Friday, 17th February, 2017
Cliff says “Congratulations” as National Lottery money goes to Welsh projects Projects in Wales supporting socially isolated older people, raising awareness of LGBT concerns, and addressing discrimination in the private renting sector are among the latest being awarded National Lottery money. Golden-Oldies will use £249,458 address isolation and loneliness amongst older people, especially those with physical, learning disabilities or health issues by developing new singing sessions across West and Mid Wales. It will also deliver its successful ‘Time after Time’ (Tro ar ôl Tro) intergenerational project to schools. They are one of 13 projects across Wales sharing in £4,221,120 as part of the latest round of People and Places funding. (For a full list of awards, click here). The awards are made possible thanks to money being set aside for good causes from National Lottery ticket sales. Sir Cliff Richard, Patron of the Goldies Cymru Charity, said: “We are absolutely delighted to receive this major grant from the Big Lottery Fund in Wales”. Golden-Oldies founder, Grenville Jones, added: “This underlines the progress and commitment that has been given to Goldies Cymru and our increasing number of daytime singing and activity sessions in Wales. “The grant will enable Goldies Cymru to now develop across Mid and West Wales in the next three years with new sessions, new school intergenerational programmes and many other special events engaging with older vulnerable people”. Elsewhere, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) receive £500,000 to deliver their Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff project that will improve the physical and emotional health and well-being of participants by providing opportunities to become engaged in nature and spend more time in local green spaces. Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff Project Manager, Carolyn Robertson, said: “Thanks to the Big Lottery Fund, we’re delighted that we can now enable even more families across the city to discover the wildlife on their doorstep - inspiring them to take action to not only support nature but to treasure it for years to come. “We now know that sadly, only one child in every eight in Wales is reasonably connected with the natural environment and one in every 14 species in Wales is facing extinction. This, without question, is cause to continue the vital work achieved through Giving Nature a Home in Cardiff.” Across South Wales, Cardiff Wales Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Mardi Gras (Pride Cymru) will use £234,960 to provide structured opportunities to increase the visibility, confidence and resilience of LGBT+ people (particularly those under 25 and over 50) across South Wales through positive interaction with the wider community and to improve the wider Welsh community’s understanding of LGBT+ concerns. Steven Griffiths, beneficiary of Pride Cymru, and LGBT Ambassador for Carers Wales, said: "When I became a carer in 2010 I had no idea how big an impact it would have on my life. It's common knowledge that carers feel socially isolated, lose friends and suffer depression, and I experienced all of that with the added complication that I am gay. I had to live with my parents to provide the care they needed, and although they knew I was gay there's a huge gap between knowledge and understanding. “The opportunity to help others and become Carers Wales LGBT Ambassador was too good to turn down and it's one of the best decisions I've made. It made me realise that I'm not alone and it's given me the confidence to express my sexual identity openly. “I owe a huge debt of gratitude to Carers Wales and Pride Cymru for taking this initiative and I'm so glad that I've been able to meet with and offer support to LGBT carers who often seem to live lives of quiet desperation." Tai Pawb in Cardiff receive £249,425 to provide tenants from minority groups, landlords and letting agents in the Private Rented Sector with the knowledge, skills and confidence to reduce discrimination and mistreatment in the sector. They will also test various methods of engagement with "difficult to reach" communities and pass that knowledge on to local authorities and other stakeholders via an engagement guide. Welcoming the grant, Alicja Zalesinska, Director of Tai Pawb, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded the People and Places grant. It will not only enable