GOLDEN Oldies charity, reaches out to older people across England and Wales through its singing and activity sessions and now has over 150 sessions, including one in Westbury.
The Golden-Oldies charity started in November 2007 in the West Country. There are now 160 daytime Sing & Smile sessions supported by an army of volunteers across Southern England, Yorkshire, the Midlands, Devon, Cornwall, Essex and in South Wales, as Goldies Cymru. More fondly referred to just as “Goldies” thousands attend the fun singalongs at church halls, libraries and community rooms.
In Westbury, there are sessions on the first Tuesday of each month at The White Horse Day Centre with Jeanie Fairnington from 1.45pm-2.45pm if you are interested in joining.
Eight years ago, charity founder Grenville Jones, who also runs choirs in Frome, also launched an intergenerational programme for schools, encouraging them to open their doors to older people in their communities.
The most recent programme in 2014 ran across the South West and was based on the first two years of World War 1. Hundreds of schools took part with heritage and memorabilia days, concerts and special events.
This new programme encourages primary schools to commemorate the final months of WW1 leading up to November 11 and the anniversary of the Armistice.
This is a new project supported by The National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Garfield Weston Foundation, The Moondance Foundation, The Royal British Legion and The Santander Foundation to help primary schools to recognise and commemorate the final two years of WW1. In November this year, the nation will look back on that time in 1918 and remember.
For more information about joining, or if you are a primary school interested in the intergenerational programme, email Grenville – grenville@ourmemories. org.uk .
