National u3a

Visit from National u3a 

During January, we had the pleasure of welcoming a small team from the national u3a office to Tonbridge. Their visit was part of an initiative to connect more closely with local u3a’s across the country, and they were keen to see some of our groups in action and gain a sense of how Tonbridge u3a operates at a local level. 

We began the visit at one of our lively Table Tennis groups, where the team was greeted by a spirited mix of friendly rallies, laughter, and encouragement between players. They remarked on the wonderful sense of community, noting how the balance of fun, fitness, and friendship perfectly captured the essence of u3a activities. 

Later, the group visited our Industrial Heritage session, where members were treated to a fascinating presentation on the evolution of the bicycle — from the earliest curious contraptions right through to the sleek, modern designs we see today. The discussion sparked memories, debate, and plenty of good humour, illustrating the depth of knowledge and enthusiasm that our special interest groups bring to every meeting.

The national team was full of praise for what they saw, particularly the diversity of activities available to our members and the high level of participation across all groups. They also commented favourably on our communications — including our newsletter, website, and publicity materials, all of which help keep members informed and engaged. They generously shared a number of ideas, resources, and examples of best practice from other u3as, which we look forward to exploring further. We were also able to talk about some of the challenges and opportunities of running a large and active u3a, from welcoming new members to keeping our programme fresh. It was reassuring to hear that many others share similar experiences and that the national office is keen to continue offering support.

 The visit reinforced that we’re part of a wider movement united by a love of learning, friendship, fun, and community. 

Overall, it was a highly enjoyable and encouraging visit, offering a great opportunity to showcase Tonbridge u3a’s energy, creativity, and community spirit. 

We’ve agreed to stay in touch with the national team, and there’s even a possibility that some of our activities may be featured on national u3a platforms later this year, a wonderful reflection of the enthusiasm and commitment of our members 

Regular readers of the Journal will know that over the past year we have drawn your attention to many of the varied things that are available to all u3a members nationally. Below is a summary of the things we have covered:

 • Click and Save – this allows u3a members to buy a range of Gift Cards and eGift Cards at a reduced cost. ‘Click and Save’ is now only available via the Friends Extra website and you need to sign up to the National's u3a Friends newsletter to gain access. See details at https://www.u3a.org.uk/get-involved/u3a-friends 

 • Interest Groups Online (IGO) – this is an online u3a community that allows you to join groups, talks and courses from the comfort of your home. It costs £12 per year to join. Further details can be found at https://www.u3a.org.uk/learning/interest-groups-online • Online learning events – these events are available free of charge to u3a members nationally and therefore should not be confused with Interest Groups Online. New events are added regularly. To find out what is available currently and how to register for any specific event you are interested in, please go to https:// www.u3a.org.uk/events/educational-events

 • The monthly u3a radio podcast - this features interviews with members, interest group leaders, Trustees, national volunteers and Subject Advisers. It is available to listen to on the u3a YouTube channel and is also available on podcasting platforms including Spotify, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts. Further details can be found at https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-radio-podcast

 • The weekly math's challenge – the current challenge and those for all prior weeks, plus solutions, can be found at https:// www.u3a.org.uk/learning/national-programmes/maths-challenge

 • Other learning activities –the current selection of activities can be found at https://www.u3a.org.uk/learning/national-programmes

They also offer a number of workshops, webinars and interactive sessions delivered by members for members, which are free to join. We will highlight some of these on the National Event page here.  For full details of all National events click here.