News from the Golden-Oldies Charity

Goldies regularly receives complimentary anecdotes through the freelance session leaders who deliver the Songs&Smiles sessions across England and Wales.

Jaine Thorne takes Goldies sessions in and around Somerset. Last week she received this email from the daughter of an older gentleman who regularly attends one of her sessions.

“Before dad came to Goldies, he had forgotten how to enjoy most of his songs and it was coming to your wonderful sessions, your endless encouragement, your joy and upliftment of my Dad, and continual support that brought it all flooding back to him. It was you who made music happen for him again.

“I can't thank you enough and I've got tears in my eyes as I'm writing this. Music is the most amazing gift for all of us, but especially people with dementia. You brought joy and the light of life back to my Dad and I'll be forever grateful to you.”



Press Release
All enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934
Tuesday, 28 January 2025


Goldies Charity reflects on Christmas Celebrations Across Wales and England

Grenville Jones, founder of the Golden-Oldies Charity, looks back on the hundreds of special events held during the Christmas season bringing Songs & Smiles to older isolated people.

“At Goldies we know that Christmas is not everyone’s favourite time of year, for many it’s a reminder of loss and isolation. This is why we make an extra special effort every year to bring as many isolated people as possible together for fun and laughter. Our special daytime events entertain and delight with old friends and new. Organised Christmas events to celebrate at Christmas and provide events to look forward to. This is what Goldies is all about.

“The Charity launched in 2007 with just a handful of daytime FUN Sing&Smile sessions in and around the Bath area, all taken by founder Grenville. Now there are over 170 across England and Wales with 48 freelance session leaders and 100’s attending.

“During November and December 2024, we hosted a fantastic eight county-wide Christmas BIG SINGs across Southwest and Southeast England by our team based in the South West. These events could only have taken place with the amazing support of the Edward Gostling Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Julia Rausing Trust, the National Lottery, the People’s Postcode Lottery and Swindon Borough Council.

“Where possible, we provided free transport and a full afternoon of entertainment for over 1,000 people, 2000 cups of tea were served along with sandwiches, cake and a multitude of mince pies. We sang, danced and smiled our way through the festive season.

“We launched our Christmas activities on November 28 at Nailsea Methodist Church with all our North Somerset sessions attending. Kingshill Church School delighted us all with their acapella singing of Christmas songs followed by the Kookie Ukes Ukelele Band.

“Next up on December 3 was our largest event attended by 190 people at St Michael's Church Centre in Stoke Gifford for our Bristol and South Glos sessions. The Auditorium was packed, especially when joined by 60 children from St Michael’s Church Primary School singing Christmas songs and allowing us to join in playing Boomwhackers. After lunch Mel Wittmaack joined us for some Chair Dance which caused lots of laughter! A special thanks goes to the John James Bristol Foundation and the Monmouthshire Building Society for supporting our work in these areas.

“The Wells party on December 4 was held at The Bishops Palace. Sandwiches, cake, tea and coffee were served in the Stable Yard on arrival, with Christmas Crackers, small gifts and drinks. This was followed by an hour of Goldies singing Christmas music in the very beautiful Chapel. Our thanks to the team at the Bishops Palace who make this event possible.

“Deputy Mayor Councillor Fay Howard joined the celebrations on December 5 at Coleview Community Centre in Swindon. With some raucous singing and line dancing, as well a wonderful performance from Covingham Park Primary School lead by Jo Crabbe. Our thanks go to Swindon Borough Council for supporting our work across the area. As always Swindon had a huge raffle with prizes donated from participants and local businesses throughout the year.

“On December 6 we held two Parties. The first at Martock Parish Hall in South Somerset was completely full of Goldies participants and their families from across the County. Martock Primary School children sang us some fabulous Christmas Songs and Chaffcombe Reservoir Dogs Ukulele Group thoroughly entertained us with popular hits and Christmas numbers. The Ukulele group welcomed one of our regular Goldies, Frank Wilson, onto the stage to play his harmonica to ‘Imagine’ by John Lenon. Frank has dementia but is still able to play his harmonica note for note and regularly plays at Sing&Smile sessions in Yeovil, Queen Camel and Martock. It was extremely moving to hear Frank play, he finished to a huge cheer from the audience, after which he took his bow!

