FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I come to a meeting without joining the u3a? You can attend one meeting in Christ Church, that’s the main monthly meeting, at 2pm on 2nd Thursday of the month (except the October AGM and July and December Socials which are for members only). Are the main monthly meetings always held on a Thursday? Yes. Subject group meetings are held throughout the week. Most of them are morning or afternoon, Monday to Friday. A very small number of groups meet in the evening or at the weekend. Can I attend a group without being a member? No, groups are only for members of the u3a. How do I become a member? Please use the membership application form on the website. See the How to Join page. Can I attend a New Members meeting before I join the u3a? No. These meetings are for people who have joined over the previous few months – they are held twice a year. How do I join a group? Once you are a member of the u3a you will get a list of groups with the leaders’ phone numbers – you contact the leader yourself to see if there are vacancies. What can I do if I can’t find a group to join? If the group you want to join has no vacancies you may like to start a parallel group with others who are in the same position. The existing group would be willing to offer help to get it started. You could also start a group on a new subject. Is there an age restriction on joining? There’s no formal age restriction but to take part in the activities you need to be free during some part of the week, in normal working hours. We’ve had disabled members in their forties and fifties who can fit this pattern and a few people who are still working part- time. Does the u3a run classes? No, we meet in self help groups and learn from each other. Is the tutor qualified? We don’t use tutors – the group leader may have some qualification in the subject, e.g. in the case of a language they might be a native speaker, or they may just have an interest in the subject. Do I need any qualification to join a group? No, unless the level is indicated in the title, e.g. Beginners French, Advanced Genealogy. Do I get a certificate for taking a course? No, there are no certificates and no formal courses – you belong to the group for as long as you are interested. If I am already a member, can I use this website to contact members of the committee? It would be much simpler for us if you send an email direct to the person you want to speak to. Email addresses are listed in the printed version of the monthly newsletter. If you cannot get hold of a printed newsletter please use the link on the Contact Us page.