Stone’s U3A is looking for new members, and if you’re looking to try something new in 2022 then they could have just the opportunity for you!
Started in 1982 and celebrating it’s 40th anniversary, U3A (originally called University of the 3rd Age) is open to people of all ages who aren’t in full time employment.
Many groups are now back to real life meetings after being virtual during lockdown, with venues in & around Stone, Aston, Walton and Oulton. Groups include art, sport activities, languages, and a lunch group, who sample menus locally as well as a wine appreciation group.
A very popular gardening group is hoping to find new leader(s) who will help to organise talks and visits. The table tennis group is so popular that they are hoping to find someone to lead a beginners group. Sadly, the member who started a sign language group is unable to continue, and the search is out for someone else who could spare a couple of hours a week to share their skills. Most groups include a refreshment break.
Some groups are still having to meet via Zoom, for one reason or another. The Talking Books group has led itself quite well to this. This group meets weekly to read aloud and discuss what is being read. The current book is Ben Macintyre’s Agent Sonya, and previous ones have ranged from excerpts from Pickwick Papers to Where the Crawdads Sing, all voted for by the members.
Nationally, the u3a is commemorating its 40th anniversary by creating a u3a woodland to demonstrate the power of the collective u3a voice and the contribution that we are making for future generations. There are online talks and competitions, digital tutorials, invitations to join in the making of a national quilt and much more, all to be found in the magazine which is available online for free or for a small fee by post. Online there are national talks and chat groups free for any member to join.
You can find out more about all of the groups on the Stone U3A website, https://u3asites.org.uk/stone/home or their Facebook page. Alternatively, membership secretary, Pat Woodward can be contacted by email at memsec@stoneu3a.net.
Membership is only £40 pa however many groups you join, and with plenty going on you could do an activity a day for less than a pound!
Here are the Stone & District U3A groups by day:
