Rayleigh Grange

Welcome

Please check the Timetable page for the latest updated timetable of activities.

** New Members welcome - email our Membership Secretary for details **

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From the Chairman

Hello and welcome to the Rayleigh Grange u3a March newsletter.

Firstly, let me apologise for mixing Bury St. Edmunds and St. Albans up as a destination and final stop on a future excursion on my little verse at the beginning of the monthly meeting.
Good job I'm not driving the coach!

The membership renewals went well this year with Sue, our Membership Secretary, being swamped with renewals emails.
Our current membership numbers are buoyant at 328.
We are looking at membership renewal rates at other u3a's in the area and our Treasurer, Dave Westall, will be looking into this for 2025/6.

With the Trinity Fair coming to Rayleigh in early June we are exploring the possibility of taking on a stall,
possibly with other u3a's in the area, to improve our profile in Rayleigh.
We might attract some new members as well.

New groups are appearing following membership interest - these being Bridge and Pétanque.
Carol is doing some sterling work with Rayleigh Town Council to secure the use of the purpose built Pétanque court on King George V playing field.

We are starting an "Open House" where members are being invited to come along for a cuppa and biscuit to discuss anything u3a they want.
This will be good for new members to get to know others along with committee members and some group leaders. This is planned for 22nd March at the Cedar Centre in Castle Road Rayleigh. Looking forward to this.

March 2024

Bill Keeys
Chairman
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WELCOME - Rayleigh Grange u3a

In 2009, following a launch meeting at Rayleigh Grange, organised by Rayleigh u3a and the national office, several volunteers came forward to start a new u3a.
Those volunteers – Lillah Akerman, Ann Rawlinson, Margaret Halloran, Julia White, Sue Mahoney, Alan and Viv McKeown, June Cross, Jacqui Butcher, Irene and Stan Reynell - met up on 13 March 2009 at the Hungry Horse in London Road, to form a steering committee and Rayleigh Grange U3A was born.
Lillah became our first Chairman and the group of 11 our founder members.

The name Rayleigh Grange was chosen, as our monthly meeting is held at the Grange Community Centre, Little Wheatley Chase, Rayleigh.

The initial membership of 39 at our first monthly meeting has grown steadily and we now have about 300 members.

U3A stands for the University of the Third Age, but is not a university in the academic sense – no qualifications are required and none are given.
The U3A provides an opportunity through self-help to widen our experiences and knowledge.
There are now over 1000 local u3as all over the UK with over 425,000 members, and many more Worldwide.

We are a lively organisation with members drawn from Rayleigh and the surrounding area.
Our main activities centre around over 50 interest groups which draw upon the knowledge and expertise of our members.
These are held in members homes and venues around Rayleigh, plus trips to other areas, and offer educational, recreational and physical activities,
for those who are retired or no longer in full-time employment.

Rayleigh Grange u3a is run by an elected committee of up to 15 members.

Each local u3a is autonomous and develops its own distinctive features but is able to call upon national and regional parts of the organisation for help and advice.

Rayleigh Grange u3a is affiliated to the Third Age Trust and upholds its aims and principles.

Subscription is currently only £10 a year or £19 for 2 people at the same address (this could change) which includes:

  • Entrance to our interest groups
  • Monthly meeting with a Guest Speaker - these are held on the first Wednesday of each month,
  • (usually excluding August, but as you will imagine, all things are apt to change at the moment)
  • Refreshments at the monthly meeting
  • Five copies of the national magazine “Third Age Matters”
  • A monthly newsletter or bulletin

Interest groups normally meet in the home of the leader or a group member and 50p is payable for refreshments.
Additional costs may be payable when groups meet in a hall or if other fees are required (Hall hire, entrance fees, contribution to fuel costs).

Guests are welcome to attend our monthly meeting if spaces are available, the guest fee is £3.

Please see our Emergency Cold Weather Policy.

Rayleigh Grange u3a is a Registered Charity Number 1165092.