us to support and empower some of the most vulnerable private sector tenants dealing with difficult housing issues but also guide and raise awareness amongst landlords who house them in times of unprecedented housing pressures, rising inequality and poverty. “We will achieve this through a mix of innovative training, awareness raising, support, advice and guidance. We will also test various methods of engagement with the so called ‘hard to reach’ groups and share learning with the wider sector. “Our research showed that many private rented sector tenants encountered problems living in the sector, which may be related to their protected characteristic, but many did not tell their landlords or know where to access support. On the other hand, overwhelming majority of landlords we spoke to wanted additional support on equality issues. That’s why it was so important for us to develop something that will work with both groups, empowering them to act to prevent discrimination and mistreatment in the sector. Douglas Haig, Vice-Chairman and Director for Wales of Residential Landlords Association, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to support the diversity of the private rented sector and its ability to house those with a range of diverse and complex needs. We are delighted to be able to work in partnership with Tai Pawb and the Big Lottery Fund and raise awareness of some of the issues that can be faced by those that they support and how small changes and a little bit of education of landlords and tenants can create long term sustainable tenancies. I believe it will further show how the private rented sector is helping house a huge range of needs in safe and secure homes. In North Wales, The Reader Organisation receive £440,766 to deliver shared reading sessions in one to one and group settings for the benefit of people with mental health issues, targeting those who are most isolated in Gwynedd, Conwy and Anglesey. The project will benefit 856 individuals and 133 volunteers. Welcoming the grant, The Reader’s Founder and Director, Jane Davis said: “We are thrilled to receive a Big Lottery Fund grant for our Feel Better with a Book project in North Wales. This funding will help us build on the brilliant work our team of dedicated volunteers achieved during our previous Big Lottery Fund project and secure a sustainable future for Shared Reading in the area. “This project will make a real difference to people living with mental health issues and help us reach and support some of the most vulnerable and isolated people across Gwynedd, Conwy and Anglesey.” Highlighting the importance of the People and Places programme, Rona Aldrich, Wales Committee Member for the Big Lottery Fund, said: “Programmes like People and Places are making a difference to the lives of so many people in communities across Wales. “It delivers on our promise to use National Lottery funding to regenerate and revitalise communities, tackle disadvantage head on and leave a lasting legacy.” The People and Places programme awards grants of between £5,001 and £1 million for a broad range of community projects. For further information about the programme and how you can apply for funding, please visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/wales END Further Information: Alexander Davies - Big Lottery Fund Press Office: 029 2067 8236 Public Enquiries Line: 0845 4 10 20 30 Textphone: 0845 6021 659 Full details of the Big Lottery Fund programmes and grant awards are available at: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk Follow Big Lottery Fund Wales on Twitter: www.twitter.com/biglotterywales Find Big Lottery Fund Wales on Facebook: www.facebook.com/biglotteryfundwales
1 Comment
Head Trustee of the Golden-Oldies Charity Mike Richardson joined the Waitrose Community Matters coffee morning in January to receive a cheque after Goldies participated in their token scheme at the Bath store in November 2016. Our warm thanks go out to the Waitrose Community Matters team and all those who supported Goldies by shopping at Waitrose and by pledging their green tokens to Goldies. The funds raised will go directly towards supporting the 11 Goldies Sing and Smile sessions in Bath where we reach out to over 220 older vulnerable people every month. A sing and smile charity has launched a plea to find leaders for its musical sessions. Goldies brightens the lives of lonely older people through its sociable sing-along sessions.
