PRESS RELEASE
  
Wednesday February 28, 2018

Remembering WW1 in stories and songs
 
As the nation looks back to commemorate the final months of WW1 leading up to November 11 and the Armistice, primary schools across England and Wales are signing up for projects that will link them with older people in their communities.
 
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.
 
Eight years ago, charity founder Grenville Jones 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 WW1. 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.
 
The programme is supported by a website…
 
www.ourmemories.org.uk.
 
It offers free access to a host of project ideas for primary schools as well as easy to sing WW1 medleys, specially commissioned by the charity for children and older people to sing together. The website also gives details of the unique 30 minute Armistice Cantata production, written by the children from Thornhill Primary School, Cardiff and available for all schools to access.
 
“We have already been inundated by requests from schools, museums and libraries to take part,“ said Grenville Jones.
 
The WW1 Goldies programme is supported by a number of organisations including Heritage Lottery England and Wales, the Garfield Weston Foundation the Royal British Legion and the Moondance Foundation in Wales.
 
 
For more details contact grenville@ourmemories.org.uk
 
ENDS
 
Images attached show school children taking part in past events
 
Grenville’s mobile is 0777 828 2934

www.golden-oldies.org.uk

PRESS RELEASE
Friday, November 4th, 2016

​A schools inter-generational project from the Golden-Oldies charity, commemorating the first two years of WW1 has been recognised by a prestigious national organisation. 

The Remember WW1 awards celebrated the huge effort made throughout the UK by individuals and groups to commemorate WW1 and to give back something to their communities. Hundreds of organisations were nominated for 7 categories in the awards listing. One of these was for schools and young people. 

The founder of Golden-Oldies, Grenville Jones attended a presentation ceremony at the Army and Navy Club in Pall Mall on Wednesday of this week, November 2 to receive a certificate as an award finalist. 

The project, funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund First World War grant engaged with over 60 primary schools across the South West with many events and commemorations.  

The certificate was presented by Sir Eric Pickles.  

‘i congratulate all the entrants from across the UK for their endeavour and commitment to ensuring that those who had served in the Great War are remembered with pride.' 
​
The Goldies Charity will soon launch its next WW1 project which will put the spotlight on the final two years of WW1 and will be open to all primary schools across the UK. For full details see www.ourmemories.org.uk.
 
Ends
 
Image shows the certificate
Press enquiries to Grenville Jones – 07778 282934


​