“The second party on the December 6 was held in Essex at the Braintree Community Centre. Goldies Session Leaders Rob and Sue hosted this brilliant afternoon for all Essex Sing&Smile session participants. Beckers Green Primary School entertained everyone with some beautiful singing. One lady participant said she was “moved to tears by their wonderful rendering of ‘O Holy Night’ which was her most favourite song in all the world. After lunch came the wonderful performance of Braintree Male Voice Choir. A special thanks goes to Braintree United Charities and FSJ Charities who helped fund our work in Essex.

“The Key Centre in Keynsham was the next location on December 13 for some of our BANES and Bristol Sing&Smile attendees. We were joined by the Kooky Ukes and enjoyed plenty of singing, dancing, laughing and smiling along to hits from the 60’s onwards and Christmas songs after refreshments. Not to mention a pompom snowball fight! Thanks go to Keynsham Town Council who helped fund the party and the Masonic Charitable Trust who support our work across B&NES.

“The final Christmas Party was held on December 19 Edwards Court in Exeter, kindly supported by Exeter City Council. Our Leaders Katie and Lisa encouraged ample singing and dancing with everyone, with sandwiches, tea, cake, crackers and small gifts!”

With the wonderful support of the Julia Rausing Trust, Goldies in England again reinforced their commitment in bringing together children in Primary Schools with older people in their award-winning intergenerational programme. A unique new song called ‘Forever Young’ was commissioned by Grenville Jones and was performed at many of the events listed above. It also featured as a open Goldies Day which was held at the Pavilion in Bath and attended by four local Primary Schools and 300 older people. It was introduced by special guest, The Mayor of Bath.

Across South West England and in South Wales 35 Primary Schools and 750 young people joined together with older people in Christmas celebration. All this was made possible with the support of the Julia Rausing Trust.

“We will be continuing our Primary School events throughout 2025,” said Goldies Founder, Grenville Jones.

Photos taken at Martock Parish Hall 6th December
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Pictures taken at St Michael’s Church Centre 3rd December
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Pictures taken at Nailsea Methodist Church on 28th November
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“In Wales the Goldies Cymru groups enjoyed a fun and festive December. The CARDIFF LIONS once again invited our Goldies in Cardiff to a Christmas Dinner, which is always a huge success and enjoyed by all of the Goldies that attend. They enjoyed a festive dinner and were treated like royalty.

“Off the back of our successful Intergenerational project in 2024, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, we welcomed the pupils of Ysgol Y Castell to join our session in Kidwelly, to sing some Christmas Carols, and our Rhiwbina Goldies were invited to Rhiwbeina school for another visit, to join in with their Christmas festivities. At one of our new sessions this year in Bargoed, we had the pleasure of welcoming pupils from St Gwladys, who thoroughly enjoyed singing with our Goldies and having a dance at the end of the session. Also, Birchgrove Primary School choir came along to our Christmas Special at Park End Church, Rhydypennau where the Goldies also had the pleasure of a VERY special guest – Father Christmas, who told us a story, joined us for the singing and brought some prizes for the raffle!

“All of our sessions had extra special sessions with Christmas songs and carols, Christmas jumpers and mince pies, with many organising to go out together for Christmas Lunch.

“Goldies Cymru in Wales is supported by the wonderful Moondance Foundation which has allowed the charity to develop its work through 2024 and to plan new sessions in 2025.

“Goldies Cymru has also been introduced to many lonely older people in Conwy during 2024 in close partnership with Conwy County Borough Council.”

Ted lives in Cardiff and never misses his weekly Goldies Sing&Smile session. “I do not know where I would be if it wasn’t for going to Goldies. The leaders are simply wonderful and the friendship that I have made has, without doubt, made such a massive difference to my life over these last few years since I lost my wife. Life was very lonely but the Goldies Charity changed all that!”

Our Goldies from Whitchurch enjoying their December session, with lots of smiles and some very fetching Christmas jumpers.

If you are interested in joining one of our Goldies Sing&Smile sessions, becoming a Goldies Leader, starting Goldies up in your area or for more information please visit our website at www.golden-oldies.org.uk or contact the office on 01761 470006 or email [email protected]


ENDS


Golden-Oldies contacts…
Grenville Jones – Founder – [email protected] 07778 282934
Emma Shearman – Operations & Fundraising Manager, Golden-Oldies England – [email protected] 01761 470006
Cheryl Davies - Programme Leader, Goldies Cymru – [email protected] 07860 944410