u3a

Rayleigh

Groups

LATEST NEWS FROM OUR GROUPS COORDINATOR

Hello everyone - my name is Barbara and I’m the new Rayleigh u3a Groups Coordinator. I have taken over the role from Paul Reeve who has done a sterling job during his time in post, greatly increasing the number of groups available to our members, we owe him a big debt of gratitude.

I plan to take this growth further but will need your help to do so. We need people to step forward to run new groups, so we have capacity for more members to enjoy the vast selection of activities we can offer. Please come and talk to me, or email me, there is always help/advice and support available. Similarly, if you have an idea for a new group, I’m here to listen.

There was a lot of interest shown at our May Members Meeting in Scrabble, Walking Group 5 and Ladies Coffee and Conversation Group 5, all of which are now full and in the case of the Walking Group, a waiting list already!!! Please check out our website or the Groups Board at the next meeting for vacancies and or new groups forming.

Communication is the key in all matters for the smooth running of any organisation so please, please, please, PLEASE let your group leader know if you WILL be attending the next group meeting/outing, and more importantly if you ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND. Our group leaders do a fantastic job and after all it’s only common courtesy to do so.

Likewise, if a member fails to notify their group leader of any absence from a group for 3 consecutive meetings without extenuating circumstances, it’s only fair to members on the waiting list, that they are removed from the group, allowing another member to take their place.

Barbara Whitehead

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

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: Waiting list
    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
  • CHESS (New Group)
    Status: Active
  • 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: Waiting list
    Monthly on Friday mornings
    2nd Friday of the month
  • COOKING
    Status: Active
    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
  • 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: Waiting list
    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
  • GARDENING 2 (New Group)
    Status: Waiting list
  • KNIT & CROCHET
    Status: Waiting list
    On Thursday afternoons 2:00 PM-4:30 PM
    3rd Thursday 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
  • PHOTOGRAPHY
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Monday mornings 10:00 AM
    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: Full
    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
  • TEXAS HOLD'EM POKER (New Group)
    Status: Active
  • 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: Waiting list
    Monthly on Thursdays
    2nd Thursday of the month
  • WINE APPRECIATION
    Status: Waiting list
    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