Across South Wales the Goldies Cymru Charity brings Songs & Smiles to lonely and isolated older people through its daytime community singalongs.
The Golden-Oldies Charity was launched by Bath music man Grenville Jones in 2007 in the West Country. Five years later Goldies Cymru sessions were added in Church halls, community rooms and Libraries. ‘Goldies’, as it has became fondly known, continued to add more sessions until Covid forced all daytime singing in Wales and England to be cancelled.
The Charity responded by introducing sofa singing at home for older people with popular GoldiesLive sessions taking place throughout 2020 and 2021.
Apart from the popular singalong sessions with hundreds of attendees, Goldies Founder Grenville introduced an intergenerational programme in 2012 with the aim of bringing together children in primary schools with older people in their local communities.
With the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund Wales and the Moondance Foundation these projects were a huge success and in 2018 Goldies Cymru was awarded the prestigious National Lottery Award Education Category, a huge achievement for a small charity.
This award was presented by Katherine Jenkins, receiving considerable media coverage across Wales and England.
Now in 2023 the Charity is back with over 60 daytime sessions across South Wales and, on Friday October 27, Goldies Cymru launched its NEW primary schools intergenerational programme at Rhiwbeina Primary School. This new project entitled ‘Listening and Learning Together’ once again encourages primary schools to open their doors to older folk within their local communities.
Elizabeth Berry was formerly Deputy Head at Thornhill Primary School, she said;
“The children, staff and parents at Thornhill thoroughly enjoyed all aspects of the links with Goldies. The project at that time was about memories of WWI. Without question, both age groups benefit enormously from these Goldies programmes. The children love meeting, talking and singing with the older folk and the older generation equally embrace all aspects of the project.
“I will certainly be working with Goldies Cymru in my new role as headteacher at Bryn Celyn Primary School. Our curriculum for Wales links closely with the ethos of this project. It refers to ‘CYNEFIN’ and a sense of belonging in our community. Intergenerational work is key to building communities which are based in care and respect for our older people. The Goldies Cymru work supports our social action work in a fun and interactive way.”
Julie Hughes, Head of Investment at The National Lottery Heritage Fund in Wales said;
“The events of recent years bought isolation and the sense of being shut away from society into sharp focus for many of us, but heritage has an important role to play in bringing communities together.
“Heritage can be anything from the past that we value and want to pass on to future generations and the ‘Listening and Learning’ project will provide a fantastic opportunity to bring older and younger generations in south east Wales together to share their memories and traditions so that they can learn, sing and perform together.”
Full information on the programme is now available from www.goldiescymru.org.uk and schools across South Wales have been sent guidance notes in both Welsh and English.
Goldies Cymru enjoys strong links with Cardiff Libraries where sessions take place.
Steffan Davies, Children’s and Welsh Librarian from Cardiff Hubs and Libraries, added;
“We look forward to supporting this new programme with open days at our Libraries with the participation of the Young and the Young at Heart! We are already blessed with Goldies attending our Hus and libraries. They provide plenty of joy to the people of Cardiff. Having the opportunity to be a part of such a wonderful event brings us great joy.”
Cheryl Davies is the Goldies Cymru Programme Leader. She can be contacted for full details on 07860 944410.
