Epping Forest

Groups

We currently run over 60 groups, and are very grateful to all our group leaders for the time and energy they give to support EFU3A.

For more information regarding groups, please contact our Group Co-ordinator, via the Contact page.

The Links on the right provide click-through access to general advice to Group Leaders about setting up and running groups as well as links to educational and informative materials on a wide range of topics that can be utilised by Group Leaders and other members

Group Leaders should be aware that there is a range of help resources available through the Third Age Trust and accessible through the National U3A web site. A resource centre contains an extensive stock of video and other materials covering a wide range of subject areas. These are available on free loan to local U3A branches.

Group Leaders can also get advice from national subject co-ordinators. There are more than 50 of these that can be accessed through the Subject Advice area of the National U3A web site.

Group Leaders can get further information from the Epping Forest U3A Groups Co-ordinator or they can contact the national office of the U3A directly themselves: Telephone number: General - 020 8466 6139; Resource Centre - 020 8314 0199; Web address: www.u3a.org.uk.

Prospectus

For full details of all our Groups and related activities, please consult the Epping Forest U3A Prospectus for 2018-2019. Our Members receive a hard copy of this booklet and an electronic version can be seen via the Link in the right-hand column of this page.

Members are advised that where Groups are described as having 'closed' membership, this does not mean that a Group is 'full'. It means that the Group has a 'restricted' or 'limited' membership capacity usually due to limited space available to accommodate Members at its meetings. With these Groups it is usually necessary for Members to register their interest in a Group with the group Convenor before attending its meetings. Groups described as being 'open' have unrestricted membership. Members may usually turn up to meetings or events held by these Groups without giving advance notice and without the need for advance registration with the Group Convenor.

Members' Suggestions

EFU3A is always interested to hear from its Members with ideas. Anyone with suggestions for new groups can send them to the Web and Information Officer using the Link on the Contact page or by posting the forms placed in the Suggestions Box located on the Information Desk in the foyer of Theydon Bois Village Hall before the Main Monthly Meetings.

U3A Members and Group Etiquette

Group Leaders make a vital contribution to the Epping Forest U3A. They give up their time and energies voluntarily to provide a wide range of interesting activities for Members to pursue. The EFU3A Committee will do all it can to ensure that Members gain access to Groups they would like to join.

Because many groups are run from Members' homes, however, space can be restricted and this means that membership numbers are limited for certain Groups. It is important therefore that Members who do join any group with restricted membership ensure that they try to attend its sessions and provide support for its activities.

If a Member cannot attend a group meeting because they are indisposed it is good etiquette to let the Group Leader know why they cannot attend as soon as they can and preferably in advance. If circumstances mean that a Member is unable to give advance notice, then they should try to let the Group Leader know why they were unable to attend as soon as reasonably possible and also when they expect to attend again.

If a Member finds that a Group does not meet their expectations or that their circumstances more generally have changed making it difficult for them to attend its meetings, then they should let the Group Leader know and formally give up their membership of that Group to allow other Members with an interest in the Group to join it instead.