The Third Age Trust Website contains all kinds of information that may be useful to your u3a, including the latest announcements from the Trust and details of future developments.
Find a Speaker for your Meetings
If you are the Speaker Secretary for your u3a, or just want to find a speaker for your u3a interest group, you might be interested in the Third Age Trust's Find a Speaker database. It is full of knowledgeable and interesting speakers happy to give talks on specific subjects, to be delivered in-person to your u3a or online.
Author Anne Ludlow is available to speak to u3a groups in the South East Region and/or to work with Writing groups, either in person or if you would like to host a Zoom meeting for her. Topics Anne can cover are general creative writing, writing a novel & self-publishing. You can contact Anne by clicking on her name and find out more about her and her debut novel on her website. Let Anne know what might suit you and she will try to fit in!
Sources u3a
Is your u3a struggling to get committee members? finding group facilitators? Suggestions and how other u3as have dealt with these and many other topics are included is the Recruitment and Retention Toolkit which contains a wealth of useful information including a whole list of ideas for you to use.
Sources Online is our learning blog and hosts creative ideas about how interest groups and u3a members continue to learn, stay healthy and active and engaged during this time.
Newsletter
The newsletter is a great way for the u3a movement to stay in touch with each other and for individual u3as to let others know what they have been doing.
Encourage all your colleagues and members to sign up from the Home Page of the Third Age Trust Website – ‘News’ and send all ideas and stories to the communications officer Elizabeth Drury.
This closed Facebook group is for members of u3a UK, and members of Interest Groups Online, to stay in contact with each other and also a place to share ideas u3as are using to maintain learning and interests and to keep in touch.
International
This site covers international activities between UK u3as and related organisations overseas in addition to encouraging UK U3As to consider setting up links with these organisations.
u3as in Surrey have been conducting some very successful exchanges over the last seven years and would be glad to share their experience and enthusiasm with other u3as in the South East Region. The attached document has more information about developing international links.
The strength and resilience of the u3a community is exceptional. Thank you for your continued support and commitment.
Grants
Grants must be applied for in advance of events and cannot be applied for retrospectively once an event has happened. Please read the further information for the grant type be-fore applying.
£500 Grant is available to new u3as to cover start-up costs and publicity materials.
£500 Grant if you wish to have a stand at an Exhibition or Agricultural Show etc.
£200 Grant for an Open Day Event where the General Public find out about u3a and is free.
£250 Publicity Support Grant to purchase either physical publicity materials such as leaflets and posters or to purchase digital media advertising such as Facebook or LinkedIn Ads.
Other Discretionary Grants are also available.
The grant for ‘showcasing’ your u3a to the public has increased to £250. Many u3as hold ‘Freshers Fairs or similar when they invite the public to see what u3a is all about and thereby hope to attract new members. Application to u3a Office.
Yachting
The u3a Yachting Group in the Southampton area comprises about 20 people interested in sailing 35-38' Yachts and meeting from November - April and discussing sailing topics. Then from May - October to sail some join the Phoenix Yacht Club (a separate organisation) and sail with them whilst the others [who only want to do 1/2 days a year] get together with a local sea-school or another club to sail with a commercial skipper, sharing the cost. If you are interested in joining please contact Judith Hankey.
Equality Diversity and Inclusion
The u3a values its members as individuals and encourages all members to recognise their unique and different perspectives, abilities and contributions, and it sees equality diversity and inclusion as routes to growth and enrichment. To achieve this the Equality Diversity and Inclusion Committee supports and advises u3as in ensuring that their members and prospective members can access the informal learning and the other activities designed to ensure inclusion and diversity in all we do. You can take part in our discussions by joining one of the presentations on Understanding Equality Diversity and Inclusion. To find out when the next events are being held email Diversity Discussion.