Various items of information for members
THE ITEMS ON THIS PAGE WAIT FOR SAFER TIMES...
Tea rota
Members who come to hear the talks are always keen to queue up for drinks, so how about coming round to the other side of the counter to help serve them? Rama will be delighted to hear from you, so do please contact her on 01763 260565 to join the rota. Men as well as ladies, please! Thank you.
Greeters
Please contact Nicole with offers to help as a greeter.
LOCAL VOLUNTEERING - DO-IT
Be a trustee; cook; visitor, cinema helper; charity shop helper … if you’ve time spare you may find local volunteering opportunities, for all ages at DO-IT - www.do-it.org. There are even opportunities to help from home. We searched locally to find over a hundred items.
LOCAL VOLUNTEERING - TIMEBANK
Timebanking is a way that local people help each other by exchanging knowledge, help and skills. You might make a cake, walk a dog, visit someone, pick up a prescription, do some gardening, welcome a newcomer to the village and make a difference to a person that needs your help. For this you earn an hour’s time credit to gain something back, such as help to hem a skirt or help to pick up shopping, or learn a new skill such as use a mobile phone. Everyone’s time is equal, so one hour of their time is equal to one hour of your time, irrespective of what we choose to exchange. More than giving and receiving, timebanking is about bringing people together to build a safer, stronger and happier community. 'Timebank' members come from Melbourn, Royston, Meldreth, Shepreth and Foxton. To join Melbourn Timebank email timebank@melbournparishcouncil.co.uk Website https://tol2.timebanking.org/melbourn/
SCHOOLREADERS QUIZ
Schoolreaders is a charity that recruits volunteers to listen to children read in primary schools to help childhood literacy. This is a completely free service to schools. More information can be found at: www.schoolreaders.org
U3A - “A NEW APPROACH TO AGEING”
The National U3A has published research detailing “a sustainable and positive approach to ageing built on group learning, skill sharing and volunteering”. The report Living Life, Extending Horizons, Challenging Conventions is based on focus groups, a literature review and a member survey. Read it at https://www.u3a.org.uk/about/news-archive/408-u3a-publishes-impact-report-learningnotlonely
BE A VOLUNTEER
Over 200 volunteers are involved in supporting U3As regionally and nationally. These interesting roles include helping with implementing of the new Beacon software system, subject advising, troubleshooting, proof reading and supporting the start-up process for new U3As. However, recruitment for volunteers is ongoing, and as one new volunteer comments, “Being recruited as a U3A volunteer has been a delightful extension of my U3A involvement.” So if you are interested, do please contact Sophie Wellings at sophie.wellings@u3a.org.uk.
HERTFORDSHIRE RING WALKS
Another series of walks in Hertfordshire around a specific location is planned for this year. The 16 walks start on the first Thursday in April, and full details will be published here as soon as they are known.
MAKING OUR ACTIVITIES EASIER TO ACCESS
Do you or a friend find some of our events and activities difficult to get to or to enjoy because of a disability or medical condition? We are very concerned to make everything as accessible as possible for all our members, but we need your help in understanding how to do this. Please don’t be shy, but call any committee member in confidence (see contact tab)
DEVELOPING INTERNATIONAL LINKS
If you have retired family members overseas or if you visit other countries, you may have wondered if U3As are to be found there. They are, but some are known by other names, and may not come up via a web search. The Third Age Trust is a member of the International Association of Universities of the Third Age (AIUTA) and wants to help British U3As and their members make international links with U3As and similar groups. This could involve cultural visits, exchanges or twinning, or web-enabled foreign language conversations, study days or summer schools. If this sort of thing interests you, you can get more information by following links in the members’ area of the national website at www.u3a.org.uk. We also have details of websites relating to specific countries; for more information contact Maureen Moody tel:01763 260938.
DISCOUNTED SOFTWARE
Members of the U3A can purchase discounted Microsoft software by contacting the Third Age Trust, 020 8466 6139. Another possible source is TT Exchange at www.tt-exchange.org.uk.
HELP IMPROVE CHILDREN’S LITERACY
National charity, Schoolreaders is looking for volunteers to listen to children reading in schools. The aim is to encourage reading, improve literacy and build confidence. The requirements are to be fluent in English and be able to commit one or two hours a week in term time. For more information contact Edward Scott at e.scott@schoolreaders.org, 07721 734232.