PHOTOCALL - Braintree Library November 22nd 10am - Golden-Oldies

PHOTOCALL - 10.00am November 22nd Braintree Library (Fairfield Road, Braintree CM7 3YL) 

Monday November 7, 2016 

The young and the young at heart from Braintree will celebrate a charity that is reaching out to brighten the lives of older isolated people across Essex with a special celebration on Tuesday November 22. 

The Golden-Oldies Charity started in the West of England 10 years ago with four daytime singing and activity sessions in sheltered housing community rooms led by the founder Grenville Jones. Since that time it has spread across England and Wales and three years ago ‘Goldies’, as it is now fondly known, started in Braintree in partnership with Greenfields Community Housing. 

14 regular sessions now take place across the area at Chelmsford, Halstead, Braintree and Harlow. For many older people attending Goldies is the only time they get to enjoy the company of others, make friends, sing and smile. 

The Goldies sessions are based on the fondly remembered songs of the 50s and onwards and the charity launched its intergenerational programme in 2010. 

Founder Grenville Jones explains; 

“We encourage primary schools across the United Kingdom to open their doors to local people in their communities and over the last few years projects have been based on the 100 years heritage of the Great War. Over 100 schools have taken part to date and next year we will launch a new project which will focus on the final two years of World War One. We will welcome children from Beckers Green Primary School to the library on November 22nd to meet the older people who attend the local Goldies sessions and to join together in a good old fashioned sing-along. 

“There will be a new regular session at the library which is planned to start at 10am on Monday 6th February 2017. An Alzheimer’s Society representative will also be on site at these sessions. 

“A recent academic study taken by the University of Bristol underlined the positive work that the Golden-Oldies Charity achieves. 

“In October 2015 a Golden-Oldies Big Sing took place at St Paul’s Church in Braintree with over 150 people attending, special guests that day were the Braintree Male Voice Choir.” 
​
ENDS 
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934.