Clifton Cathedral in Bristol was packed to capacity last evening for a concert hosted by the Colston Girl's School Trust. It featured young people from the school as well as primary school children who are members of the Trust - Bannerman Road School, The Kingfisher School and The Dolphin School. Special guests were Goldies from he St Paul's Malcolm X group and the Evergreens Goldies Club which is also in Bristol. Goldies sang 4 songs led by the two Bristol session leaders, Chloe and Charmaine.
In the run up to the concert the Goldies visited the school to rehearse their items with a band that was led by school head of music, Ben England on piano. Also performing were the 80 members of the Bath Good Afternoon Choir. These are one of the choir projects led by Grenville Jones who of course is also founder of Goldies. The finale saw Grenville conducting the school orchestra, the audience and over 400 children in a rousing rendition of "Thank You for the Music!' School Executive Headteacher, Alistair Perry told the audience: "We have all had a wonderful evening and everyone involved with Colston fully supports the wonderful work that the Golden-Oldies Charity does with older people across Bristol and the rest of the UK." Ends Press Enquiries to Grenville Jones 07778 282934
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PRESS RELEASE and Invitation
Monday March 7, 2016 Singing charity is sprouting out … The World’s FIRST all-singing charity shop opens in the centre of Keynsham on Monday March 21. The shop is on the Bath Road roundabout on the entrance to the town. It was formerly a greengrocers and, as the charity founder Grenville Jones says; “From now on its Songs & Smiles, not Spuds & Sprouts!” The shop with an authentic juke box in the window will be opened at 12 noon on March 21 by two very special local “Goldies” who live in Keynsham, 83 year old Joan Weaver and Margaret Allin (73). The Golden-Oldies charity was started by Bath-based choir leader Grenville Jones in 2007 who took the first four fun daytime singalongs in sheltered housing community rooms himself. Grenville, through his choir work, recognised the social benefits of singing and is always keen to emphasise that his charities growing number of groups across England and Wales are NOT choirs but use fun singalongs to reach out to people who may be lonely or isolated. Now in 2016 there are 35 freelance session leaders at 145 locations in South West England, Essex, Staffordshire, Yorkshire and across South Wales. Thousands attend including Afro Caribbean elders in Gloucester, Bristol and Cardiff. In Swindon the charity has been supported by Swindon Borough Council for the past 8 years. There is a session for Chinese older people and Asian elders attend a Bollywood session in central Bristol. In Cardiff where Goldies Cymru is making great progress, popular daytime sessions even take place at four libraries working with Cardiff City Council. The charity also leads an award-winning schools intergenerational programme. Sessions will be taking place in the Keynsham shop alongside the books, bric-a-brac and clothes hangers on a regular basis using of course the popular Goldies song books featuring popular memory-evoking hits of the 50s onwards, including those made famous by Goldies patron Sir Cliff Richard. The Charites first shop even has an authentic juke box in the window and it will be opened by two very special local Golden ladies. 83 year old Joan Weaver and her friend Margaret Allin live in the town and have hardly missed a Goldies session since the charity started one its first sessions back in January 2008. They will be the guests of honour who will cut the ribbon and declare the shop open on March 21. Jacqui Cook is the Keynsham session leader and has been with the charity for over 8 years; “Joan and Margaret are great fun, they help out with the teas at the sessions and attend many of our other Goldies events in and around the area.” The first Goldies shop is a unique 50/50 partnership between the very small Golden-Oldies charity and the established Dorothy House Hospice Care. Goldies chair of trustees Mike Richardson explained; “We were approached by Dorothy House, one of the best-loved charities in Bath and Wiltshire. They run many successful charity shops and we are benefitting from their retail experience in an arrangement that works for both of us. The Shop gives us a high street fundraising presence and we hope that this may lead to more Goldies’ shops in the future." Goldies is looking for Volunteers in Keynsham who can spare an hour or two each week – anyone who can help is asked to call into the shop to discover more or call 01761 470006. www.golden-oldies.org.uk ENDS Press enquiries please to Grenville Jones on 0777 828 2934 or email jonesgrenville@aol.com PRESS RELEASE
