We Won! A HUGE Thank You to everyone who voted for Goldies

Armistice Cantata beat off competition from 700 entries to win £5,000 cash prize and an iconic National Lottery Awards trophy and will have its work celebrated on a special BBC One programme to be broadcast on the 26 September.

Welsh singing sensation Katherine Jenkins today (September 12th 2018) surprised Cardiff-based project, Armistice Cantata, with the news that they have won Best Education Project in the National Lottery Awards 2018. 

The mezzo soprano broke the news of the win to pupils at Thornhill Primary School in Cardiff, who piloted the intergenerational education project with Goldies charity founder Grenville Jones which commemorates the Centenary of the end of WW1 (November 11 2018)!

The National Lottery Awards are the annual search for the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects and celebrate the inspirational people and projects who do extraordinary things with National Lottery funding. Marking 100 years since the end of the Great War (November 11 2018), Armistice Cantata is part of a two-year intergenerational education project led by Grenville and his Goldies charity that encourages primary schools to open their doors to older people.

As part of the programme, from Goldies Cymru – which helps older people get involved in music through daytime FUN Songs and Smiles – teamed up with youngsters from Thornhill Primary school in Cardiff who have written a musical to celebrate the end of World War One. The children from Thornhill Primary appear on stage together in a 30-minute production, named Armistice Cantata. The musical – which includes popular songs from World War One – is now being rolled out to a number of schools across England and Wales. More than 7,000 children and 800 older people from the Goldies charity are taking part.

Katherine, who has been hailed as the new ‘Force’s Sweetheart’, has performed for British troops in war zones across the world over the years. She followed the announcement today by meeting school pupils and representatives from the Goldies Cymru charity who have developed a new friendship by taking part in the Armistice Cantata project whilst learning more about the Great War. Katherine releases her new album ‘Guiding Light’ on 30th November. 

Katherine, from Neath, South Wales, who has been dubbed new ‘Force’s Sweetheart for her performances to British troops across the globe, said: “I’m delighted to announce Armistice Cantata as the winner of the UK’s Best Education Project in the National Lottery Awards 2018. It’s thanks to National Lottery players, who raise £30 million each week for good causes, that amazing projects like this are possible.  

Grenville Jones, the Founder of the Golden-Oldies Charitable Trust and Goldies Cymru in South Wales, lost his Grandfather at the battle of the Somme in WW1. This personal history formed part of his decision to develop the WW1 inter-generational education programme. 

He added: “I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who voted for us. We are delighted to be crowned the UK’s best Education project in the National Lottery Awards.   

“This is a remarkable project and it is very special because it can be adapted by schools who wish to localise their own productions. We have seen on so many occasions the joy that comes when children and older people meet together on school projects, especially when they are joined in song.”
 
The Goldies school project website is          www.ourmemories.org.uk




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For further information please contact Grenville Jones on 0777 828 2934 or The National Lottery Awards:
Oswyn Hughes on 07976 324 179 or email [email protected]
PICTURE CAPTION: 
Welsh singing sensation, Katherine Jenkins, crowns Armistice Cantata the National Lottery’s Best Education Project.  
 
 

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