Songs & Smiles are back!

With Covid rules relaxed across Wales the popular Goldies Cymru Charity has announced that it is bringing back its Songs&Smiles fun daytime sessions for older isolated people. Prior to Covid Goldies Cymru sessions took place across South Wales. When they were forced to stop the Charity introduced its www.goldieslive.com sofa-singing sessions for people to join in at home.

GoldiesLive has continued for the past 18 months with sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays plus an additional Welsh-speaking monthly session.

Goldies founder, Grenville Jones said;

“We were very aware of the fact that many of the people who attended our daytime sessions prior to Covid lived lives that were lonely. If they were isolated before then Covid most certainly added to that loneliness.

“We work with many Wales-based organisations on the introduction of GoldiesLive and I am delighted that we are now able to bring back some of our daytime sessions with the intention of adding many more in the months ahead. We will however continue with GoldiesLive session through to the end of this year.”

Rachel Parry is the Programme Leader for Goldies Cymru which is supported by the Moondance Foundation who are based in Cardiff. Rachel said;

“We are delighted that our first popular Goldies Cymru daytime sessions are starting back again this month (March) after the pandemic-enforced break.

“If you enjoy a good old singalong to those well-loved hits of the 50s onwards, pop along to your nearest session, make friends and ENJOY. We are a Registered Charity and do ask please for all those attending to make a £3 donation to our work so we can extend our session reaching older isolated people across Wales.”

The sessions that are starting this month are:

RHYMNEY, GWENT at the Ael Y Bryn sports and community centre, Aneurin Terrace, Rhymney, Gwent, NP22 5DR on the Last Wednesday of the month from 12.00-1.00pm with Carol Pegler as session leader.

TREDEGAR at the Tredegar Library, The Circle, Tredegar, Gwent, NP22 3PS on the Second Tuesday of the month from 12.00–1.00pm led by  Carol Pegler.

BRIDGEND  St Theodore’s Church, High Street, Kenfig Hill, Bridgend, Glamorgan CF33 6DR on the Second Tuesday of the month from 11.00-12.00pm with session leader, Cheryl Davies.

CARDIFF in WHITCHURCH  at Ararat Baptist Church, Plas Treoda, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 1PT on the First Monday of the month from 2.00-3.00pm with our session leader Geoff Ashford.

RHYDYPENNAU – CARDIFF Park End Church of Wales, Llandennis Road, Rhydypennau, Cardiff, CF23 6EG – This is A WEEKLY SESSION, EVERY Thursday from 10.30-11.30am with session leader Sue Thomas.

RHIWBINA – CARDIFF at Rhiwbina Library, Pen-y-Dre, Rhiwbina, Cardiff, CF14 6EH on the Third Wednesday of the month from 10.30-11.30am with Rachel Parry as session leader.

CARMARTHENSHIRE at NEWCASTLE EMLYN Holy Trinity Church Community Hall, Church Lane, Newcastle Emlyn, SA38 9AM on the Last Monday of the month from 11.00-12.00pm with Claire Thomas as the session leader.

NEATH – PORT TALBOT a DEMENTIA SUPPORTIVE session at Tabernacle Chapel, 14 Thomas St, Pontardawe, Swansea SA8 4HD on the  First Thursday of the month from 11.00-12.00pm with Naomi Bishop as session leader.

THE VALE at DINAS POWYS,  please note – this is CLOSED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC and is in partnership with with C3SC – Cardiff Third Sector Council Murchfield Community Centre, Sunnycroft Lane, Dinas Powys, CF64 4QQ sessions as requested with Rachel Parry​.

LLANTWIT MAJOR at Lantonian Hall, behind Llantwit Major Rugby FC, off Boverton Road, Llantwit Major, CF61 1TF on the Third Monday of the month from 10.30am – 11.30am with Geoff Ashford.

WATCH OUT for more sessions to be added soon.

If you want to know more call Rachel Parry on 07796 714816.