THORNBURY

The u3a is a volunteer led, nation wide organisation of some 450,000 people across the United Kingdom. It enables people to gather together, forge new friends and participate in social, educational or physical activities. It is aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at those adults who have retired from work and want to expand their lives during their leisure time.

ORGANISATION AT THE NATIONAL LEVELThe National u3a provides guidance and support to over 500 individual u3a branches across the UK. They provide:- Guidance on running the organization – through dedicated personnel and their website- Public Liability Insurance- A Membership Management system – Beacon is used by many u3as throughout the UK and holds all membership and Group information- Course material and a regular Magazine – there are subject specialists and course material one can access

The term “u3a” used to stand for “University of the 3rd Age” but it is anything but a University and is open to all members of the community. So the National body re-branded the organisation (which is a Charity) but still retained the term “u3a”.

ORGANISATION AT THE LOCAL LEVELThornbury u3a is the local organisation of independent groups that operate under our Central Committee. Currently we have 1,580 members and run 86 Groups – some large, like Travel & Tourism, some small, like Latin. In some cases we have several Groups covering one subject, such as Bridge, Table Tennis and Wine Tasting; both with numerous Groups running at different times and different locations

Each Group has a Group Leader and, for the larger ones, their own committee, to run them.

These Groups meet regularly, in various halls or locations around the area, sometimes in each other’s homes. By sharing their knowledge, skills and experience, members learn from each other. In this we are lucky in that we have a range of diverse local industries that provide us with a good source of knowledge and expertise.

ORGANISATIONThe Thornbury u3a Committee helps the Groups by providing:

- Overall Membership control

- Financial oversight of the Groups and control of Central funds. The Committee is responsible for submitting an overall Financial Report to both the Charity Commission and National u3a that covers the expenditure of the Central Committee and all the Groups.

- Support and Guidance of the Groups, e.g. initial set up costs, equipment

We act as an interface between the Charity Commission, the National u3a and the individual Groups. Your subscriptions pay for the meetings we hold as a Committee and other Membership-wide activities such as the AGM. But the majority of your fees go towards the National u3a Levy and the maintenance of the Beacon system.

You pay the Group Leaders for the individual costs of the activities you attend. This may entail a small annual fee as well as individual attendance costs. For example the Theatre Group have to pay for a large number of tickets in advance and so require an annual subscription to cover this up front payout.

The website contains all the essential information on our Group activities. New Groups include Spanish & YOYO.

Music Appreciation

Recorders

Also Jazz Appreciation, Concerts & Opera Appreciation

Music Group (with the

Brandon Hill Quartet)

Table Tennis (Groups 1 – 5)

Indoor Bowls

Country Dancing

Gentle Exercise

Bridge (Groups 1-4)

Mahjong

Scrabble (Groups1 – 2)

Also Canasta, Whist & Cribbage

Sailing (at TSC)Cycling

Walking Group & Slow Rambles

Group

Architecture (over 200 members)

History Group (visiting Royal Hospital Chelsea)

Garden Visits Group (over

300 members)

Church Visits Group

Painting Group

Art Groups (plus many other Craft Groups)

Drawing Group

Church Visits Group

Theatre & Opera Group (over 250 members) offer a varied programme of plays, ballets and an occasional opera, using different theatres - usually five to six lists a year

Theatre Royal Bath

New Theatre Cardiff

Science & Technology

Photography

Family History

Astronomy

Travel & Tourism One of the bigger Groups –

(150+ members)

British Trips – Isle of Wight, Arundel Castle & Blue Bell Line

Overseas Trips – Riva del Garda, Dolomites & Verona

One of four Wine Tasting Groups! – over 200 members across the four groups

We also have activities that are open to all members in the form of Open Talks

and Open Visits

Durrell Trust, Jersey Zoo

John Padmore (Engineer and Railway

Pioneer)

Dart Valley

HMS VictoryPortsmouth

Windsor Castle

Cyber Security by Avon & Somerset Police

Covid - 19Our organization is just getting over the problems that Covid has created. During the pandemic some groups, particularly those that entailed close face to face activities such as our card games, became dormant. Others continued in smaller groups, particularly those that occur in the open air – Cycling and Walking.

Several Groups used “Zoom” to hold meetings and these were very popular. Examples such as Astronomy, Discussions and Family History continued almost as normal, indeed some are trying to restart face to face meeting with Zoom presentations included!

However we are just coming out of this period and although we are trying to encourage our Group Leaders to restart meetings, we understand when they want to delay until the New Year.

Clicking on the Members Portal and entering your Membership Number allows you to access the individual data that we hold on you. The system meets the requirements of the Data Protection Act. The Committee and Group Leaders use Beacon for checking membership and the vast majority of their communications. However where members don’t have computing facilities we do provide paper copies of our communications.

You can access and edit the individual data that we hold on you – in particular your email address. It also shows you which Groups you are a member of and details of that Group

To Finish!Our u3a involves a lot of volunteers!

We need members to get involved with their Groups and the Central Committee. On our website you will see a heading of “Groupleaders” and that provides information on what is involved with becoming a Group Leader – or supporting your Group by becoming a committee member.

Officers of the organization are also needed on a regular basis. They only have a three year spell in any role so new members are welcome and, indeed very necessary, if we want to continue this vibrant organization.

Once you become a member its something perhaps you can consider – for the organization to continue successfully, we need your expertise!