 The Malcolm X Goldies session at St Paul’s, Bristol, celebrated in song on Monday September 22. The popular sessions started over one year ago in partnership with LinkAge, Bristol, and thanks to funding support from Bristol Charities and the Co-Op Community Foundation its future has been secured for the next 12 months.
Goldies founder Grenville Jones said; “Our charity is now developing and reaching out across communities throughout Southern England and Wales. Thanks to the support of Bristol Charities and the Community Foundation we can now put more smiles on more faces. “In the coming months we will be looking at introducing new sessions with Black and Ethnic minority groups, engaging with communities in other areas of Bristol as well as in Swindon, Gloucester and Cardiff. “Also this week we start a new pilot session in partnership with the Bristol and Avon Chinese Women’s Group. “These developments have been made possible through support from the Henry Smith Charity and takes us forward with our vision to become Goldies UK in the years ahead.” ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. Picture shows the Malcolm X Goldies with Anne Anketell, ceo of Bristol Charities, Jenny Smith from the Co-op Community Foundation and Goldies founder Grenville Jones.
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 Image illustrates – Goldies, the smile charity across England and Wales.
A CHARITY that is based on fun daytime sing-alongs of 60s hits will be brightening the lives of isolated older people across the county. Golden-Oldies, or Goldies, as it has become fondly known, started in the West Country six years ago with just four of its singing and stretching sessions. Later this year it will start its 100th in the Braintree area where Goldies has teamed up with Greenfields Community Housing. The charity now runs its sessions across Southern England and Wales and over 3,000 attend each month. It now wants to find someone in the Braintree area to guide its development in the months and years ahead in East Anglia. Grenville Jones is the founder of Goldies. He said: “People call us the smile charity and we know that for many older people, attending their Goldies session is one of the few times that they are with others. Loneliness and isolation is a growing concern in society and Goldies reaches out to people through song. We are NOT a choir but we use the memory-evoking hits of the 50s onwards at the heart of all we do. “In recent months we have started popular new sessions attended by Elders from the Afro Caribbean communities in Bristol and also this week have a new session with older members of the Chinese communities across South Gloucestershire. “Singing is good for you and I do want to hear from people in the Braintree area who could get involved and help us to start new sessions. “I have been impressed by the community ethos of Greenfields Housing and together we can really make a big difference to lonely lives.” Sandra Crosby is Housing Director at Greenfields. She said: “When we met Grenville a few months ago we were so impressed with his passion and enthusiasm for the charity. We shared the idea of starting Goldies with our tenants and they agreed to fund the project for the next 12 months. Goldies and Greenfields are bound to be a winning duet!” Grenville will be in Braintree this Wednesday September 24th taking sessions at Harold Sims House, Sims Close from 11-30 to 12-30 and at Western House Church Rd, Kelvedon from 2 -3pm. If you would like to know more, there are Goldies session videos on the website www.golden.oldies.org.uk or please contact Grenville Jones on [email protected] Ends |
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