The charity which started in Bath ten years ago, is about to start running sessions in Exeter in partnership with the City Council. Founder Grenville Jones said they were keen to find session leaders: We’re looking for anyone who loves a good sing-along and is free during the daytime to help out,” he said. Contact Grenville on 01761 472468 or go to www.golden-oldies.org.uk for more information. PRESS RELEASE Tuesday, December 6, 2016 Can You Sing and Smile? A popular charity that brings songs and smiles to older people wants to find an Exeter-based leader as it launches in the city. Exeter Guildhall was filled with music this Monday, December 5, when a charity that reaches out to older people launched in the city. Golden-Oldies started in Bath 10 years ago and has grown across England and Wales with its popular daytime singing and activity sessions in community rooms. The charity was approached by Exeter City Council earlier this year and the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Cllr Cynthia Thompson, joined a group of residents from some of the Council’s Older Persons’ Housing Schemes at a sing and smile session this Monday. Founder Grenville Jones said; “We want to start sessions in Exeter in the new year and I do need to find someone in the city who would love to take our charity forward. You don’t have to be a choir leader, but a strong voice and big personality would definitely help. If you would like to help our charity develop in and around Exeter please contact me on 01761 472468.” ENDS Our picture shows Grenville Jones and the Lord Mayor with Housing residents who attended the Guildhall sing-along. Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE Thursday December 1, 2016 The work of the Golden-Oldies Charity with older Isolated people will be featured in a BBC1 TV five-day series of programmes that will be screened from Monday morning December 12. Called Operation People Power it is presented by Dave Myers of Hairy Biker and Strictly fame. The series puts the spotlight on the vital role of volunteers to charities across the UK and the programme goes out from 9.15am each morning after the BBC Breakfast News. It visits local Goldies sessions and talks to founder Grenville Jones about the huge difference volunteers make to the impact of charities. Goldies is featured on the Tuesday December 13 and also in the final programme on Friday December 16. On Wednesday Nov 30 a group of Goldies from across England and Wales visited the Houses of Parliament where they were hosted by Bath MP Ben Howlett. Brenda Skiner has attended Goldies ever since it first started at Blagden Park in Bath and was of the London visitors. She said; “We had a memorable time and sang the new Goldies Song together. Since I have attended Goldies I have a new lease of life, new friends and the music brings back fantastic memories of my family. It’s all thanks to the singing at Goldies.” Grenville added; “Brenda is like so many of the hundreds of folk who look forward to their local Goldies session. From the four original ones 10 years ago in Bath and Bristol there are now almost 150 across England and Wales and 40 brilliant session leaders. “To be picked to be featured on National Television enables us to reach out and tell a huge audience about our daytime singing and activity sessions and how we hope to develop across other areas of the UK in the months and years ahead. “With an increasing band of volunteers we can really make a huge difference to people’s lives.” A session near you ?? See www.golden-oldies.org.uk -------------------------------- Our pictures shows Goldies founder Grenville Jones with presenter Dave Myers and the Goldies from across England and Wales who visited the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday November 30 ENDS Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934. PRESS RELEASE Monday November 14, 2016 A charity that brings songs and smiles to older isolated people will launch in Exeter in December. The Golden-Oldies Charity, fondly just referred to as ‘Goldies’ and with Sir Cliff Richard as its Patron, started in the Bath and Bristol area 10 years ago. Founder Grenville Jones, a well respected West Country choir leader, had seen for himself how singing brought joy to so many people through his many choirs. Always quick to emphasise that his charity Goldies is not a choir, Grenville took the first four daytime singing and activity sessions for isolated lonely people himself. Ten years on the charity now runs over 150 sessions across England and Wales. For thousands attending Goldies is a highlight for them and the only time that they enjoy the company of others. Goldies was approached by Exeter City Council early this year. Cllr Keith Owen, Lead Councillor for Housing Revenue Account, said: “Loneliness and social isolation is an issue that needs addressing, so this initiative is great news. It is so important that lonely older people have the opportunity to get out and be with others and the work that Goldies is doing will make a real difference to people’s lives.” An introduction session led by Grenville Jones will take place at the Guildhall, Exeter, from 