If some text is underlined, click on it for more details.
u3a Festival 2024 - York 🎇
The u3a movement is holding its first ever Festival in 2024, 18 - 20 July, where members will be running a wide variety of activities - talks, sporting events, musical entertainment and workshops.
https://www.u3a.org.uk/events/festival-2024
How Can I Take Part?
The u3a Festival 24 will take place in the beautiful city of York over 3 days and will be held at the University of York based around their exhibition centre.
Tickets are now available to be part of the Festival. There are 5 options so you can book for the whole 3 days, or for Thursday only, Friday from 9 – 6pm, Friday from 9am – 11pm or for Saturday.
How Much Are Tickets?
• Day 1, Thursday 18 July - £25 including buffet supper
• Day 2, Friday 19 July - £10 for the full day
• Day 3, Saturday 20 July - £5 for a half day
• Full festival to include all 3 days and a buffet supper on Day 1 - £35
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/u3a-festival-24-tickets-851586085907
Book Your Accommodation
The accommodation on campus is now fully booked. York is a major tourist city and there is lots of alternative accommodation in the southeast of the city where the university is situated. Online booking agents have Airbnb options available, together with a range of guest houses and hotels across the price range.
Festival Programme
Download the taster programme and guide to learn more about the amazing activities happening each day.
Full details and the option to book sessions will be published on the website in the coming weeks.
The complete music and sports programme will be available shortly.
Festival Updates
Keep up to date with the latest Festival 24 news by signing up to the u3a Friends Newsletter.
Get Involved
If you would like to get involved or have a query about the festival, please get in touch by emailing festival@u3a.org.uk.
Travel ✈️
If you read the u3a Matters magazine, you might be aware of the excellent offers available for travellers.
The committee would welcome any member willing to set up and run a “Travel Group” to take advantage of said offers.
If interested, please email Jo Turner, our Groups Coordinator: groups@u3aleeds.com
Tuesday 25th June - 9.00am Departure
Annual Educational Visit 🚌
Hardwick Hall - Derbyshire
Home to Bess of Hardwick: the wealthiest woman in Tudor England after Queen Elizabeth the First.
(Please note: there are no lifts within Hardwick Hall)
Cost of travel by coach is £15.50 per person.
Entry is free to National Trust and English Heritage members.
Entrance for non-members is £19, payable at the Visitor Centre on the day.
To book your place on the coach, CASH ONLY with your membership number, at a Tuesday meeting.
Margret Quinton
For more details as to how Leeds members are affected, email our CYGnet Coordinator, Jo Turner:
Third Age Trust News 📜
Their new advertising campaign with Boom Radio begins on Monday 1 April. They feel this is a good fit for their first Trust radio campaign as the station reaches 627,000 adult listeners every week - most of whom are over the age of 55. Their three month radio advertising campaign will consist of three repeated adverts featuring u3a members, shout outs from presenters, and one longer interview with CEO of the Third Age Trust, Sam Mauger - the date of which is still to be confirmed.
They are exploring different kinds of advertising, with adverts appearing in TimesOnline and MailOnSunday this month. They will also be running a Facebook ad campaign throughout the next three months to complement the advertising on Boom Radio.
u3a Friends Extra is a wide range of offers exclusively for members of the u3a Friends community. These include discounts on holidays, insurance and more. These offers will be delivered to members through the u3a Friends Newsletter.
Exciting news - an extra place has become available to run in the Great North Run, the world's biggest half-marathon event, as part of Team u3a. You will be joining four other runners, all of whom will be raising money for the u3a movement. The event is taking place in Newcastle on Sunday 8 September 2024. Please do get in touch if you are interested by emailing fundraising@u3a.org.uk
Online Workshops in April
The following workshops will be taking place in April, open to all u3a members:
* Thursday 11 April - Running Your u3a - Information for Trustees
* Monday 15 April - Growth Matters
* Tuesday 16 April - Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Coffee Morning
* Wednesday 17 April - Running Discussion Groups and Getting Feedback
* Monday 22 April - Keeping It Legal
* Tuesday 23 April - Interest Groups Matter
* Tuesday 30 April - Recruiting Committee Members - Learn & Share Session
All details about these workshops and others can be found in the members' area of the u3a website.
An Appeal 👐
Hello everyone,
Did you know that it can be fun being on our u3a Leeds Committee? Will you consider joining us?
Being on the Committee would help you influence specific events and how we run things for the benefit of our members. Our membership numbers have grown considerably over the last two years and we have space for quite a few new committee people.
The Committee meets more or less once a month, but some months we do not need to meet and we have a little holiday!
Open to all our members, but we would especially welcome those who are just into their retirement. As long as you have the ability to use email, you can cope with our communication requirements, so please consider the matter.
In the first instance, please speak to any Committee member, including me.
Thank you for your attention,
Jo (Josephine) Turner
Quick Hits 💥
🥋Tai Chi, as run by Liz Whalebelly, is sadly in difficulties at the moment, due to Liz having broken her arm!
✍🏽 There is a new group starting, an off-shoot of the Writing for Pleasure group, to be known as Writing for Pleasure No. 2.
🔰 The Card Making group are seeking new members and will be publicising themselves at our next social Tuesday meeting.
🎭 If you didn’t already know, the Reading Shakespeare Aloud group has restarted.
Email: sueleedsbridge@hotmail.com
Card Making 🔰
Leader: Kathryn Firth
Kathryn wishes to say that the above group has a few places. As this group takes place in a private house, numbers are necessarily limited.
They welcome anyone, whether they are experienced or beginners.
They meet alternate Tuesdays, at a private house in Roundhay.
Email: kathrynfirth@gmail.com
Padel Tennis 🟣
Leader: Max Dudley
Since the 13th of February, a new Padel Tennis group is now up and running.
Venue: Chapel Allerton Tennis Club
Day: Tuesdays
Time: 10.00am
Cost: £5/hour
Due to extraordinary interest, the group is now full!
If you wish to be put on the waiting list, please email Max at:
Links with Other u3as 🔗
Cookridge & Horsforth u3a wish to promote the following:
For more information:
Email: cookridgeu3a@hotmail.com
Links with Other u3as 🔗
The Central Yorkshire Group Network (CYGnet) is an opportunity for you to try groups within this area.
You may want to attend a group with a view to joining it or to get tips on running a similar group in Leeds.
You just need to let the Cygnet rep, Angie know by using this email address:
cygnet@u3aleeds.org
You can find out about the groups in these areas by looking on their websites:
u3asites.org.uk >selby
u3asites.org.uk >tadcaster
u3asites.org.uk >Garforth
Leeds will be hosting the next Cygnet meeting on 29th January at St Andrew’s Church in Roundhay.
Scam Alert 🚨
We have been contacted by a u3a who experienced a scam in which they received an email, allegedly from one of their committee members, saying that they needed to be sent money in order to send an invoice.
This was quite sophisticated and appeared to have come from another committee member.
If you receive an email like this, check the email address of the sender to make sure it is their normal email address.
If in doubt, it is best to call the person directly. All u3as are recommended to implement dual authorisation for payments.
