Having seen a few positive mentions of U3A, I feel driven to say that my two attempts to get involved in their groups were a dismal failure. Both attempts were very negative. There was no welcome of any kind apart from leaflets in the post and the website link, the monthly meetings were very un inclusive to newcomers and it was nigh on impossible to join any of my preferred groups because they were full and vacancies only seemed to occur on a dead man’s shoes basis. I tried several social outings but being a solo, felt very solo indeed so gave up.
I’m convinced that it isn’t the national organisation which is either good or bad but the people who run and participate in them at local level which makes or break ones experience. As is the case with everything really.
When I rejoined the WI, I had a couple of initial friendly emails from members of the committee and was invited along to the next meeting as a guest to see what I thought of them. I was met at the door and introduced to several people including two ladies who were also there as ‘looksee’ guests. The three of us were shown to a table with three existing members to break the ice and settle us in. A lot of fun was had that evening and I joined the following month. I think the annual subs of £40 odd pounds is good value. But our is a very informal WI with no ritual as mentioned by someone else and certainly no very expensive addItional activities as we are all aware that purse depths vary.