Monday 22 February 2016 Share your singing talents A charity that addresses isolation and loneliness through fun singing to older people in and around Taunton wants to find a bright new session leader to take its daytime groups. Golden-Oldies, or Goldies as it has become fondly known, started in the Bath area 9 years ago led by choir leader Grenville Jones. From the original four sessions it now runs them at over 140 community rooms, church halls and libraries across the South West and South Wales. Sir Cliff Richard is the patron. In Somerset there are monthly sessions at Chard, Yeovil, Taunton, Ilminster and Bridgewater. Grenville Jones explains: “Goldies is NOT a choir but a big personality and available daytime is vital from our session leaders. Also, most importantly, an understanding of how our small charity is brightening lives and wanting to be a part of that work.” Our Charity knows that for many, attending is the only time some older people meet with others. The songs at the sessions are well known memory evoking hits of the 50s and onwards. A recent top twenty choice from the hundreds of older folk who attend voted Petula Clarke as their Goldies Top of the Pops. The Session Leaders are paid per session and travel costs are covered. Local people who would like to know more are asked to please call Abby on 01761 470006 or email abby@golden-oldies.org.uk For more information about Goldies, please see www.golden-oldies.org.uk ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 0777 828 2934. PRESS RELEASE
Friday, February 5th, 2016 Goldies is developing its daytime singing and activity sessions across Somerset with recent new locations in Bridgwater and Taunton. The Bridgwater session is a closed session held at the Victoria Park Community Centre as part of the activities for the Bluebird Care Day Centre and the Taunton session is open access and held at the Priorswood Community Centre on Eastwick Road, Taunton. Goldies hopes to find a locally based enthusiastic Session Leader for these new groups. You don’t have to be a choir conductor but a BIG personality and a strong singing voice will help. Abby Rakes would love to hear from you so she can tell you about the freelance fee we pay Session Leaders and much more about how Goldies is making a big impression across England and Wales on the lives of lonely isolated people. You can email Abby - abby@golden-oldies.org.uk or call 01761 470006. ENDS PRESS RELEASE SINGING on PRESCRIPTION The founder of a charity that is addressing loneliness through songs and smiles has responded to a report by senior doctors calling for urgent attention to, ‘the rising phenomenon of loneliness amongst older people’. West Country music man Grenville Jones started his daytime fun singing sessions for older isolated people at four community rooms 9 years ago. The Golden-Oldies Charity, more fondly referred to as ‘Goldies’ and with Sir Cliff Richard as patron, now runs over 140 sessions across England and Wales. Thousands attend the sessions including adults with learning difficulties and dementia. In the report published yesterday Professor Keith Willett, Director for Acute Care NHS England said; “The consequences of loneliness among lonely people are increasing with an unremitting demand on health care which will ultimately cripple the NHS.” Goldies founder Grenville Jones cites regular testimonies from the 40 freelance session leaders who run his charity’s fun sing and smile sessions across the UK. “Hardly a day goes by without a call from one of our leaders telling me that our sessions really are making a difference to lonely lives. Goldies is NOT a choir, it’s quite simple really, all we do is encourage people who are isolated to get out, to be with others and to make new friends through singing and stretching.” In recent months the charity has developed its work across Essex, Staffordshire, Yorkshire and under the Goldies Cymru banner many new sessions have been added in South Wales. In Cardiff there are now hugely successful Goldies singing sessions held at five libraries. In Uttoxeter local pharmacist Tim Haynes puts out information about Goldies sessions in his town in his prescription bags to the over 60s in his area. “The Trustees of our small charity want to increase our work and impact across the United Kingdom in the months and years ahead and there is a very simple message to GPs and everyone who is delivering acute care in the NHS. “Singing should be on prescription.” www.golden-oldies.org.uk ENDS Image shows songs and smiles at a Cardiff Goldies Cymru session. Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934 jonesgrenville@aol.com PRESS RELEASE
