Downham Market & District

Interest Groups

DOWNHAM MARKET & DISTRICT U3a

INTEREST GROUPS

MESSAGE FROM YOUR GROUP CO-ORDINATOR

You have found your way to Downham Market & District U3a Groups information Webpage. Well done.

A warm welcome now awaits you from our many Groups and their Leaders. From Art to Walking, Reading, Table Tennis, Gardening, Music Appreciation, Poetry or Jazz. Whether you fancy belonging to a companionable Lunch Group, exploring Family or Local History, discussing Current Affairs or Climate Change; practising or learning Patchwork and Quilting, or maybe an afternoon of Craft skills, Crime Fiction, Singing for Pleasure and many more – there is something for you to become involved with.

The Groups are there for you to try out. It doesn’t matter how mobile you are or whether you drive. There will always be someone available to offer a lift.
You will meet lots of people. Keeping an active mind is highly recommended! At each Group, members chat, learn about other U3a Groups, put the world to rights and share laughter. All the groups are different, but you will have fun, and embark on new friendships. Do give it a go!

Ideas for new Groups are always most welcome. Perhaps you have a skill to share or want to get a group together to explore new ideas or activities? You don’t need to be a professional – learning is a shared activity and there are many sources of information and advice to follow up either online or from the library. There may be daunting challenges to launching a Group, the formalities include a file of reference material and guidelines each Group Leader is given. But this is only for peace of mind and mutual safety.

Group Leaders need to arrange a venue and let their Group know dates and times of their meetings. If your Group meets in your home or another member’s house a cup of tea is always appreciated –members chip in 50p to help. If you need to hire a different venue – each member pays a contribution to the shared cost, usually £2 -£3.

Groups involved in hiring a venue would involve expansive activities like Table Tennis, Art, Singing for Pleasure, Crafts and Quilting and Patchwork or possibly for the future Line Dancing, Tai Chi or an amateur dramatic, musical or choral production.

As Group Co-ordinator I aim to be at most monthly meetings and welcome queries and requests. Please come and introduce yourself. We have a Group/Membership Queries box you can post messages in.

Carroll Cowin

• To find out more about the activities of each Group, click on the blue link below.

• For more information from Group Leaders, please click on the bird at the top right of each Group’s page.