Wales

South Wales Network (SWN)

Member u3as

Abergavenny, Barry, Blackwood, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Caldicot, Cardiff, Chepstow, Cowbridge, Crickhowell, Cynon Valley, Ebbw Vale, Garth Olwg, Gilwern, Maesteg, Monmouth, Neath, Newbridge, Newport, Pontyclun, Porthcawl, Risca, Sully, Swansea, Tonyrefail, Torfaen, Tredegar, Usk.
Click on Welsh u3as to check out the web site of an individual u3a.

We are still holding monthly Zoom meetings sharing ideas and discussing Welsh Government guidelines now restrictions have eased.

Minutes of Meetings

Official Documents

Links to Sub Pages

Newsletters and Magazines of SWN u3as

What does your u3a want from the Network?

It has to reflect what you want. Here are some ideas taken from Network Meetings, members, u3a Office website, Pathfinders, Network Link etc.

• Help u3a Trustees, Interest Group Leaders, and other volunteers, collectively share their knowledge and expertise with other u3as. Sharing best practice and discussion of issues of concern. Generally, u3as helping one another. This is a key element of the Network and should be an item on every Agenda.
• Zoom meetings. No travel or hall hire costs. So we can have more meetings including shorter more focused ones in addition to the usual General meetings.
• SWN Meetings. Eventually we will be able to go back to face to face meetings. Do we want to? Might have hybrid meetings? Perhaps we will have some Zoom and some face to face meetings?
• Peer groups - members with similar committee responsibilities. Chairs/Vice Chairs, Secretaries, Membership, Group Coordinator, Newsletters, Communications etc. To discuss their specific problems and exchange best practice. Could be one off or more regular meetings.
• Talks. Pathfinders, Wales Trustee etc.
• Study Days and Workshops run by u3a Office or SWN eg. Retention and Recruitment seminar, Websites by Wales Website editor.
• Mini seminars on topics identified by SWN u3as eg Hybrid meetings, on-line AGMs, Open Days etc. Record these sessions and put link on this website so any u3a can view them.
• Sharing of on-line and face to face activity groups. Sharing of on-line groups may help older members who are not mobile or alternatively may attract younger new members.
• Encourage u3as to arrange Inter u3a competitions. Quiz, Bridge, Mah Jong, Skittles, Badminton, Table Tennis etc.
• Encourage joint meetings of similar interest groups (eg. Photography: Cardiff and Chepstow)
• One u3a giving help and advice to start up the same group in another u3a.
• Use South Wales Trustee to channel SWN concerns to u3a Office

If your u3a has an event where other u3as are invited eg quiz, open day, study day etc, you can publicise it in Dates for your Diary below.