LATEST NEWS FROM OUR GROUPS COORDINATOR
We have members already looking to join the Bridge group so whether you are a seasoned veteran or looking to learn the game, do please contact me and we can get the group up and running.
Our second Rummikub Group meets on the 4th Friday morning each month at Rayleigh Conservative Club still has some places available if you are interested in joining. Thank you to all those who responded regarding our call for a couple of more games for the group.
There are also spaces available to join our Coffee & Conversation for Ladies Group 5 which also meets on the 4th Friday morning in the month in Rayleigh town centre. All our Coffee & Conversation groups are hugely successful, so don’t miss your opportunity to join a group while vacancy exists.
Please check elsewhere on our website for the most up-to-date list of other groups which presently have vacancies.
If you are interested or would like more information about any of our groups, then please contact me via the Contacts page or come and see me at the Monthly Members Meetings.
Finally, the same polite request I make in every newsletter…our Group Leaders do a fabulous job in organising the groups our members attend and so expect ALL members in their groups to always let them know if you are going to attend each meeting OR NOT.
In fairness to others who may be on the waiting list to join groups, if a member has not been in contact with the Group Leader for THREE CONSECUTIVE MEETINGS, unless there are particular extenuating circumstances, it is not unreasonable that they be removed from the group and will then go on the waiting list should they then wish to join again.
Paul Reeve
Groups Coordinator
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.
PLEASE NOTE: TO BE A MEMBER OF A GROUP, YOU MUST BE A CURRENT FULL OR ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF RAYLEIGH u3a.
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. You can sign up to Third Age Trust and 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.
Links
- Current Group Vacancies at April 2026
- Groups and meetings March 2026
- Group Activity Calendar March 2026
- ENGLISH HERITAGE FREE GROUP VISITS
- WALKING IN ESSEX
Groups listed alphabetically
-
ARCHAEOLOGY
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Wednesdays 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
3rd Wednesday of the month -
ART
Status: Active
Monthly on Thursdays 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
1st Thursday of the month -
BADMINTON
Status: Active
Weekly on Mondays
Every Monday and/or Tuesday of the month -
BADMINTON
Status: Active
Weekly on Tuesdays
Every Monday and/or Tuesday of the month -
BOOK READING 2
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Fridays 2:15 PM-4:00 PM
Last Friday of the month -
BOOK READING 3
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Fridays 11:00 AM
3rd Friday of the month -
BOOK READING 4
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Mondays 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
4th Monday of the month -
BRIDGE (New Group)
Status: Active -
CANASTA
Status: Active
Monthly on Thursday evenings 6:30 PM
2nd Thursday of the month -
CERAMICS
Status: Active
Monthly on Tuesdays 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
1st Tuesday of the month -
COFFEE & CONVERSATION for LADIES 1
Status: Waiting list
Fortnightly on Monday afternoons
2nd & 4th Mondays of the month -
COFFEE & CONVERSATION for LADIES 2
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Wednesday afternoons
3rd Wednesday of the month -
COFFEE & CONVERSATION for LADIES 4
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Thursday afternoons
1st Thursday of the month -
COFFEE & CONVERSATION FOR LADIES 5
Status: Active
Monthly on Friday mornings
4th Friday of the month -
COOKING
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Friday mornings
Meeting date is decided each month -
CREATIVE WRITING
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Thursdays
3rd Thursday of the month -
CRIB CLUB
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Monday evenings 7:30 PM-9:30 PM
3rd Monday of the month -
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Status: Active
Monthly on Monday mornings 10:00 AM
2nd Monday of the month -
DOLLS HOUSE RENOVATION (New Group)
Status: Active -
DRESSMAKING CIRCLE
Status: Active
Monthly on Wednesday afternoons
3rd Wednesday of the month -
