PRESS RELEASE
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934 or email [email protected]
 
Tuesday, January 30, 2024
 
SINGING ON PRESCRIPTION
 
Reports this week from scientists at the University of Exeter underlines how singing can keep your mind sharp in older age and avoid Dementia in later years.
 
Bath-based choir leader and charity founder Grenville Jones has always shouted from the rooftops that “singing should be on prescription”. With over 35 years experience directing and conducting choirs Grenville has seen first-hand the positive effects that singing has particularly on older people.
 
As founder of the Goldies Charity, introduced by him 15 years ago, his charity now runs over 160 Sing & Smile sessions across England and Wales for older isolated people. It is however his choir leadership that has impressed upon him how people’s lives positively gain from regular singing in a choir.
 
Twelve years ago he introduced a project which encourages Singing in the Afternoon. Now in 2024 he runs 25 ‘Good Afternoon Choirs’ across the West of England reaching out to over 1100 people who enjoy and attend their weekly Good Afternoon Choir.
 
“Anyone who leads a choir will tell you about the positive effects on their singers by participating in a choir rehearsal. We see it week in and week out and this recent report from the University of Exeter further underlines the value of what researchers refer to as the ‘executive function’. Singing and playing an instrument are positively linked to better brain health.”
 
Grenville (75) himself still leads four of his afternoon choirs each week with over 200 singers and in his past years of choir leadership has taken thousands of choir rehearsals.
 
Having seen the value that singing in the afternoon brings to the lives of mature people, Grenville is planning to introduce his daytime choirs across the United Kingdom.
 
“In the West of England we have 12 brilliant choir leaders and the search is on now to find more talented people who would like to work with us and develop afternoon choirs in their individual areas.”
 
Back to the Goldies Charity where each month hundreds of older people will attend the singalong sessions. Grenville is always to emphasise that his Goldies Charity and his choir work are different but, at the end of the day, the message from Grenville is a simple one…
 
“Singing should be on prescription.”
 
www.goodafternoonchoir.org  www.grenvillejones.biz  www.golden-oldies.org.uk
 
ENDS
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PRESS RELEASE...

www.golden-oldies.org.uk  www.goldiescymru.org.uk
Goldies Sing for THE KING

The Goldies Charity, well known and loved for its popular fun social Sing & Smile sing-alongs across England & Wales, will be bringing communities together to celebrating the Kings Coronation in style this May!

The Golden-Oldies Charity, more fondly referred to as ‘Goldies’, was founded by Bath-based musician Grenville Jones in 2007. Goldies community-based Sing&Smile activities now number over 120 groups across England and Wales in Libraries, Community Centres and Church halls.

Goldies will be celebrating the Coronation weekend at all their groups with a special booklet of songs filled with popular hits from the Kings memorable years, including some of his all-time favourite artists – like the Three Degrees who performed at his 30th Birthday party in 1978.

Cheryl, Programme Area Leader for Wales Cymru commented; “It’s fantastic that we will be celebrating the Kings Coronation at our sessions. It’s a historic event that means a great deal to many of our participants, I’ve had some really positive feedback and so many ideas about what they would like to do at their groups, May will be an eventful joyful month.”

Each group will be doing something a little different; a Royalty Theme with cakes and snacks to share and Royalty memorabilia. Joanne, South Somerset Leader said; “Chard are really looking forward to making our May session special, we’re extending it and will all be wearing red, white and blue. We’re bringing in some snacks and look forward to adding a Royalty Quiz into the proceedings.”

Combating isolation in local communities with FUN and UPLIFTING musical activities, Goldies sessions are filled with laughter and chat whilst singing along to the popular hits of the 50s onwards. Popular songs featuring artists such as the charity’s Patron Sir Cliff Richard, Tom Jones, Elvis, Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark and many more.
Stephanie leads a Gloucestershire group; “I’ve Just received my coronation pack, how wonderful. There are so many more people joining our session at the moment, it’s great to see people feeling ready to re-join their local community after the pandemic. Everyone comments on how fantastic a jolly good sing makes them feel.”

SINGING IS GOOD FOR YOU! Apart from being fun and uplifting, singing has lots of health benefits? A good sing can stimulate your immune responses, release pain relieving endorphins, improve sleep and reduce snoring, improve lung capacity and posture, tone facial and stomach muscles. Singing is a great stress reliever too and is well known for improving mental health, supporting those experiencing grief and bereavement, and developing a sense of belonging and connectivity.

​Monica, a Session Leader in Yorkshire said; “I’ve had the Coronation pack in post, what a lovely idea. My groups will be bringing in some snacks and some items for a raffle. They will love the pamphlet and several have asked for Goldies T-Shirts too. We love Goldies and we are proud to be part of this great charity.”

​Our thanks to St Monica trust in Bristol for supporting our Sing & Smile sessions in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and B&NES with a small grant from their Coronation Grant scheme.
In Wales the Moondance Foundation is the fantastic supporter.

Goldies Sing&Smile sessions are open to everyone, giving people “something to look forward to”, a chance to get out, make new friends and most importantly, have fun. Goldies is not a choir, you don't have to be able to sing to join, just love music and socialising.  There is a recommended £3 donation to attend.
The Charity is always looking to recruit new session leaders and volunteers and to hear from organisations who work with older isolated people. Visit the website www.golden-oldies.org.uk , call the office on 01761 470006 or email [email protected] for more information.