Welcome to the Goldies Cymru website - part of the Golden-Oldies Charity - our daytime FUN Sing&Smile sessions bring joy to the lives of older isolated people through the singing of popular pop songs. They are led by dedicated leaders and take place in church halls, community rooms and libraries across Wales.
2nd – 8th of June is National Volunteers Week. Goldies Volunteers range from volunteer Session Leaders to those who regularly attend sessions to help out with making cups of tea, putting out chairs and ensuring our participants have a wonderful time.
A huge Thank You from the Goldies Team to all our wonderful Volunteers.
Goldies Cymru in Conwy
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Our video was taken in Conwy, North Wales, and shows the popular session at Rhos-on-Sea and is introduced by the session leader Robert Shillaker. This session is supported by a two-year grant from the National Lottery Community Fund. Goldies Cymru in Conwy works in partnership with the Local Borough Council’s Health and Wellbeing team and details of the sessions can be found here. |
On 27 March in a glittering awards ceremony at the packed Bobby Moore Suite, Wembley Stadium, the work of the Songs&Smiles Charity Golden-Oldies was recognised with its founder Grenville Jones being awarded the prestigious UK Excellence Awards 2025 Patron’s Award for Individual achievement by the British Quality Foundation Patron, HRH, the Princess Royal.
Click here to read the Press Release
Click here to read the Press Release
Pictured at the Bobby Moore Suite, Wembley Stadium, on Thursday March 27 the team from the Golden-Oldies Charity celebrating the success of Grenville Jones in winning the Patron’s Award for Individual Achievement. Pictured (left-right) Trustees Ingrid & John Franklin, Cheryl Davies Goldies Cymru, Grenville Jones Goldies Founder, Julie Brady and Emma Shearman from Goldies South West office, Su Thomas Goldies Cymru and (front) Helen Wann Bath-based Trustee for the Charity.
Official event photographs taken by Studio Mobile Photography
Goldies Sweatshirts
Fun at Rhydypennau
Photos from one of our recent weekly sessions at Rhydypennau, Cardiff.
Come and join us - everyone welcome!
Come and join us - everyone welcome!
Goldies Cymru Festive Fun
Goldies Cymru groups from all over Wales enjoyed a very fun and festive December. The CARDIFF LIONS once again invited our Goldies in Cardiff to a Christmas Dinner, which is always a huge success and enjoyed by all of the Goldies that attend. They enjoyed a festive dinner and were treated like royalty.
Off the back of our successful Intergenerationl project in 2024 we had the pupils of Ysgol Y Castell join our session in Kidwelly, to sing some Christmas Carols, and our Rhiwbina Goldies were invited to Rhiwbeina school for another visit, to join in with their Christmas festivities. At one of our new sessions this year in Bargoed, we had the pleasure of welcoming pupils from St Gwladys, who thoroughly enjoyed singing with our Goldies and having a dance at the end of the session. Also, Birchgrove Primary School choir came along to our Christmas Special at Park End Church, Rhydypennau where the Goldies also had the pleasure of a VERY special guest – Father Christmas, who told us a story, joined us for the singing and brought some prizes for the raffle!
All of our sessions had extra special sessions with Christmas songs and carols, Christmas jumpers and mince pies, with many organising to go out together for Christmas Lunch.
Our Goldies from Whitchurch enjoying their December session, with lots of smiles and some very fetching Christmas jumpers.
Making A Difference
Songs and smiles! Lets pop in to the weekly Goldies Cymru session that takes place in Rhydypennau Library in Cardiff. Get ready to join in with the folks as they belt out “Sweet Caroline”:
This hugely popular weekly session is lead by Sue Thomas, our brilliant Goldies leader …. Goldies is good for you, it brings a smile to your face and there’s nothing better than a good old fashioned singalong.
The Health and Wellbeing effect on elderly and isolated older people across England and Wales by the Golden-Oldies charity has resulted in considerable positive evidence and feedback. Recently, with National Lottery support, new daytime Sing & Smile ‘Goldies’ sessions have started in Wales in Conwy, in partnership with the local Borough Council’s Health and Wellbeing team. Now in 2024, recent evidence from a new session in Wales further underlines how the Goldies charity brightens lives and improves wellbeing. One attendee is an 89 year old lady who lives alone. This is what she told us …
“I suffer with COPD. I don’t go out often as I am left breathless and struggling to walk. I am on the Community Wellbeing Team mailing list and receive emails about sessions that are running. I had been looking for a number of years for a singing group, as I know singing is good for people with COPD. I have benefitted from the sessions greatly and, after was able to walk to the shop and walk home. I would have to stop to get my breath. However, after the session I was able to do this without stopping.”