10.30am until 12 noon on Monday December 5. It will be attended by the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Cllr Cynthia Thompson and the Council will be inviting a number of residents from some of the Council’s Older Persons’ Housing Schemes. Said Grenville; “It will be great to bring our songs and smiles to Exeter and I look forward to meeting everyone on December 5 for the very first singing and activity session in the City.” ENDS Picture shows : The sing and smile charity that is brightening the lives of older people across England and Wales. Press enquiries to Grenville Jones on 07778 282934 or Stephen Upsher on 01393 265103. Bristol-based support worker, Paul Bryant, was so impressed with the work of the Golden-Oldies Charity with older vulnerable people that he has written them a special song to celebrate their 10th birthday. The catchy new sing-along Goldies ‘anthem’ will be launched on Wednesday November 30 at the Houses of Parliament. It coincides with a three year academic study which has underlined the wellbeing value that the Goldies Charity brings to hundreds of older isolated people. Paul (51) lives in Patchway, Bristol. He is a social care worker and for the last five years has been taking adults with severe disabilities to the daytime sing and smile sessions organised by ‘Goldies’, as it is now fondly known. Back in the 90s Paul was a member of a duo called Secret Life. One of his songs, ‘So Strong’ hit the top 40 charts back then. The Golden-Oldies Charity was started by Bath music man Grenville Jones in November 2006. A respected choir leader across the West Country, Grenville had seen for himself the friendships and joy that came from belonging to a music group. The first four daytime Goldies sessions were taken by Grenville and now, 10 years later in 2016, there are over 150 across England and Wales, with the sessions led by 40 dedicated freelance leaders. They take place across South West England and South Wales, in Essex, the Midlands and Yorkshire. Grenville is always anxious to point out that Goldies is certainly not a choir but music and singing is at the heart of all it does. His hopes are for Goldies to reach out to older people across the UK in the years ahead, as Goldies UK. The idea of a Goldies song came to Paul as he was driving to London from Bristol four years ago. “I had been thinking for a long time that it would be great to try and come up with a new song that could be sung at all the Goldies sessions and perhaps become a regular Goldies sing-along tune. The words for the chorus started to buzz in my head and all of a sudden the melody and the rhythm came to me! “Goldies is a wonderful charity, one of the ladies that I care for has been attending the sessions for a number of years and I have noticed a transformation in her personality and her confidence through attending Goldies. It really is the Sing and Smile charity,” says Paul. Goldies Patron is Sir Cliff Richard. He said; “I hope everyone enjoys our new Goldies Song. Paul Bryant has seen for himself the joy and the positive difference that a Goldies session can bring to the lives of vulnerable older people’s lives, who regularly attend across England and Wales. In 10 years ‘Goldies’ has really made quite remarkable progress.” The easy to sing new Goldies song will be launched at the Houses of Parliament on Wednesday November 30. The visit will be hosted by a number of MPs who support the work of the charity in their various constituencies and led by Ben Howlett Member of Parliament for Bath. Forty older folk who attend Goldies sessions across England and Wales will travel to London where they will be welcomed by their local MPs, enjoy lunch and then perform the Goldies song with Paul Bryant in the Jubilee Room on TV. The older folk travelling to London will come from Barry and Rhydepennau in South Wales, Uttoxeter and Burton Upon Trent in Staffordshire, South Gloucestershire, Swindon, Keynsham and Bath. Goldies founder Grenville Jones said; “When Paul first played the song to me I knew it was a winner. It is easy to sing with a catchy chorus and we hope that all Goldies sessions in the future will start with it. Our charity works with the University of Bath and their Department for Health and specifically with Dr Afroditi Stathi, a Trustee of our charity. “A number of the popular songs that are sung at Goldies sessions have specifically designed movements and working with Dr Stathi’s team the new Goldies song will also have its own moves!” The Goldies song is now on YouTube and on iTunes – https://youtu.be/SVCHDKbbqRc Paul Marshall from the University of Bristol undertook the research study. He says; “The study worked with the Goldies Cymru programme that reaches diverse urban and rural communities in South Wales, this evaluation enabled participants to have their voice and influence their daytime sessions and how the charity is run. Regular attendance directly reduces social isolation of older people in South Wales. “The evidence from this evaluation clearly suggests that Goldies Cymru is making a significant contribution to reducing the incidence and providence of social isolation and