Interest Groups and Contacts
Art in Action Group
We are currently looking for a member to take over the organisation of this group. In the past we have arranged occasional visits to Art Galleries and other artistic locations in the North East, such as the Laing Art Gallery, Bowes Museum etc. and have often had the priviledge of being talked through the exhibitions by a curator or staff member. Costs depend on entrance fee and transport - if there is sufficient demand we organise coach transport but for smaller numbers we arrange car sharing.
Contact Chris Balfour for further information (Tel: 01740 621883)
Book Group
This group meets monthly on the second Thursday of each month at 10am – 12 noon at the Methodist Church. Members read the “Book of the Month” then meet up to discuss the book, accompanied by lots of laughs and choccy biscuits ! So Learn, Laugh and Live with us !
Contact Geraldine Richmond for further information (Tel: 01740 623110)
Bridge
This group of members have been learning to play Bridge by following a English Bridge Union course. We meet each week in Ceddesfeld Hall for instruction and lively discussion about the hands played.
Contact Chris Balfour (01740 621883) to learn more
Computer Support Group
We initially ran a Beginners Introduction to Computing and then an Intermediate Course, both of which ran weekly for 2-3 months. Although most members are happy they now have a working knowledge we can still offer support and assistance if required.
Contact Jan Jenner for help or advice (Tel: 01429 599672)
Creative Writing Group
Would you like to write stories, poems, prose etc ? We meet fortnightly in a member's house to express ourselves in writing short stories and other forms of literature, and we share them in a friendly, supportive environment.
Contact Maxine Patterson (Tel: 01740 620905)
Health and Wellbeing
This is our newest group and meets fortnightly in Ceddesfeld Hall to learn how we can improve our health in both mind and body, how we can maintain that improvement in both ourselves in our relationships with those about us.
Contact Chris Balfour (Tel : 01740 621883)
Historic Homes and Gardens Group
We organise trips to Historic Homes and Gardens in the North of England, with an emphasis on visiting a wide variety of gardens in Spring, Summer and Autumn. Past visits have included Castle Howard nr York, Thorpe Perrow Arboretum (Bedale), Crook Hall (Durham), Constable Burton Gardens (Bedale), Wallington Hall and Cragside (Northumberland). If there is sufficient demand we organise coach transport but for smaller numbers we arrange car sharing. The price varies depending on the cost of entrance fee and transport costs.
Contact Frances Tee (01740 620182) or Carole Morgan (01740 629067) for further information.
Lunch Club
This group meets each month to have lunch together in a variety of pubs/ restaurants within a short drive of Sedgefield, and approx. 15-20 people usually attend. This is a self-organising group – although there is a coordinator, all participants must be willing to take a turn at arranging a lunch visit. It’s a great opportunity to meet new people or chat to old friends over a meal and a drink. If anyone is unable to travel to the venue, we arrange car sharing. The price of lunch varies according to the menu on offer.
Contact Ray Manning for further details (01740 629276)
Photography Group
Do you want to learn what all those buttons and settings mean on your digital camera, and how to use them to take better photographs ? The Photography Group meets every fortnight in Ceddesfeld Hall at 10.30 – 12.30 and is guided by a very experienced (and patient!) photographer. There is a small charge to cover room hire.
Contact Malcolm Tooley for further information (Tel: 01740 620990)
Science and Industry Group
We organise visits to various Science- and Technology-based industries in the North East, and we often receive a talk and tour of the facilities. Outstanding trips have included visits to Nissan Cars (Sunderland), Thorne Lighting (Spennymoor), Wynyard Planetarium, Hartlepool Nuclear Power Station, John Wade Recycling (Aycliffe), Cameron’s Brewery (Hartlepool) and many more. Admission is often (but not always) free and we normally organise car sharing for transport.
Contact Alan Patterson (01740 620905) to find out where we're going next.
Theatre Visits Group
This is a very active group and organises visits to theatres across the North East to see a variety of shows, including ballet, concerts, comedy, drama, musicals and opera. An extensive programme of theatre shows is issued regularly and when selections are made, the Group Coordinator books the tickets and arranges the transport. If there is sufficient demand we organise coach transport but for smaller numbers we arrange car sharing. The price varies depending on the cost of tickets and transport costs.
Contact Gillian Bowman (01740 621822) or Maria Mekins (01740 621296) for information on the latest list.
Wine Appreciation Group
This is a fairly new group and we plan to meet monthly in houses of U3A members. Although we are definitely not wine connoisseurs, We do enjoy drinking good wine in good company. At each meeting, we enjoy sampling 4 different wines from various parts of the world, discuss what we like (and dislike) about the wines then assign a score to each wine. At the end of the evening, we elect the “U3A Wine of the Month”, and go home feeling merrier!! The price is about £6, to cover the cost of the wine.
Contact Ray Manning for further information (01740 629276)
Further Interest Groups
It is important to realise that the U3A Executive Committee is not here to provide courses and training - we rely on our members to guide each other by sharing their interests, passions and expertise with other members. In that way, we can all learn from each other.
However, we are always on the look-out for ideas to establish new Interest Groups, so please come to talk to us about your ideas if you have a particular interest or passion you would like to share with like-minded people.
It’s not hard to become a Group Coordinator, and we can help you with advice and practical assistance.
Contact Ray Manning if you might like to start a new Interest Group (Tel: 01740 629276)