp in older age and avoid Dementia in later years. Bath-based choir leader and charity founder Grenville Jones has always shouted from the rooftops that “singing should be on prescription”. With over 35 years experience directing and conducting choirs Grenville has seen first-hand the positive effects that singing has particularly on older people. As founder of the Goldies Charity, introduced by him 15 years ago, his charity now runs over 160 Sing & Smile sessions across England and Wales for older isolated people. It is however his choir leadership that has impressed upon him how people’s lives positively gain from regular singing in a choir. Twelve years ago he introduced a project which encourages Singing in the Afternoon. Now in 2024 he runs 25 ‘Good Afternoon Choirs’ across the West of England reaching out to over 1100 people who enjoy and attend their weekly Good Afternoon Choir. “Anyone who leads a choir will tell you about the positive effects on their singers by participating in a choir rehearsal. We see it week in and week out and this recent report from the University of Exeter further underlines the value of what researchers refer to as the ‘executive function’. Singing and playing an instrument are positively linked to better brain health.” Grenville (75) himself still leads four of his afternoon choirs each week with over 200 singers and in his past years of choir leadership has taken thousands of choir rehearsals. Having seen the value that singing in the afternoon brings to the lives of mature people, Grenville is planning to introduce his daytime choirs across the United Kingdom. “In the West of England we have 12 brilliant choir leaders and the search is on now to find more talented people who would like to work with us and develop afternoon choirs in their individual areas.” Back to the Goldies Charity where each month hundreds of older people will attend the singalong sessions. Grenville is always to emphasise that his Goldies Charity and his choir work are different but, at the end of the day, the message from Grenville is a simple one… “Singing should be on prescription.” www.goodafternoonchoir.org www.grenvillejones.biz www.golden-oldies.org.uk ENDS NB
As well as his choir leadership and charity work Grenville is also the conductor of two evening choirs in the Bath area. Last week it was announced that the Good Afternoon Choirs had raised over £30,000 in 2023 for local charities with their fundraising concerts
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We are thrilled to announce that our Patron Sir Cliff Richard gifted our Goldies Charity with 4 tickets to his Blue Saphire Tour at Hammersmith Event in Apollo this November.
Felicity from South Somerset (pictured here) and Paul from Cardiff are the lucky winners, receiving 2 tickets each. Felicity dropped us a line after attending the concert on the 12th November to say “What a wonderful concert! It was great and I am so lucky to have gone. Thanks to The Goldies charity for making it possible!” Thank you to all our 200 entries, and sorry there weren’t tickets for everyone! Felicity has done a lovely interview on BBC Radio Somerset if you’d like to listen… https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0gktvcm - about 48 mins in – you may need to set up a BBC account. Goldies would like to welcome two new Sing&Smile session leaders. Jane will run our Stanton Drew Goldies on the fourth Wednesday of every month 11am – 12pm and Mel will run our Chilcompton Goldies every fourth Thursday of every month 10.30am – 11.30am.
Good luck ladies! On a hot and sunny September day, Goldies Wells group were thrilled to be invited to the Bishops Palace. We enjoyed some lovely Sandwiches and cake in the Stableyard followed by a jolly good sing in the chapel. The acoustics and architecture were absolutely beautiful, the dancing was fabulous and the building was lovely and cool. Our thanks to the Bishops Palace for allowing us to use their stunning facilities and giving us access to the delightful gardens for the afternoon, what a treat! A huge warm welcome to our two newest Sing & Smile session leaders, Christine and Lisa. Christine is running a session in Yatton and Lisa will be running sessions across our BANES area! Good luck ladies! A surprise guest popped into St. Columb Memory Café, at the Oasis Centre, St. Columb on 13th July, where Emma Peck runs a popular Sing & Smile Goldies session. Everyone was very excited to see Queen Camilla join in with the afternoon activities.
Goldies hosted a jam-packed event in Chard on Thursday 6th July at Chard Guildhall from 11.00am-3.00pm. The event was completely FREE and OPEN TO ALL. There were lots of free taster activities, including Belly Dancing and Circle Dance, performances from Redstart Primary School and local ukulele band, the Chaffcombe Reservoir Dogs. There was also the chance to talk with other South Somerset Age Support groups and, of course... lots of fun Goldies Sing-alongs!! With over 100 people attending, a fabulous time was had by all.
