A Message from Sally
“This is to let all of you in the SER know that I will be stepping down as your Council Rep. in March 2027. I have really enjoyed working for and with the region, but unfortunately, I now have to put my health first. For now, I am still actively working with Jackie to continue to offer support, help and advice. This means that as a region we are now looking for a replacement Council Rep. If you are interested or know anyone else who might be interested, please get in touch with me or Jackie.”
Board
The Board is currently looking at how to help smaller or struggling u3as with regard to recruitment both to the u3a and within it to the committee
Council
Quarterly Full Council Meeting August 13th 2026
The topics discussed were wide ranging.
The Trust’s information telephone line will be manned for 22 hours rather than 35 hours per week and extra time will be allocated to improve the response time to email enquiries.
‘u3a and Me’: Research by TAT marketing department confirmed that while people often join a u3a for a specific interest, what they get from membership is far larger: learning, friendship, connection, wellbeing and purpose in life. As a result, the intention is to provide some ‘ready to use communication assets’ such as animations and static imagery portraying this for local u3as to use in their own publications.
There has been much informal discussion this year about the structure of the u3a movement. The role of Networks and Clusters has been questioned. The problems of small u3as and the needs of large u3as have been under consideration. Possible ways of ‘lightening the bureaucratic load’ of committee members were discussed. One of these was sharing committee roles. This may require amending constitutions, but is worth considering. Another problem mentioned is the lack digital confidence in some u3as. The need for training workshops was noted.
Finance: Problems with Gift Aid, Corporation Tax Demands and Banking were discussed. A helpful document issued by the Council following the meeting and supported by the Treasurer offering guidance on these matters can be read here.
South East Region
SERCOM is the South East Region Support Team. It is an amalgamation of the South East Region Networks (SERN) and The South East Communications Team. Council Reps are responsible for enabling an exchange of ideas with the Council, Board and local u3a groups.
The Support Team will facilitate communication and help good ideas to be shared easily across the region and with the Council and Board.
The Support Team consists of the chairs of networks in the u3a South East Region and other members of u3as in the South East Region who have experience and expertise in their field of operation together with enthusiasm for the u3a movement.
They are:
| Name | u3a | Network | SER Role |
| Ann Beeching | Eastleigh | SWHN | |
| Mike Brigden | Caterham | Surrey | Beacon Support |
| Jenny Carney | Paddock Wood | Welfare Officer | |
| Pam Davidoff | Arun East | WSN | |
| Annette Dearmun | Chinnor & District | ||
| Sue Edwards | Midhurst | ||
| Andy Forbes | Horndean & District | Website Administrator | |
| Rodney Fox | Wokingham | ||
| Graham Friday | Crawley | Finance Support | |
| Avis Furness | Slough | ||
| Jayne Hipkiss | Newbury | ||
| Sally Ingledew | Stubbington | ||
| Tim Mathews | Ems Valley | Beacon Support | |
| David Morton | Reading | Thames Valley | |
| Paddy Powell | Fleet | NE Hants/SW Surrey | |
| Trevor Powis | Hailsham & District | ESE | |
| Caroline Sawers | Guildford | Website Content | |
| Kevin Stock | Waterlooville | South Central | PR Support |
| Jackie Wiggins | Windsor & District | Council Rep | |
| Tim Williams | Heathfield & District | Newsletter Editor |
Contact details on BEACON
The responses Sally has received to our invitations to the workshops this month show that our database of contact details is very outdated. Committee officers change on a regular basis and it is important that you let us know when this happens. PLEASE inform Tim Mathews, our BEACON data administrator as soon as your committee officers change. Send him their position, names and contact information. YOUR COOPERATION will be much appreciated
Workshops
Dates of TAT workshops coming up on Zoom are available here. It may that you would like to organise one of these for your committee if you cannot attend the SER workshops. Maybe we should organise appropriate courses at Peer Meetings for the Officers of Committees. What do you think? Please let us know.
Meeting Reports
Treasurers Meeting on 15th June 2026
Publicity and Communication Meeting on 17th June 2026