FACEBOOK
Status: Active -
FAMILY HISTORY 2
Status: Active
Monthly on Wednesdays
4th Wednesday of the month -
FAMILY HISTORY 3
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Thursdays
4th Thursday of the month -
GARDENING
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Thursdays
3rd Thursday of the month -
KNIT & CROCHET
Status: Waiting list
On Thursday afternoons 2:00 PM-4:30 PM
3rd Thursday of the month -
KNIT & NATTER 2
Status: Full
Monthly on Tuesday afternoons 2:00 PM
2nd Tuesday of the month -
LADIES INN CONVERSATION
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Tuesdays
Last Tuesday of the month -
LOCAL HISTORY
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Wednesday afternoons
2nd Wednesday of the month -
LONGER WALKS GROUP
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Wednesdays
2nd Wednesday of the month -
MEETING FOR ALL MEMBERS
Status: Active
Monthly on Wednesday afternoons 1:45 PM-3:30 PM
1st Wednesday of the month -
MUSIC APPRECIATION
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Thursday afternoons 2:30 PM
4th Wednesday & 4th Thursday of the month -
MUSIC APPRECIATION
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Wednesday afternoons 2:30 PM
4th Wednesday & 4th Thursday of the month -
NEW MEMBERS GROUP
Status: Active
On Friday afternoons 1:00 PM-3:00 PM
Every 4 months -
PATCHWORK & TEA
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Wednesday afternoons 1:00 PM-3:00 PM
3rd Wednesday of the month -
PETANQUE
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Monday mornings 10:00 AM-1:00 PM
2nd Monday of the month -
PLAY READING
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Monday afternoons
2nd Monday of the month -
PSYCHOLOGY
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Thursday afternoons 2:00 PM-4:00 PM
4th Thursday of the month -
REAL ALE
Status: Active
Monthly on Wednesday afternoons
3rd Wednesday of the month -
RUMMIKUB
Status: Waiting list
On Thursdays 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
3rd Thursday of the month -
RUMMIKUB 2
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Fridays 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
4th Friday of the Month -
SCRABBLE
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Wednesday afternoons 2:00 PM
2nd Wednesday of the month -
SERENDIPITY 3
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Wednesday all day
3rd Wednesday of the month -
SERENDIPITY 5
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Thursday all day
4th Thursday of the month -
SERENDIPITY 6
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Wednesday all day
4th Wednesday of the month -
SIT & SEW
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Thursday afternoons
2nd Thursday of the month -
STROLLING 1
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Thursday mornings
4th Thursday of the month -
STROLLING 2
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Monday mornings
2nd Monday of the month -
SUNDAY LUNCH
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Sundays
Last Sunday of the month -
SUNDAY LUNCH 2
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Sundays
Monthly on 1st Sunday -
TABLE TENNIS 1
Status: Active
Monthly on Wednesdays
3rd Wednesday of the month -
TABLE TENNIS 2
Status: Active
Monthly on Tuesdays
1st Tuesday of the month -
TEN BY TRAIN
Status: Waiting list
Varies -
TENPIN BOWLING
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Monday afternoons 2:00 PM
2nd Monday of the month -
THEATRE TRIPS
Status: Active
See Events page for details of upcoming trips -
VISIT ESSEX CHURCHES
Status: Active
Monthly on Mondays
2nd Monday of the month -
VISIT INTERESTING PLACES in ESSEX
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Mondays
3rd Monday of the month -
WAFFLING FOR MEN
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Wednesdays
4th Wednesday of the month -
WALKING GROUP 2
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Fridays
Last Friday of the month -
WALKING GROUP 3
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Tuesdays
2nd Tuesday of the month -
WALKING GROUP 5
Status: Active
Monthly on Thursdays
2nd Thursday of the month -
WINE APPRECIATION
Status: Active
Monthly on Tuesday evenings 7:30 PM-9:30 PM
2nd Tuesday of the month -
WINE TASTING
Status: Waiting list
On Thursday evenings
2nd Thursday of the month -
YOUR CHOICE BOOK READING
Status: Waiting list
Monthly on Tuesdays
3rd Tuesday afternoon