u3a

Benfleet

Special Interest Groups

Our Interest Groups Coordinator is Suzanne Worland

Group Contacts should contact Suzanne for any issues, group changes or ideas for development of their group. All our u3a Members are invited to contact Suzanne regarding ideas for new groups and topics of interest.

You can contact Suzanne via our webmail contact link Interest Groups Coordinator webmail

Risk Assessments for Meeting and Group Activities

On the right hand column are checklists/templates for different situations that cover most meeting types. These are word.docx documents so that group contacts can complete them in word. If you cannot use Word then they are available as pdfs to complete in pen - please contact Webmaster webmail for pdfs.

The Group Contact should keep the Risk Assessment and register of attendance securely. Where situations are repeated, e.g. home meeting at same venue, the assessment can be done once a year UNLESS something has changed at that address.

There is also a Personal Member RA for individuals to consider for themselves where there may be risks specific to them and their capability. These are optional and do not need to be shared.

Incident report: should something happen the incident report should be completed (usually by the Group Contact or the person leading the activity on that day) even if it did not require treatment or medical attention. The author should keep a copy securely AND provide a copy to Committee (any Committee Member).

Sharing knowledge, skills, experience and enthusiasm

In the u3a members share their knowledge, skills, experience and enthusiasm to teach themselves and each other without any need for paid teachers. Group members are both learners and teachers.

u3a interest and activity Groups depend on mutual support and the sharing of knowledge. They are formed by members with a common interest suggesting a topic, discussing together what and how they wish to learn, and then deciding on the means to achieve their aims.

One of u3a's guiding principles is that learning must be primarily for fun and enjoyment. There are no examinations or qualifications, although Group members are sometimes involved in carrying out research on specific subjects in which they have an interest.

Information on Benfleet u3a’s Groups and their Contacts/Hosts are given to u3aA members at every Monthly Meeting. Our Groups Coordinator will also advise where and when each Group meets. Sometimes Groups may be full and will temporarily have a waiting list. New interest/activity Groups may be formed at any time, whenever there is a demand for them, say by two or three members having a common interest.

You can contact Suzanne via our webmail contact link Interest Groups Coordinator webmail

Suzanne Worland

Download Risk
Analysis Forms

1 Home-based RA
2 Day trip RA
3 Walk leader RA
4 Venue-based RA
5 Personal Member RA
6 Incident Report form

Not a Member? Wish to join?

To take part in Interest Group Activities you must be a member of the Benfleet U3A [membership of other U3A's does not give automatic access to our activities]. If you are NOT currently a member of the Benfleet U3A you can see details at Joining. To discuss membership and to join please contact our Membership Secretary webmail .

Group operation for Group Contacts AND Group Members

We have a number of suggestions aiming to help make groups operation easier and more interactive.

Group Organisation
We often refer to ‘Group Leaders’ as running the special interest groups. This implies the ‘leader’ is responsible for ALL aspects of the group activities. Some people find this daunting and it may deter members coming forward to 'lead' groups.

We prefer to refer to this person as the GROUP CONTACT i.e. this person will know who is involved in the group, introduce new members and be the focal point for communication and is NOT necessarily the permanent meeting host. Group members should regularly offer to help, host meetings or organise activities. We hope that at least 2 or 3 people will actively help to run each group.

All group members should come forward with activities, study topics and trips, etc. that they wish to do – it’s your group.

Attending
As a courtesy to GROUP CONTACTS and MEETING HOSTS, group members should advise in good time whether you will be attending the next meeting or activity – both IF attending or NOT attending. Where possible please make sure your GROUP CONTACT or MEETING HOST has your email address as this is by far the easiest way to make contact.

Hosting
When a meeting is hosted by a group member in their home, we suggest a donation of 25p per person towards the cost of refreshments.

Transport suggestion
Some groups organise meetings and trips away from home and it’s sensible for members to travel together. Offering money to pay for the trip can be a little awkward. Our suggestion is that passengers could arrange to cover the cost of parking at the venue and/or provide refreshments for the driver. Groups may already have their own arrangements in place, which is fine.

