Groups
LATEST NEWS FROM OUR GROUPS COORDINATOR
As membership of Rayleigh U3A continues to grow, our aim is to increase the opportunities for our members to join new interest groups.
Our existing Gardening group is full and with further members interested in joining, we now have a second GARDENING GROUP.
Our existing SUNDAY LUNCH GROUP is also full with a number of members waiting to join so a further group could easily be established. Despite contacting those on the waiting list, whilst some have registered interest in joining a new group, unfortunately nobody has offered to lead the group, so the wait to join the exiting group will continue - and that may be a long one! If there is anybody willing to take on the role of arranging the monthly booking for this second lunch group, please contact Paul Reeve who can provide more information and provide some initial assistance.
We now have a new WALKING GROUP which takes on slightly longer distances than the our existing groups. The walks take place at locations up to an 1 hour away from Rayleigh, the walk length is between six and eight miles and set at an intermediate level.
We have recently begun a further KNIT AND NATTER Group as well as the following brand new groups:
•COFFEE & CONVERSATION FOR LADIES
•SIT & SEW
•WAFFLING FOR MEN
•YOGA PRACTICE
We are hoping to begin a group soon which will discuss the history and background to the GREEK CLASSICS. Details are still being finalised but do let me know if you might be interested in joining.
Sadly, Sandra and Joan who have organised the regular THEATRE TRIPS to local and London venues have decided to bring down the curtain on their involvement. These trips have been enjoyed by so many members over the years however, unless we have someone who would be prepared to take on making the arrangements, I am afraid there will be no further trips. For now at least, Theatre Trips has therefore unfortunately been removed from the list of our active groups.
If you are interested in the above or would like more information about any of our groups, then please contact me via my email paulreeve@rayleighu3a.co.uk or telephoning on 07825 430159.
Paul Reeve, Group Coordinator
HOW THE ACTIVITY GROUPS MEET
In common with many other u3a's, the majority of learning groups meet in homes. This means that of necessity the groups are often small. This seems to work for our u3a, proving a more friendly and easier learning atmosphere. There are, of course, some groups that meet in public rooms and halls. This is usually due to large numbers, lack of house space, or equipment needed.
PLEASE NOTE: TO BE A MEMBER OF A GROUP, YOU MUST BE A CURRENT FULL OR ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF RAYLEIGH u3a.
u3as draw upon the knowledge, experience and skills of their own members to organise and provide interest groups in accordance with the wishes of the membership. Each Group has a Group Leader or Leaders who work with the members of the group as a team to plan how the subject can be enjoyed by all. U3a's offer the chance to study over 300 different subjects in such fields as art, languages, music, history, life sciences, philosophy, computing, crafts, photography and walking. The National Office can supply DVDs (suspended currently) but if you sign up to Third Age Trust you will find so much info - Subject Advisors, National Programmes and free online resources. .
The variation in groups is enormous, from technical or academic subjects to morning rambles and a pub lunch. The majority of groups have a regular meeting time or venue but this is entirely up to the group members to decide for themselves. Meetings can be far less formal such as the luncheon group whose members choose a pub, restaurant or café they wish to visit each month.
The u3a approach to learning is – learning for pleasure. There is no accreditation or validation and there are no assessments or qualifications to be gained. Group members form friendships, have fun and gain personal satisfaction.
The Group Coordinator will publicise activities at the monthly meetings and via the Newsletter and ask those people who have shown an interest in any new activity to meet together to form a group. If you are interested in an activity and there is no group available, then ask the Group Coordinator for this new subject to be advertised to see how many people come forward and put their names down for that subject.
The current list of activity groups and the normal day they meet each month is shown below.
Please note that dates may vary with some groups so PLEASE ALWAYS CHECK WITH THE GROUP LEADER. You can do this by clicking on the Group below and when the new page opens, click on the bird logo on the right hand of the screen - you can then send an email.
Group List | |||
---|---|---|---|
ARCHAEOLOGY 3rd Wednesday | 3rd Wednesday | ART 1st Thursday | 1st Thursday |
BADMINTON Every Monday & Tuesday | Every Monday & Tuesday | BOOK READING 2 Last Friday in month | Last Friday in month |
BOOK READING 3 3rd Friday | 3rd Friday | BOOK READING 4 4th Monday | 4th Monday |
CANASTA 2 2nd Monday (Evening) | 2nd Monday (Evening) | CERAMICS 1st Tuesday | 1st Tuesday |
COFFEE & CONVERSATION LADIES
Varies | Varies | COOKING 1st Friday | 1st Friday |
CREATIVE WRITING 3rd Thursday | 3rd Thursday | CRIB CLUB 3rd Mon (Evening) | 3rd Mon (Evening) |
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 2 2nd Monday | 2nd Monday | FACEBOOK | |
FAMILY HISTORY 2 4th Wednesday | 4th Wednesday | FAMILY HISTORY 3 4th Thursday | 4th Thursday |
GARDENING 4th Friday | 4th Friday | GARDENING 2
3rd Thursday | 3rd Thursday |
KNIT & NATTER 1 3rd Thursday | 3rd Thursday | KNIT & NATTER 2 2nd Tuesday | 2nd Tuesday |
KNIT & NATTER 3
TBC | TBC | LOCAL HISTORY 2nd Wednesday | 2nd Wednesday |
LONGER WALKS GROUP
2nd Wednesday | 2nd Wednesday | MEETING FOR ALL MEMBERS 1st Wednesday | 1st Wednesday |
MUSIC APPRECIATION 4th Weds & 4th Thurs | 4th Weds & 4th Thurs | PATCHWORK & TEA 3rd Wednesday Afternoon | 3rd Wednesday Afternoon |
PSYCHOLOGY 4th Thursday | 4th Thursday | REAL ALE 3rd Wednesday | 3rd Wednesday |
RUMMIKUB 3rd Thursday | 3rd Thursday | SCRABBLE 2nd Wednesday | 2nd Wednesday |
SERENDIPITY 3 3rd Wednesday | 3rd Wednesday | SERENDIPITY 5 4th Thursday | 4th Thursday |
SERENDIPITY 6 4th Wednesday | 4th Wednesday | SIT & SEW
2nd Thursday (afternoon) | 2nd Thursday (afternoon) |
STROLLING 4th Thursday (am) | 4th Thursday (am) | STROLLING 2
2nd Monday | 2nd Monday |
SUNDAY LUNCH Last Sunday | Last Sunday | TABLE TENNIS 3rd Wednesday | 3rd Wednesday |
TABLE TENNIS 2 1st Tuesday | 1st Tuesday | TENPIN BOWLING 2nd Monday | 2nd Monday |
THEATRE TRIPS See Group page for details | See Group page for details | VISIT ESSEX CHURCHES 1 2nd Monday | 2nd Monday |
VISIT INTERESTING PLACES ESSEX 3rd Monday | 3rd Monday | WAFFLING FOR MEN
4th Wednesday | 4th Wednesday |
WALKING GROUP 2 Last Friday of month | Last Friday of month | WALKING GROUP 3 2nd Tuesday | 2nd Tuesday |
WALKING GROUP 5 2nd Thursday | 2nd Thursday | WINE APPRECIATION 2nd Tuesday (Evening) | 2nd Tuesday (Evening) |
YOGA PRACTICE
Every Monday Morning | Every Monday Morning |