loneliness amongst the older people population.” ENDS Press enquiries, please contact Paul Bryant on 07855 922651 Grenville Jones on 07778 282934 Golden-Oldies Charity notes…. Golden-Oldies (Goldies), is a social initiative, bringing positive change to marginalised vulnerable people in England and Wales through structured daytime social singing and activity sessions that encourage participation and functional exercises. The registered Charity was founded by Grenville in September 2007 with just four singing sessions for older people in sheltered housing schemes in Bath taken by himself. Singing the popular hits of the 50s onwards people are encouraged to dance, sing and relax with a cup of tea and a chat with their session leader and other participants. There are now 150 session across England and Wales (Goldies Cymru), taken by over 40 dedicated leaders. Sir Cliff Richard is Patron. Goldies is NOT a choir and the sessions are based on memory-evoking songs of the 50s and onwards. They are attended by older people and adults with learning difficulties and disabilities such as Alzheimer’s and Dementia. Through its diverse communities programme Goldies run sessions for Afro Caribbean elders, South Asian older people and senior people from the Chinese community. The sessions, an intergenerational schools programmes and additional open community events give people who live in isolation a REASON to get out, make friends and take a more active part in community life. For many attending is one of the few times to enjoy the company of others, to SING and to SMILE. www.golden-oldies.org.uk 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. PRESS RELEASE
Sing & Smile in Ringwood In the UK there are millions of people living in isolation and missing out on regular contact with their family and friends. Now in its 10th year the Golden-Oldies Charity, fondly referred to just as ‘Goldies’, which has Sir Cliff Richard as its patron, is bringing its ethos that singing “popular“ music can take people back to happy times and bring joy and friendship to their lives through a new monthly sing-along session in Ringwood. The Golden-Oldies Charity is based on the well documented fact that singing is good for you, it encourages good breathing and brightens up your day and gives you a chance to meet other people. It puts a smile on your face too! The songs are carefully chosen and based on the popular sing-along hits from the 50s onwards. They encourage people to clap in rhythm to the music, tap their feet, smile and, if they want to, get up and dance! Grenville Jones, Founder and Chief Officer for “Goldies” said, “In nine short years we have come a long way and now run over 130 Sing & Smile sessions across the South of England, Staffordshire, Yorkshire and Wales. Those attending are elderly people, and people who are socially isolated, as well as people with learning difficulties and dementia. For many “Goldies” is their lifeline and we hear this at every session from the people who attend.” Grenville continued, “We run one other monthly sessions in Hampshire at Lion Oak Court, Andover and although we are a small charity we want to move forward and brighten more and more lives, so we are holding a ‘taster session’ in Ringwood on Friday 18th November from 2 -4 pm at Greyfriars Community Centre on Christchuch Road BH24 1DW, with the aim of establishing a regular monthly session there.” Grenville concluded, “There’s always a friendly welcome and a cup of tea afterwards, so do come along; “Goldies” is a very good reason get out and be with others. The taster session is completely free, all we ask is that everyone who attends our normal sessions makes a minimum £2 donation to our charity.” ENDS PRESS RELEASE Friday, November 4th, 2016 A schools inter-generational project from the Golden-Oldies charity, commemorating the first two years of WW1 has been recognised by a prestigious national organisation. The Remember WW1 awards celebrated the huge effort made throughout the UK by individuals and groups to commemorate WW1 and to give back something to their communities. Hundreds of organisations were nominated for 7 categories in the awards listing. One of these was for schools and young people. The founder of Golden-Oldies, Grenville Jones attended a presentation ceremony at the Army and Navy Club in Pall Mall on Wednesday of this week, November 2 to receive a certificate as an award finalist. The project, funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund First World War grant engaged with over 60 primary schools across the South West with many events and commemorations. The certificate was presented by Sir Eric Pickles. ‘i congratulate all the entrants from across the UK for their endeavour and commitment to ensuring that those who had served in the Great War are remembered with pride.' The Goldies Charity will soon launch its next WW1 project which will put the spotlight on the final two years of WW1 and will be open to all primary schools across the UK. For full details see www.ourmemories.org.uk. Ends Image shows the certificate Press enquiries to Grenville Jones – 07778 282934 |
Archives
February 2024
Categories |