Tuesday 2 February 2015 Share your singing talents A charity that addresses isolation and loneliness through fun singing to older people in Weston wants to find a bright new session leader to take its long established daytime groups. Golden-Oldies started in the Bath area 9 years ago led by respected choir leader Grenville Jones. From the original four sessions it now runs them at over 140 community rooms, church halls and libraries across the South West and South Wales. Sir Cliff Richard is the patron. The Weston sessions are at Martindale Court Community Room, Martindale Road which has been running for over 7 years and The Badger Centre which started in February takes place every last Tuesday of the month from 1.45pm. Grenville Jones explains: “Our brilliant local Session Leader has left us for a full time position as a drama teacher so we really do need to find someone to take these well-attended and much loved sessions. Goldies is NOT a choir but a big personality and available daytime is vital. Also, most importantly, an understanding of how our small charity is brightening lives and wanting to be a part of that.” Goldies knows that for many, attending is the only time some older people meet with others. The songs at the sessions are well known memory evoking hits of the 50s and onwards. A recent top twenty choice from the hundreds of older folk who attend voted Petula Clarke as their Goldies Top of the Pops. The Session Leaders are paid per session and travel costs are covered. Local people who would like to know more are asked to call Abby on 01761 470006 or email abby@golden-oldies.org.uk For more information about Goldies, please see www.golden-oldies.org.uk ENDS Call Grenville on 0777 828 2934. PRESS RELEASE
Monday December 21, 2015 Goldies looks forward to 2016 A charity that has singing for older people at its heart is looking forward to 2016, reaching out to hundreds of lonely isolated folk across England and Wales. From small beginnings the registered charity Golden-Oldies has exciting plans for the new year which include the opening of its first sing&smile Goldies Charity Shop in Keynsham, a major October open day for older people in Wales under its Goldies CYMRU banner and an ambitious programme of new sessions across Yorkshire, Essex, Staffordshire the West of England and Wales. Years of conducting choirs by Bath-based music man Grenville Jones illustrated to him how the joy of singing and belonging to a group had huge social advantages. Eight years ago in January 2008 Grenville started four daytime fun singing sessions for older people in Bath and Bristol. In 2106 that session location number will reach 150. The first four took place in sheltered housing community rooms. Looking back, Grenville remembers clearly the day he walked into a community room one cold January morning. He asked an elderly gentlemen sat in the corner what events took place in the room. The answer came back; “We used to have fish and chips and bingo but they don't do that anymore. “The only time we come here now is when someone dies and we come to their Wake!” Grenville made the decision then to start his charity called Golden-Oldies bringing fun singing and activity sessions that would give older people a REASON to get out, to be with other and, most importantly, to sing and to smile to the popular memory evoking tunes of the 50s onwards. Recent events have included a sell-out fundraising concert in Staffordshire, BIG Saturday SINGS in Braintree, Swindon and many Christmas parties, all organized by the 40 dedicated session leaders. The Lord Mayor of Bradford showed her skill at doing The Twist at the launch of Goldies at Silsden near Bradford in October. As 2016 arrives there are now over 140 sessions across England and Wales, and hundreds of older people who eagerly anticipate their regular weekly or monthly Goldies session, as the charity has become fondly known. As Goldies has spread so have the locations which now vary from church halls, clubs for elderly folk, the lunchtime sessions organised by the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation in Wales and a host of community centres. Those attending are older people, many suffering with dementia and Alzheimer’s, adults with learning difficulties and, through the charity’s award-winning schools intergenerational project, hundreds of primary schools. In 2015 Goldies launched new sessions with Afro Caribbean Elders in Bristol, Gloucester and Swindon. A session engaging with Asian Elders singing Bollywood music