Goldies are delighted to announce funding from the Masonic Charitable Foundation which will be received in instalments over the next three years, supporting our activities in and around Somerset. We celebrated with members of the Somerset Freemasons at the Chard BIG SING on 6th July and we’re planning some fun extra special events over the coming months… watch this space…
Goldies' 'Sing & Smile' sessions across England and Wales celebrated the King’s Coronation weekend in April and May 2023 with a special booklet of songs filled with popular hits from the Kings memorable years, including some of his all-time favourite artists – like the Three Degrees who performed at his 30th Birthday party in 1978. Each group ran their own personalised events; a Royalty Theme with cakes and snacks to share, a Royal Quiz, red white and blue fancy dress, brought in Royalty memorabilia just to name a few Click HERE to find out more… PRESS RELEASE...
www.golden-oldies.org.uk www.goldiescymru.org.uk Goldies Sing for THE KING The Goldies Charity, well known and loved for its popular fun social Sing & Smile sing-alongs across England & Wales, will be bringing communities together to celebrating the Kings Coronation in style this May! The Golden-Oldies Charity, more fondly referred to as ‘Goldies’, was founded by Bath-based musician Grenville Jones in 2007. Goldies community-based Sing&Smile activities now number over 120 groups across England and Wales in Libraries, Community Centres and Church halls. Goldies will be celebrating the Coronation weekend at all their groups with a special booklet of songs filled with popular hits from the Kings memorable years, including some of his all-time favourite artists – like the Three Degrees who performed at his 30th Birthday party in 1978. Cheryl, Programme Area Leader for Wales Cymru commented; “It’s fantastic that we will be celebrating the Kings Coronation at our sessions. It’s a historic event that means a great deal to many of our participants, I’ve had some really positive feedback and so many ideas about what they would like to do at their groups, May will be an eventful joyful month.” Each group will be doing something a little different; a Royalty Theme with cakes and snacks to share and Royalty memorabilia. Joanne, South Somerset Leader said; “Chard are really looking forward to making our May session special, we’re extending it and will all be wearing red, white and blue. We’re bringing in some snacks and look forward to adding a Royalty Quiz into the proceedings.” Combating isolation in local communities with FUN and UPLIFTING musical activities, Goldies sessions are filled with laughter and chat whilst singing along to the popular hits of the 50s onwards. Popular songs featuring artists such as the charity’s Patron Sir Cliff Richard, Tom Jones, Elvis, Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark and many more. Stephanie leads a Gloucestershire group; “I’ve Just received my coronation pack, how wonderful. There are so many more people joining our session at the moment, it’s great to see people feeling ready to re-join their local community after the pandemic. Everyone comments on how fantastic a jolly good sing makes them feel.” SINGING IS GOOD FOR YOU! Apart from being fun and uplifting, singing has lots of health benefits? A good sing can stimulate your immune responses, release pain relieving endorphins, improve sleep and reduce snoring, improve lung capacity and posture, tone facial and stomach muscles. Singing is a great stress reliever too and is well known for improving mental health, supporting those experiencing grief and bereavement, and developing a sense of belonging and connectivity. Monica, a Session Leader in Yorkshire said; “I’ve had the Coronation pack in post, what a lovely idea. My groups will be bringing in some snacks and some items for a raffle. They will love the pamphlet and several have asked for Goldies T-Shirts too. We love Goldies and we are proud to be part of this great charity.” Our thanks to St Monica trust in Bristol for supporting our Sing & Smile sessions in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and B&NES with a small grant from their Coronation Grant scheme. In Wales the Moondance Foundation is the fantastic supporter. Goldies Sing&Smile sessions are open to everyone, giving people “something to look forward to”, a chance to get out, make new friends and most importantly, have fun. Goldies is not a choir, you don't have to be able to sing to join, just love music and socialising. There is a recommended £3 donation to attend. The Charity is always looking to recruit new session leaders and volunteers and to hear from organisations who work with older isolated people. Visit the website www.golden-oldies.org.uk , call the office on 01761 470006 or email [email protected] for more information. |
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