PHOTOCALL
 
Coleview Community Centre
Thursday October 6 – 10am-12noon
 
Monday September 12, 2016
 
Golden Song Choices
 
The Golden-Oldies Charity brightens the lives of older people across Swindon through its daytime activity and singing sessions.
 
Goldies, as it is more fondly known, was launched by former Swindonian Grenville Jones ten years ago and from the original four daytime sessions at sheltered housing homes in and around Bath and Bristol, it has grown to the point where over 150 sessions take place across England and Wales.
 
Grenville took the original four sessions himself and there are now 40 dedicated session leaders.
 
With the support of Swindon Borough Council the charity started its sessions across the Town eight years ago and recent new sessions have been added at Coleview Community Centre on the first Thursday of every month and at the Broadgreen Community Centre, Salisbury Street, on the second Monday of each month.
 
Swindon session leader Alison Dawn said;
 
“The older folk who attend love to sing the popular old songs and we recently asked them to select some brand new songs of their choice. The song book of 51 songs will be launched at a very special session at Coleview Community Centre on Thursday October 6 from 10.00am until 12.00 noon.
 
“Everyone is welcome to come along and find out just how much fun can be gained from attending a Goldies session,” said Alison.
 
Amongst the new songs are Julie Andrews ‘My Favourite Things’ chosen by Rene from Penhill ‘Achy Breaky Heart’ chosen by Pat and Clive from Coleview and the Neil Sedaka’s ‘Calendar Girl’ the favourite of Brenda from Park North.
 
Founder Grenville Jones said;
 
“As we approach the 10th year of Goldies, we are developing more sessions across the West of England, Wales, the Midlands and South East England. Our most recent launch was in Yorkshire with new sessions in and around the City of Bradford.
 
“We want our charity to reach out to older people across the United Kingdom in the months and years ahead as Goldies UK.”
 
ENDS
 
Attached is the front cover of the new songbook.
 
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.

PRESS RELEASE
In Tune with Loneliness
Goldies, the ‘Sing & Smile’ charity is coming to Ashbourne
In the UK there are millions of people living in isolation and missing out on regular contact with their family and friends.  Now in its 10th year the Golden-Oldies Charity, fondly referred to just as Goldies, which has Sir Cliff Richard as its patron, is  bringing its ethos that singing “popular“ music can take people back to happy times and bring joy and friendship to their lives through a new monthly sing-along session in Ashbourne.

The Golden-Oldies Charitable Trust is based on the well documented fact that singing is good for you, it encourages good breathing and brightens up your day and gives you a chance to meet other people. It puts a smile on your face too! The songs are carefully chosen and based on the popular sing-along hits of the 50s 60s & 70s. They encourage people to clap in rhythm to the music, tap their feet, smile and, if they want to, get up and dance!

Anne Griffiths, Regional Co-ordinator and Session Leader for “Goldies” said, “In nine short years we have come a long way and now run over 100 singing and activity sessions across the South of England, Staffordshire, Yorkshire and Wales. Those attending are elderly people, and people who are socially isolated, as well as people with learning difficulties and dementia. For many “Goldies” is their lifeline and we hear this at every session from the people who attend.”

Anne continued, “We now run two monthly sessions in Uttoxeter, and two in Burton on Trent and although we are a small charity we want to move forward and brighten more and more lives, so we are holding a ‘taster session’ in Ashbourne on Thursday 29th September from 2 -3 pm at The Waterside Centre DE6 1DG, with the aim of establishing a regular monthly session there.”

Anne concluded, “There’s always a friendly welcome and a cup of tea afterwards, so do come along; “Goldies” is a very good reason get out and be with others. The taster session is completely free, all we ask is that everyone who attends our normal sessions makes a minimum £2 donation to our charity.”

For more information call Anne Griffiths on 01889 562269 Email [email protected]
​
For more information about the charity visit www.golden-oldies.org.uk

Picture Caption:
Staffordshire Goldies, Linda and Norman with the Charity’s Founder, Bath Musician and Choir Leader, Grenville Jones.
 
 
RESEARCH THAT SUPPORTS GOLDIES:
If you would like to receive supporting information on research into the value of singing and also academic studies on the work of the Golden-Oldies Charity, please contact our founder Grenville Jones on [email protected]
Research carried out over the last few decades has consistently shown that 10% of older people feel always or very lonely. Recent estimates place the number of people aged over 65 who are often or always lonely at over 1 million.
The percentage of the population who feel isolated and are therefore, at risk of loneliness is significantly larger:
·      12% of older people feel trapped in their own home
·      6% of older people leave their house once a week or less
·      Nearly 200,000 older people in the UK don’t get help to get out of their house or flat
·      17% of older people are in contact with family, friends and neighbours less than once a week and 11% are in contact less than once a   month
·     Over half (51%) of all people aged 75 and over live alone
·     36% of people aged 65 and over in the UK feel out of touch with the pace of modern life and 9% say they feel cut off from society
·     Half of all older people (about 5 million) say the television is their main company
These statistics on loneliness and social isolation are taken from a report produced by the Campaign to End Loneliness.