Tower and Town, December 2020 (view the full edition)u3a In Kennet - Locally LedOver nearly 40 years, the national u3a movement has grown to over 1,000 local u3a organisations with more than 430,000 members in the UK. u3a in Kennet was launched in 1992 and is centred on Marlborough and the surrounding villages. With around 600 members, it offers over 60 interest groups on subjects ranging from American History to Website Management and activities ranging from Backgammon to Walking. Our members come together in a friendly and informal environment. Members are entitled to join as many of our interest groups as they can manage. Whatever your level of participation - be it energetic or more relaxed, thought provoking or gentle leisure, developing skills or just chatting, there is something for you... and if there isn't, we are always keen to start new groups. The Group Leaders are volunteers who organise and support their particular groups. They don't have to be experts and most rely on their group members to support them and contribute to their group in many different ways. Any member with enthusiasm and basic organisational skills can start a group at any time where there is sufficient support. Groups include indoor activities, outdoor activities, the arts, sciences, languages and a variety of discussion and history groups. Prior to Covid-19 restrictions, many groups met in members' homes or in various meeting venues including Kennet Valley Hall, Wesley Hall and the Friends Meeting House. Over the last few months, this has changed to on-line meetings using Zoom or conference calling with some limited outdoor gatherings. Both members and non-members are invited to attend our monthly Coffee Exchange held on the last Thursday of each month. This was set up to be an opportunity to meet other u3a members, get the latest news, hear a local speaker and chat over a coffee. This is also continuing on-line (but participants have to provide their own coffee!). There is also a regular series of Kennet u3a Talks which are held four or five times a year and cover subjects as diverse as Gilbert and Sullivan, Wiltshire Archaeology, How to stay well and increase well-being during the lockdown, and Making Science work for Refugees. Until we are able to gather again at Kennet Valley Hall, these talks will again be held on-line. If anyone who is not a member and is interested in joining one of these sessions, they can ask for an invitation from our Chairman at chairman@u3ainkennet.org.uk. John Martin is Publicity Officer of u3a in Kennet John Martin |