PRESS RELEASE
 
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
 
Singing leaders from the much-loved Goldies Charity are keeping in regular touch across England and Wales with hundreds of isolated lonely people.
 
Goldies was forced to cancel all its 220 sessions last month but in maintaining contact with its older folk through a variety of online options. The charity (better known simply as Goldies) started 13 years ago and has a huge reputation for the Songs&Smiles it brings to brighten lonely lives.
 
The Online Mini Sing&Smile Sessions are led by Rachel Parry and Cheryl Davies who are based in South Wales but the sessions are being accessed by Goldies from across England and Wales.
 
A regular Thursday 2.30pm online session is receiving thousands of views plus many favorable comments from older people in their homes. The Goldies sing the popular hits of the 60s and onwards and the regular weekly sing-alongs include all the much-loved melodies that form an integral part of our sessions.
 
“We have been staggered by the response and we know that the family members of our Goldies are spreading the word to try and do our bit to reduce the loneliness in these very difficult times,” said Rachel Parry.
 
View the mini Sing&Smile sessions on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/user/UKgoldies... Rachel and Cheryl will also try and take requests if you want to send a message via Facebook www.facebook.com/goldiesuk or www.facebook.com/goldiescymru
 
Both Rachel and Cheryl can be contacted easily by email on rachel@goldiescymru.org.uk or cheryl@goldiescymru.org.uk. The Charity is planning to extend the regular sessions in the weeks and months ahead looking forward to the day when Goldies starts back again in a community room, church hall or library near you.
 
Find out more information here:
www.facebook.com/goldiesuk     www.facebook.com/goldiescymru
and keep up to date with important news as it gets announced at our website;
www.golden-oldies.org.uk     www.goldiescymru.org.uk
 
ENDS
 
Press enquiries to Goldies Cymru Programme Leader Rachel Parry on 07796 714816.

PRESS NOTICE .. Coronavirus
 
Wednesday 11 March 2020
 
THE Golden-Oldies Charity “Goldies” has cancelled all daytime SING&SMILE sessions across England and Wales for the next five weeks because of the Coronavirus COVID-19.
 
The charity, based in Bath, runs its popular FUN sessions for older vulnerable people at over 200 venues in community rooms, church halls and libraries. Thousands attend from Yorkshire to Cornwall,  across Essex, East London, the South West Counties and South Wales as Goldies Cymru.
 
The sessions are run by 72 dedicated local freelance leaders.
 
Founder Grenville Jones said;
 
“We know that many of the people who attend our Goldies Sing&Smile sessions are over 80 and are extremely vulnerable in this current situation. Our first responsibility is to care for their wellbeing.
 
“If the situation improves, as we all hope it will, Goldies will recommence the week commencing Monday April 20th.
 
“We have  contacted all of our session leaders and all the venues. Goldies sessions bring joy and are very important to so many older people. We hope that SONGS&SMILES will soon be back .”
 
www.golden-oldies.org,uk
 
ENDS
 
……contact is Grenville on 0777 828 2934

PRESS RELEASE
 
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
 
‘Goldies’ …. In a PUB!
 
Today – March 4 – the Golden-Oldies Charity launched its 200th venue with a Sing&Smile FUN session in a community PUB.
 
Goldies has developed its work over the past 12 years across South West England, South Wales, the Midlands, Yorkshire, Essex and most recently in East London. The sessions are enjoyed by thousands of older people. Sir Cliff Richard is the Patron.
 
The special guest was local resident Briony Williams from The Great British Bake Off – and her gran! Briony brought a celebration birthday cake for Goldies.
 
Session venues include community rooms, church halls, day centres, memory cafes, Libraries and now FOR THE FIRST TIME there’s Goldies in a pub at The Gloucester Old Spot, Kellaway Avenue, Horfield in Bristol.
 
The Gloucester Old Spot has established a reputation locally as a friendly community pub and owner Amy Devenish contacted Goldies about hosting a regular session.
 
Goldies sessions reach out to all cultures and founder Grenville Jones is always keen to underline the fact that Goldies is NOT about choir singing. The songs are the memory evoking popular tunes of the 60s onwards and chosen by the folk who attend across Wales and England.
  
As the charity has grown, sessions have been added that particularly address the issue of people living with Dementia and their Carers. There are also many sessions across England and Wales specifically for Adults with Learning Difficulties. It is estimated that over 4,000 people attend Goldies each month.
  
Under the heading Goldies Cymru sessions have developed year on year across South Wales supported by the brilliant Moondance Foundation and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Wales. Song books are produced in Welsh and there is a Welsh Language website goldiescymru.org.uk
  
The Goldies website is www.golden-oldies.org.uk
 
ENDS
 
ALL enquiries to Grenville on 07778 282934.