as well as one with Chinese older people singing in Cantonese. Just some of the highlights of 2015. Another exciting development in 2015 was an innovative programme with the library services at Cardiff City Council. New daytime session have been introduced at three libraries including the Cardiff Central Library Hub where people of all ages sing, smile and dance in the aisles. In Wales also under a Lottery supported programme a book of Welsh folk songs was introduced at the end of 2015, popular melodies that will be enjoyed at both Goldies and school events in Wales in the future. The Goldies Shop in Keynsham is planned to open in February. The charity is working in partnership with Dorothy House Hospice Care, another unique partnership arrangement. Mike Richardson is the Chair of the Goldies Trustees. He said; “With Dorothy House as our partners the first Goldies Shop will give us a presence in the community and, if successful, we hope to introduce more shops across the Goldies areas in the years ahead. This is a major step forward for our charity and the income will help us to sustain and introduce more daytime singing and activity sessions.” As Goldies enters 2016 it sets its sights and aspirations to become Goldies UK in the months and years ahead. Founder Grenville Jones concluded; “If we can reach out to hundreds of people with our existing popular sessions there is no reason at all to assume that if we could gain the necessary financial support we could brighten the lives of thousands upon thousands of lonely people across the whole of the United Kingdom.” www.golden-oldies.org.uk and www.goldiescymru.org.uk ENDS Grenville mobile is 0777 828 2934 jonesgrenville@aol.com www.grenvillejones.biz PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, December 17, 2015 Photographs supplied free of charge https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=100798544416631367205&target=ALBUM&id=6229221571502458897&authkey=Gv1sRgCMT6187x7N7smgE&feat=email Older people from across North Somerset who attend the Goldies Charity Sing and Smile daytime singing and activity sessions celebrated their Christmas this week. Nailsea Methodist Church was the venue for the annual Christmas party which welcomed folk from Portishead, Nailsea, Weston-super-Mare, Clevedon and Pill. Goldies was started in Bath eight years ago by Bath’s music man Grenville Jones, who took the first four sessions. There are now over 140 sessions across the West of England and South Wales and a team of 35 dedicated session leaders. In North Somerset the leaders are Adele Hooper, Abby Rakes, Rachel Mason, Rachel Parry and Julie Lucas. Grenville said; “Everyone had a fantastic time at the Christmas party as can be seen from our festive photographs. Goldies sessions start back again across North Somerset in January. Everyone is welcome and full details can be found on our website www.golden-oldies.org.uk.” ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE
Monday November 30, 2015 Older people across Bath and North East Somerset will be celebrating another year of the Goldies Charity with their Christmas party on 8th December from 11.30am to 2.30pm. The venue this year is Conygre Hall, Timsbury, and Goldies founder Grenville Jones has thanked the organisations who have made this Christmas celebration possible. Grenville said; “Huge thanks go to Rotork as well as Cross Manufacturing and Provincial Grand Lodge of Somerset Freemasons. With their donations we are able to offer community transport across B&NES to enable our older people to attend the party. There will be Christmas carols galore, mince pies in abundance and lots and lots of Christmas singing. “As we come to the end of another Goldies year I would like to thank all those people across the area for their support of our work.” ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. Monday, November 2nd, 2015 Goldies launched in Bradford, Yorkshire, on Thursday October 29 with its first session at Silsden Methodist Church. The Rev’d Ruth Crompton is Minister at the Church. Through her friendship with Anne Griffiths who leads Goldies in Staffordshire, she discovered how the charity was reaching out to make such a huge difference to the lives of older lonely people. The church was packed for the launch which was taken by founder Grenville Jones and Vanessa Iliff who will lead the sessions in Yorkshire. Special guest was the Lord Mayor of Bradford Cllr Joanne Dodds who said; “I had a wonderful afternoon at the launch. You cannot beat a good sing!” Goldies will launch more sessions across Bradford and Yorkshire in the months ahead. |
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