Sing out in Torfaen

Over one hundred people packed the Ty Nant Ddu Day Centre at Pontnewynydd on Monday of this week (May 18) to launch a new fun daytime singing session for older isolated people who live in the area.

The session is a partnership between the Goldies CYMRU Charity and Torfaen County Borough Council.

Goldies CYMRU started in Wales four years ago and, with the support of Lottery Wales and the Moondance Foundation, is developing its daytime singing and activity sessions across Wales.

Grenville Jones is the founder of Goldies and he attended the launch this week.

He said;

“Our small charity has grown to the point where it now reaches out to hundreds of older people across Southern England and Wales. In Torfaen we plan to introduce more sessions in the months ahead.”

Part of Goldies CYMRU is an award-winning schools intergenerational programme called Time after Time. This encourages schools to open their doors to local older people in their communities.

From the original four sessions in the West of England led by founder Grenville Jones in 2008, the charity has grown to the point where it will be running over 130 by the end of this year, 35 in Wales.

Special guests on Monday were children from Pontnewynydd Primary School who delighted everyone with the performance of two songs. Such was the success of their second song that it was repeated as an encore with everyone joining in.

Richard Fitzjohn lives in Penarth and is a member of the Goldies CYMRU Management Board. Together with his wife Beryl they are great enthusiasts of the Charity and also attended the launch on Monday.

Richard said;

“Goldies is very special and on Monday we saw again how it reaches out to older people who have little opportunities to get out as well as those who suffer with dementia and also adults with learning difficulties.

“It was a wonderful session led by Rachel Parry who leads Goldies CYMRU in Wales. This is a charity that brings so much joy to lonely people and Beryl and myself are delighted to support everything it does.” 

Our pictures show children and older people enjoying the new session on Monday May 18 (please note in the open tambourine picture Grenville Jones is behind in the blue jacket). 

ENDS 

Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.

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