“I suffer with COPD. I don’t go out often as I am left breathless and struggling to walk. I am on the Community Wellbeing Team mailing list and receive emails about sessions that are running. I had been looking for a number of years for a singing group, as I know singing is good for people with COPD. I have benefitted from the sessions greatly and, after was able to walk to the shop and walk home. I would have to stop to get my breath. However, after the session I was able to do this without stopping.”
For full details of Goldies Cymru sessions click here
With the support of Lottery Wales we have extended our partnerships with many other Age-Related organisations and these include the Stroke Association, Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services, Dementia Matters in Powys, and Home Instead Cardiff. Many new sessions are specifically for People living with Dementia.
Our video below was taken on Thursday November 17th at Park End Church, Rhydypennau, Cardiff at the Goldies Cymru 10th Birthday celebration with special guest Santa and the Lord Mayor of Cardiff Cllr Graham Hinchey ….. lots of hats, cakes, SONGS and, of course, SMILES. A wonderful celebration!
Our video below was taken on Thursday November 17th at Park End Church, Rhydypennau, Cardiff at the Goldies Cymru 10th Birthday celebration with special guest Santa and the Lord Mayor of Cardiff Cllr Graham Hinchey ….. lots of hats, cakes, SONGS and, of course, SMILES. A wonderful celebration!
So many of our Goldies contacted us to tell us how much they enjoyed this Birthday Celebration.
“I’ve met a very friendly group of people – a real ray of sunshine once a month” Kevin, Rhiwbina - “I am so happy to be able to sing some of the songs of my generation (88yrs) it is a fantastic organisation. I love Goldies, the highlight of my week” Stan & heavenly Beryl, Whitchurch - “So Joyful, it makes my day cheerful” Jennifer Jones - “Love going to Goldies, always love the singing, company and a great laugh” annon, Whitchurch - “We enjoy the sing along and the gathering of very happy people” Chris & Iris Gillard - “Been coming for 6 months, wouldn’t miss it for the world. Lovely party, lots of giggles” Ann & Joan, Whitchurch
As our founder Grenville Jones is always anxious to point out, Goldies is NOT about choir singing, the accent is on social and occasions where people who may live in isolation can, quite simply, get out and enjoy the company of others.... and, of course, a good old-fashioned SINGALONG!
“I’ve met a very friendly group of people – a real ray of sunshine once a month” Kevin, Rhiwbina - “I am so happy to be able to sing some of the songs of my generation (88yrs) it is a fantastic organisation. I love Goldies, the highlight of my week” Stan & heavenly Beryl, Whitchurch - “So Joyful, it makes my day cheerful” Jennifer Jones - “Love going to Goldies, always love the singing, company and a great laugh” annon, Whitchurch - “We enjoy the sing along and the gathering of very happy people” Chris & Iris Gillard - “Been coming for 6 months, wouldn’t miss it for the world. Lovely party, lots of giggles” Ann & Joan, Whitchurch
As our founder Grenville Jones is always anxious to point out, Goldies is NOT about choir singing, the accent is on social and occasions where people who may live in isolation can, quite simply, get out and enjoy the company of others.... and, of course, a good old-fashioned SINGALONG!
Come and join our happy team as a Goldies Cymru leader!
Contact Cheryl on 07860 944410
Contact Cheryl on 07860 944410
“It’s the best day of the week!”
More Goldies Sessions Across Wales
Read our latest roundup from some of the Goldies attending our sessions by clicking HERE.
Sing&Smile
A STUDY ON OUR GOLDIES CHARITY
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A new Academic impact study was commissioned at the end of 2019 and the full report is available (April 2020) This study was made possible the support of The National Lottery Wales and the Moondance Foundation. A number of Focus Groups took place and the conclusion statement includes a number of comments from those who attended. Here is just one of them: “It has totally changed my life. It brings me joy and peace. I struggled to cope with understanding the loss of my husband and found it hard to find any happiness. Goldies takes me out of depression and has helped me immensely.“
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