Goldies helping isolated lonely people through the Coronavirus outbreak
Published: 31 March 2020
Singing leaders from the much-loved Goldies Charity are keeping in regular touch across Exeter with hundreds of isolated lonely people.
Goldies was forced to cancel all its 220 sessions last month but is maintaining contact with its older folk through a variety of online options. The charity (better known simply as Goldies) started 13 years ago and has a huge reputation for the Songs&Smiles it brings to brighten lonely lives.
The City Council first brought the charity to Exeter in 2016, when its housing teams held an introductory session at the historic Guildhall with a number of residents from the Council’s Older Person’s Housing Schemes across the city.
The scheme caught on and has become popular in the city ever since.
The Online Mini Sing&Smile Sessions are led by Rachel Parry and Cheryl Davies who are based in South Wales but the sessions are being accessed by Goldies from across England and Wales.
A regular Thursday 2.30pm online session is receiving thousands of views plus many favorable comments from older people in their homes. The Goldies sing the popular hits of the 60s and onwards and the regular weekly sing-alongs include all the much-loved melodies that form an integral part of our sessions.
“We have been staggered by the response and we know that the family members of our Goldies are spreading the word to try and do our bit to reduce the loneliness in these very difficult times,” said Rachel Parry.
View the mini Sing&Smile sessions on YouTube Rachel and Cheryl will also try and take requests if people want to send a message via Facebook
Both Rachel and Cheryl can be contacted easily by email on rachel@goldiescymru.org.uk or cheryl@goldiescymru.org.uk. The Charity is planning to extend the regular sessions in the weeks and months ahead looking forward to the day when Goldies starts back again in a community room, church hall or library near you.
Find out more information on the Goldies website