u3a University of the Third Age - any members?

Why should someone who is already hosting be expected to provide 12 coffees, milk sugar etc week after week, unless you went to different houses for each meeting and took it in turns?

I've been a member for a couple of years. I went to a tea party for new members and was quickly snapped up by the Mixed Media painting group and the MOTO group (Members On Their Own) I've been on several outings with MOTO and we have a meeting every month. After a couple of outings I was soon finding people to chat to, and there was a bit of an overlap with the painting group too.

On the strength of this thread I decided to look for my local group.

Very few details were given about the groups, so I mailed them to see if I could get some more details. In fairness, I did get a reply and a few more details. A lot of the groups were full but I could see a couple that I would like so I've just duly paid up to become a member.

I've now received the welcome pack and full details of all the groups - I would say 95% of the groups are full and those that aren't are either of no interest to me or are at a venue I can't get to.

What a disappointment!

And a bit annoyed that you don't get to find out that you can't join any of the groups you're interested in until after they've taken your money.

ferry23

On the strength of this thread I decided to look for my local group.

Very few details were given about the groups, so I mailed them to see if I could get some more details. In fairness, I did get a reply and a few more details. A lot of the groups were full but I could see a couple that I would like so I've just duly paid up to become a member.

I've now received the welcome pack and full details of all the groups - I would say 95% of the groups are full and those that aren't are either of no interest to me or are at a venue I can't get to.

What a disappointment!

And a bit annoyed that you don't get to find out that you can't join any of the groups you're interested in until after they've taken your money.

Yet another incident of mis-information deliberately designed to extract money from the innocent. Been there........suffered that

I've just posted the application forms for myself and my husband.
Hopefully we'll be able to join the groups we're interested in, if not we'll have to wait 🤷

Gosh that’s terribly organised V3ra we just turn up here. Terrible choice of things though, mostly for oldies. Jigsaws, board games, crochet and an arts club run by someone with no aptitude or originality

I've asked if I can cancel and get a refund. Clearly the website isn't updated to reflect "real time".

I'm really annoyed and disappointed. I also didn't realise that you have to pay a weekly fee for any group on top of the membership. I may well have been happy to do so if I could actually join any of the groups AND if I'd have been informed before parting with my money that this was the case.

I was a member of U3A for about ten years. Due to doing a lot of grandchild minding I was unable to go to week time groups. I used to go to Sunday lunch club. I met some very nice people there and enjoyed it. As time went on groups of friends joined and formed cliques. They started saving seats for friends so the original members were told to find a seat elsewhere as these seats were saved. The leader of the group told them we don't do that and we take seats wherever we like. It still carried on so after the pandemic I left.

We pay a yearly fee of £25 and all groups, talks etc are free.

JamesandJon33

We pay a yearly fee of £25 and all groups, talks etc are free.

Here we have to pay a fee on top of the annual subscription for the hire of venues, speakers etc. It's usually about £10 per term per group.

I'm treasurer of our local u3a. We have about 45 groups covering a myriad of activities from deadly serious to great fun. Each u3a is autonomous and sets their own fee structure. Ours is £10 a year for membership and 50p for each "class" attended. The membership fee might have to increase cos of standing costs. For example £4 per member has to go to the central organisation in London. That pays for insurance, financial and legal advice, various learning items for hire and a quarterly magazine.

If groups meet in hired rooms they pay an additional £1.50 per meeting cos room hire costs have spiralled since COVID.

Refreshments are charged at 25p per person and the group leader keeps that for themselves. Nobody has yet said 25p isn't enough.

We would be appalled if anyone was excluded from a group on account of where they lived or indeed any reason other than the groups is full.

Groups do depend on having someone to organise them. Some groups are lucky to have a subject "expert" to take charge but others (such as Knit and Natter or a Walking group) don't really need an expert. We call the key person a Group Leader but a better word could be "Facilitator" cos there is no reason why the person organising the group should be the expert.

If a group is "full" anyone who is willing could run a second group and the members all learn together, depending on the subject. But it is a fact that some people are too nervous to undertake the task - just as many won't join the committee, which is a shame as a good mix of views is helpful.

But in short, I wouldn't be without our u3a, it's been a life-saver for me.

I looked into joining when I retired. I e mailed the local group and had a very nice reply. He suggested that I pop down to the next talk so we could have a chat - he said it was a really interesting chap taking about garden sheds ……. I decided it wasn’t for me 😳

It does sound like there are so many lovely things going on though, and lots of hard working people, so I don’t want to sound dismissive. I know I should give it a proper go and find out what it’s really all about.

I joined my local one for a year but the committee was run by stick in the muds and only organised talks about things that interested them ,any lunches where at a golf club and unless you drove not accessible by bus. None of the activities where things I like and they where very cliquey. If you sat in a seat they normally sat in they huffed and puffed about it so much so I told one woman bloody well grow up she was in her 70's and refused to move . But what finished it for me was the Christmas one where a band was coming to play Christmas songs . I was looking forward to it turned out to be a jazz band as the chairman liked jazz. I walked out it was awful.

Found things I like to do . Sit fit Monday afternoon, gel printing at the Brain Charity Wednesday morning and my craft group at local library on Thursday afternoon. My life has never been so busy.

