Faversham & District

Groups

Interest Groups
Fadu3a Interest Groups have been suggested by and organised by members. They are self-managing and led by an Interest Group Leader, who may or may not be experienced or expert in the field, but has a genuine interest in the establishment and success of the group and is willing to undertake an organisational role. All leaders are u3a members, volunteers and not paid teachers. It must be stressed that these are shared interest groups, not teaching courses and the groups themselves decide what they do.

You must be a paid up member of Faversham and District u3a to join any Interest Group – this is an insurance requirement.

All groups are free to join although there may be some cost attached, such as a shared payment for the hire of a venue and a cost for any materials provided for and used in the group. Where possible, interest groups should be held in members’ homes or an agreed free meeting place. However, where this is not possible, due to the nature of the group, a venue might be hired. Regularity of group meetings is arranged according to how each group chooses. It can be weekly, fortnightly, monthly - the group decides. Cost of refreshments should be determined by the group, when meeting in a member’s home, but must cover costs.

If you are interested in joining one of our groups, contact the Joint Group Coordinators via email on our Contacts page or sign up at a monthly meeting. You will then be advised whether a place is available; if there is, you will be sent a copy of the group’s risk assessment (acceptance of the risk assessment is a condition of participation) and your contact details passed to the Group Leader who will contact you. If there is no space, your name will go on a waiting list, with the date you applied, and you will be notified as soon as a place is available.

All groups take place in and around the Faversham and Sittingbourne areas. The list of Interest Groups below is updated regularly; click on the group name for more details.

If you would like to start a group of your own please email our Joint Group Coordinators. They will send you a New Group Proforma which prompts you to decide venue, frequency of meetings, maximum group size etc. Once completed and returned, it is used to advertise the group. The Joint Group Coordinators will also offer advice about venues etc.

The national u3a website offers online learning events and Interest Groups Online (an online u3a community that gives you the opportunity to join groups, talks and courses from the comfort of your home ).