 PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, March 23, 2017 It was Songs, Smiles and Celebrations at Rhydpennau Library this morning, Thursday March 23. Last Sunday March 19 the Goldies Cymru Charity won the Epic Award for Wales from the organisation, Voluntary Arts. They represent 63,000 groups across the UK and Goldies Cymru Programme Leader Rachel Parry received the award at a ceremony held at the Sage Gateshead. Rhydpennau Library is one of the increasing number of daytime singing and activity sessions organised by the Goldies Cymru Charity. Many hundreds across Wales and England attend the popular sessions which are based on the memory-evoking songs of the 50s and onwards. Rachel said; “To receive this recognition from Voluntary Arts clearly underlines the importance of our work with older isolated people. Rhydpennau is one of a number of daytime library sessions and today over 50 people were singing and smiling as we celebrated with Welsh cakes and a rather special cup of tea!” ENDS Our picture shows Rachel holding the engraved glass surrounded by the folk who look forward each week to their library Goldies session. Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.
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 PRESS RELEASE
Monday, March 20, 2017 The 2017 Epic Awards winners' reception took place at the Sage Gateshead on Sunday evening (19 March) as part of BBC Radio 3's Free Thinking Festival. Goldies Cymru were the winners of the National Wales Award. The Charity runs weekly singing sessions across South Wales, providing the opportunity for people who may be otherwise isolated to enjoy Sing and Smile sessions and build confidence and friendships. An award-winning intergenerational schools programme encourages communication between age groups. The Epic Awards, now in their seventh year, aim to inspire others to get involved and participate in artistic and creative activities. The Awards are run by Voluntary Arts and many of the 63,000 voluntary arts groups it represents have put themselves forward for the Awards. The judging panels in each of the nations selected a total of 32 groups to be shortlisted for the final awards. They are the premier awards for voluntary arts and creative groups across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland and groups travelled from all corners to celebrate with each other in Gateshead. The Award was received by Rachel Parry, Programme Leader for Goldies Cymru. The Goldies Charity founder said; “We are going to celebrate the Award at our Goldies session this THURSDAY March 23 at Rhydpennau Library, Llandennis Road, Cardiff, CF23 6EG. Our popular Goldies session takes place there from 10.30am to 12.00noon and we will celebrate with EPIC Welsh biscuits and a cup of tea! “We will raise our cups at around 11am with lots of Goldies songs and smiles everyone welcome.” ENDS Picture shows : Goldies Cymru’s Rachel Parry with Voluntary Arts Wales Co-ordinator Gareth Coles. Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE
Monday, March 6, 2017 Since its launch in Bath 10 years ago the Golden-Oldies Charity has grown from four original daytime singing and activity sessions in community rooms to over 150 across England and Wales. ‘Goldies’, as it is fondly known, now reaches out to hundreds of older vulnerable people through its regular daytime sessions and award-winning intergenerational schools programme. Those attending vary from older people living in isolation and in recent years founder Grenville Jones has seen an increasing number of adults living with dementia and their carers attending the sessions. Grenville said; “The Dementia Action Alliance recently reported that there are currently around 4,500 people living with dementia in B&NES and an estimated 10,000 carers. The increasing numbers of people living with dementia is regularly reported across the media and as a charity we know that participation in our singing sessions does make a difference to the lives of those attending.” Starting on Monday March 20 Goldies will launch a ‘dementia friendly’ session at The Orangery, 157 Englishcombe Lane, Bath, from 2.30pm-3.30pm this will be a monthly session which is open to people living with dementia and their carers across the area and is in partnership with Cedar Care. They will take place on the third Monday of each month with the next session on April 17. Grenville said; “Everyone is welcome and we hope that this will be the first of many Dementia Friendly sessions that we will introduce across England and Wales as we continue to grow in the months and years ahead.” From small beginnings in Bath the charity now runs its fun sing and smile sessions across the South West, as well as in Essex, the Midlands and North Yorkshire. In England there are plans to introduce Goldies in Liverpool, the Midlands, Devon and Cornwall by the close of 2018. Goldies Cymru is the charity’s Wales-based arm and earlier this month the Big Lottery Fund in Wales announced a major grant of £249,000 which will support the develop of 50 new singing and activity sessions across Mid and West Wales in the next three years. The charity recently featured in a BBC1 national TV programme entitled ‘Operation People Power’ which has resulted in many calls to the charity’s office enquiring about new UK sessions. ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. |
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