U3A suits some people if it's a good one . But the one here is stuck in the 20th century and someone I know still goes but it hasn't improved. But she likes the art group.

I have belonged to the U3A for years. I edit the magazine, and more importantly run our website. There you can see all the groups that are on offer without having to join first.
I must say I agree with the cliquiness though. We have tried hard to discourage it but it doesn't work.
We habe a table at the coffee mornings where as committee member sits, intended for new people who don't know any one yet. But even that has been taken over by a load of 'friends'

Where I live the U3A seems to be the domain of retired professionals, business people, and people with money. They do have groups but they are usually at houses in the country and you have to drive miles for a 1 1/2 hour session. I did go to a language group which was ruled by this rather obnoxious woman who spoke to everyone as if they were stupid. On my first visit she said to me:' I don't know who you are'. My thought was: 'Welcome to our group, Tuaim. I hope you enjoy our activities. I had asked the convenor if I may come and was told 'Of course'. Left.

Very strong over here in Australia and they have some very good courses and groups ranging from playing various musical instruments in large groups to bushwalking, sewing, reading etc etc. Definitely worth a look !

yggdrasil - you can see what groups there are on the website but many of them are under a section headed "various locations" - that could be anywhere in quite a wide radius here. Or they are at "Home Address" - I understand not putting someone's address on the website, but the actual town would be good to know before you commit. The branch covers 4 towns and all the smaller places in between so it could be a 40 minute drive at least. Or hours by public transport - or even not accessible by public transport.

Apart from the very obvious ones like languages or Christmas crafts, you don't really know what they are. E.g. I was interested in "Art for All". I thought it might be a kind of art appreciation for dummies like me! But it turns out it's a group who travel around a visit different art galleries once a month - not what I expected at all.

You just get the title of the group but don't find out what the content is until you've joined.

I am shocked at some of these stories.
My group charges £12 per year to join, and the monthly meeting is free to attend, including tea/ coffee and biscuits. Non members can attend a monthly meeting for £2. The speakers cover a huge variety of topics. Something for everyone. A big hall so plenty of choice of seats.
Most groups meet in people’s homes, with no charge, taking it in turns to host. A few groups need to meet in a hall, so they pay a small hire charge.
There is a monthly coffee morning in a pub to which new members are invited. All very friendly.
I love my French conversation group.

All very interesting. Belonged to a u3a and really enjoyed it. Weirdly,launched into a hosting a Mandarin group. And made some really good friends.
Think that like a lot of things one needs to be persistent and a bit thick skinned.
U3A was badly affected by Covid. And we need to rebuild it I think.

Reading through this thread it seems that U3A groups are organised in different ways across the country. Obviously fees are different because of the different costs of hiring premises; ours are no longer a flat rate but are based on the groups to which you belong and the premises you (may) use and I know the committee has spent a vast amount of time trying to organise a structure which is fair, if very complicated.
Here, if you express an interest in a group you are put in contact with the leader who will discuss details but also tell you if the group is full and offer to put you on a waiting list.
Ferry 23, you did receive information informing you : A lot of the groups were full but I could see a couple that I would like so I've just duly paid up to become a member. I am sure your money will be refunded if you do not attend any meetings.
Stitchintime, your comment was uncalled for.
Whiff, if the committee is only run by stick in the muds (who) only organised talks about things that interested them People will usually offer lifts to those unable to access a venue. why not join the committee and bring some fresh ideas?^ However, if you really did swear at the lady whose seat you took, you may possibly be unwelcome.
U3A is a voluntary organisation run by volunteers for its members and involves much preparation and time that some members don't see, or don't choose to see.

The sewing group my sister and I are going to go to has opened a second afternoon it's so popular. I guess as only eight folk can attend each session, it's likely to get oversubscribed. The same group leader runs both, which is quite a commitment each week.
As for seating, we go to another group at a local sewing shop and we do like to sit next to each other, which is I suppose is only natural. We all sit around the demonstrator and chat across, so no-one is left out.
I've had some questions for the uc3 group leader and questions regarding payment to the area leader, and have had really fast, friendly and helpful responses from both.

BlueBelle

I went once and felt so unwelcome everyone knew everyone and no one took any notice of a new comer I m not at all backward at making friends but I ve never tried it since

Yeh, me too. Very cliquish.

I also experienced [over a 3.5 year period, 3 different classes] the cliques, the snobbery [of some, not all of course], and been snapped at by sitting in a 'saved' seat.

I stood and watched once as people I'd shared a class with for months all arranged a get together in front of me, without inviting me. I'd had no altercations with anyone and got on well with them [I'd thought!]. So rude.

I've witnessed a married couple, both very intelligent, ostracised within a group, being blatantly ignored as they 'didn't fit'. I've had someone I was in conversation with walk away from me midsentence when a friend of hers walked in!

So many would spout about their university years etc and their high up jobs/careers and making it appear as if the U3A is for a certain people only.

I know others who have left as I have.

I met many nice people too but too many negatives there for me. And I tried.

Our group charges £20 pa and £2 for each monthly meeting.
I joined without knowing anyone but have met a few friendly people through the groups I attend.