Available Group Resources and Advice

The National u3a operate many very useful activities, events and subject advice. View the national website at u3a.org.uk

The Resource Centre at the Third Age Trust National Office has a collection of material available for U3A Groups to borrow, including slides, videos, audio cassettes, CDs and DVDs on many subjects. They are available for both Group Coordinators and individuals. Contact at Third Age Trust Resource Centre webmail or telephone 020 8315 0199.

Groups listed alphabetically

  • Art 4 Beginners
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Monday afternoons 2:00 pm
    4th week
  • Art 4 Beginners 2
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Monday mornings
    Varied dates
  • Art Blue
    Status: Waiting list
    Weekly on Tuesday mornings 10:00 am-12:00 pm
  • Art Turquoise
    Status: Waiting list
    Weekly on Wednesday afternoons 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
  • Badminton
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Monday afternoons 1:30 pm-4:00 pm
  • Book Club
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Monday afternoons 2:00 pm
    1st Monday 'usually'!
  • Canasta
    Status: Dormant
    Monthly on Wednesday afternoons 2:00 pm
    4th week
  • Card and Board Games
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Wednesday afternoons 2:00 pm
    1st Week
  • Culinary Experience
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Mondays
    4th Week
  • Current Affairs
    Status: Dormant
    Monthly on Monday afternoons 2:00 pm
    2nd week
  • Darts
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Wednesday afternoons 2:00 pm
    Last Wednesday
  • Discussion
    Status: Dormant
    Monthly on Monday afternoons 2:00 pm
    2nd Week
  • Drawing and Painting
    Status: Active
    Monthly
    3rd Thursday each month at a nominated location plus a monthly topic communicated via email and telephone.
  • Exploring World Faiths
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Tuesday afternoons 2:00 pm
    2nd Tuesday
  • French
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Wednesday mornings 10:00 am-12:00 pm
    2nd Week
  • French Beginners
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Wednesday afternoons 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
    2nd Wednesday
  • Gardening
    Status: Active
    Monthly
    Variable dates
  • German Intermediate
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Tuesday afternoons 1:30 pm-3:30 pm
    2nd Tuesday
  • Local and Essex History
    Status: Active
    Monthly
    Ad hoc visits and history topic challenges
  • Local Interest
    Status: Dormant
  • Lunch Club
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Friday afternoons 12:30 pm
    2nd Week
  • Macs and Wellies Gardening
    Status: Active
    Ad hoc activity, no fixed timetable
  • Meditation
    Status: Dormant
  • Naval and Military History
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Thursday afternoons 2:00 pm
    3rd Week
  • Out and About
    Status: Active
    Members non-u3a activities
  • Outings
    Status: Active
    As advised below
  • Photography
    Status: Active
    On Monday afternoons 2:00 pm
    3rd Week; Meeting times vary depending on activity/location.
  • Play Reading
    Status: Waiting list
    2nd Tuesday Monthly: 1 Group 10:30-12:30am; 2 Group 2:30-4:30pm
  • Scrabble
    Status: Active
    Monthly: See Meeting Schedule
  • Singing
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Thursdays
    1:30pm 2nd week AND 9:45am 3rd Week
  • Spanish
    Status: Active
    Weekly on Wednesday mornings 10:00 am
  • Ten Pin Bowling
    Status: Active
    Monthly on Friday mornings 10:30 am
    3rd Week
  • Vintage Films
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Thursday afternoons 1:00 pm-5:00 pm
    On 2nd AND 4th Thursday
  • Walking over 5 miles
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Thursday mornings
    4th Week
  • Walking up to 5 Miles
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Thursday mornings
    1st Thursday every month
  • Wildlife
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Thursday mornings 10:00 am
    2nd week
  • Women in History
    Status: Waiting list
    Monthly on Friday afternoons 2:00 pm-4:00 pm
    3rd week