Groups
GROUPS MEETING IN 2021
With current restrictions in place, many of our groups are having to find different ways to 'meet' - some groups are meeting online, some when restrictions allow are managing to meet in smaller groups and some, again when allowed, are meeting outside. Everyone is staying positive and being supportive in true u3a spirit!
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.
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 Tuesday | Every Tuesday | BIRDWATCHING 4th Tuesday | 4th Tuesday |
BOOK READING 1 2nd Monday | 2nd Monday | BOOK READING 2 2nd Friday | 2nd Friday |
BOOK READING 3 3rd Friday | 3rd Friday | BOOK READING 4 4th Monday | 4th Monday |
BRIDGE 2nd, 3rd and 4th Friday | 2nd, 3rd and 4th Friday | CANASTA 4th Monday (Evening) | 4th Monday (Evening) |
CANASTA 2 2nd Monday (Evening) | 2nd Monday (Evening) | CERAMICS 1st Monday | 1st Monday |
CONVERSATIONAL FRENCH 2nd & 3rd Tuesday | 2nd & 3rd Tuesday | CONVERSATIONAL FRENCH 2 1st and 3rd Thursday | 1st and 3rd Thursday |
COOKING 1st Friday | 1st Friday | CREATIVE WRITING 4th Thursday | 4th Thursday |
CRIB CLUB 3rd Mon (Evening) | 3rd Mon (Evening) | DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 1st Tuesday | 1st Tuesday |
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY 2 2nd Monday | 2nd Monday | FACEBOOK | |
FAMILY HISTORY 2 4th Wednesday | 4th Wednesday | FAMILY HISTORY 3 4th Thursday | 4th Thursday |
FLY FISHING 2nd Friday | 2nd Friday | GARDENING 4th Friday | 4th Friday |
JAZZ APPRECIATION 3rd Thursday | 3rd Thursday | KNIT & NATTER 1 2nd Tuesday | 2nd Tuesday |
KNIT AND NATTER 2 2nd Thursday | 2nd Thursday | LIVE CINEMA SCREENINGS See Group page for details | See Group page for details |
MEETING FOR ALL MEMBERS
1st Thursday | 1st Thursday | MORE PATCHWORK AND TEA 2nd Thursday | 2nd Thursday |
MUSIC APPRECIATION 1 4th Wednesday | 4th Wednesday | MUSIC APPRECIATION 2 2nd Wednesday | 2nd Wednesday |
PAPERCRAFTS 3rd Thursday | 3rd Thursday | PATCHWORK & TEA 3rd Wednesday Afternoon | 3rd Wednesday Afternoon |
PATCHWORK AND TEA 3 4th Thursday | 4th Thursday | PSYCHOLOGY 4th Thursday | 4th Thursday |
REAL ALE 3rd Wednesday | 3rd Wednesday | RUMMIKUB 4th Thursday | 4th Thursday |
SCRABBLE 2nd Wednesday | 2nd Wednesday | SERENDIPITY 1 2nd Thursday | 2nd Thursday |
SERENDIPITY 3 3rd Wednesday | 3rd Wednesday | SERENDIPITY 4 3rd Thursday | 3rd Thursday |
SERENDIPITY 5 4th Thursday | 4th Thursday | SERENDIPITY 6 4th Wednesday | 4th Wednesday |
STROLLING 3rd Wednesday (am) | 3rd Wednesday (am) | SUNDAY LUNCH Last Sunday | Last Sunday |
TABLE TENNIS 3rd Wednesday | 3rd Wednesday | TABLE TENNIS 2 1st and 4th Wednesday | 1st and 4th Wednesday |
TENPIN BOWLING 2nd Monday | 2nd Monday | THEATRE TRIPS See Group page for details | See Group page for details |
VISITING ESSEX CHURCHES 1 2nd Monday | 2nd Monday | VISITING ESSEX CHURCHES 2 3rd Monday | 3rd Monday |
VISITING ESSEX CHURCHES 3 3rd Monday | 3rd Monday | WALKING GROUP 1 1st Wednesday | 1st Wednesday |
WALKING GROUP 2 Last Friday of month | Last Friday of month | WALKING GROUP 3 2nd Tuesday | 2nd Tuesday |
WALKING GROUP 4 3rd Saturday | 3rd Saturday | WALKING GROUP 5 2nd Thursday | 2nd Thursday |
WINE APPRECIATION 2nd Tuesday (Evening) | 2nd Tuesday (Evening) |