A charity founded in Bath has been awarded a three year grant of £149,000 to take forward their work into Wales and brighten the lives of those who are elderly and socially isolated.
The Golden-Oldies was founded by Bath-based musician and choir leader Grenville Jones in 2008.
From an initial four daytime singing and activity sessions in sheltered housing community rooms ‘Goldies’, as it has become fondly known, now has 70 sessions across the South West of England and launched Goldies Cymru two years ago where it now runs 15 sessions..
Independent academic research has endorsed the work of the charity. A study released in December again underlined the value that it is bringing to the lives of those who attend the monthly sessions. These now include elderly people who are lonely and live in isolation as well as those with learning difficulties, downs syndrome and dementia.
The Big Lottery Fund Wales financial support is a grant from the People and Places fund. It is for three years and underpins the introduction of 26 new Goldies singing and activity sessions across South Wales.
It also enables the charity to develop its award-winning Time after Time (Tro ar ôl Tro) intergenerational programme to schools across South Wales.
In addition a Big Sing event will be held in the final year of the project bringing together participants of all groups and ages in a showcase musical event which will take place in Cardiff.
Sir Cliff Richard is Patron of Golden-Oldies.
In a letter to founder Goldies Grenville Jones Sir Cliff said: “Many congratulations on receiving the award from the Big Lottery in Wales. I know how passionate you are for the Golden-Oldies concept and I am so pleased for the encouragement this award will bring.
“Our charity can now push ahead with more music programmes for people in South Wales and many more elderly folk will have their lives stimulated and enriched.”
Goldies Cymru programme leader is Rachel Parry who will now be working to introduce eight new monthly singing and activity sessions during 2014.
The charity will recruit a part-time leader to introduce the Time after Time programme.
Founder Grenville Jones said: “This wonderful support from The Big Lottery Wales means that by the end of 2016 we could be running at least 50 of our Goldies sessions across South Wales.
“That equates to many, many smiling faces!”
