Oxfam Shop City Farm fruit Olden Garden
 
OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

This page lets you know about wider u3a events and other opportunities that may interest you.


January-March 2024, London Region Online Talk Programme: Click on the relevant link in the flyer to register for each individual talk: Talks Jan-Mar 2024. The Zoom link will be sent to you two days before the talk. Please register in advance as the zoom link will not be sent on the day of the talk, for administrative reasons. To view other London Region events keep an eye on their webpage: Events 

10–12 May 2024, Hackney History Festival: a wide ranging programme is available. You can register your interest here: https://hackneyhistoryfestival.org/

Digital Skills Training: free digital skills sessions at AbilityNet London office, at AbilityNet's London office on any of the following days from 1.00pm to 3.00pm:

    Friday 16 February, Friday 23 February, Friday 1 March, Friday 8 March.

They (through BT, their sponsor) also offer training guides. Scroll down the page: Digital Skills

u3a Online Learning Programme: see details of their current talks here. You can always find out more information on their national programme here.

u3a Workshops Programme for 2024: see the update Quarter 1 programme for national support workshops on the national website here: Workshop Programme

Between 21 May and 23 July, Summer Events: London Region Events Team has decided to try something new this year instead of the conventional 2-3 day Summer School. We are offering an exciting programme of 31 guided walks and visits to museums and galleries around central London. There will be a choice of guided walks in areas such as Westminster, South Kensington, Bloomsbury, Fitzrovia, Camden, Regents Park and The City. In addition, there will be guided tours or lectures at visitor attractions such as the National Portrait Gallery,  British Museum, Victoria & Albert Museum, Guildhall Art Gallery and Natural History Museum. Bookings will be launched Friday 22 March. We shall upload the Programme to the Events page of the London Region website. This advance notice is to help you plan your summer and get ready to book.

17 to 19 July 2024, u3a Festival 2024: following the success of the national u3a event 'Off The Wall' this year there are plans afoot for an even bigger event for next year. For details of the Festival have a look at the national webpage here: https://www.u3a.org.uk/events/festival-2024
 
End of Life Planning: in 2019 we started a tie-up with Gentle Dusk regarding End of Life Planning. They hold 'End of Life Planning Cafes' for our members and provide guidance on how to create a Care Plan. You may find our guide useful to help explain some of the terms — read it here: End of Life Planning. Details of their next scheduled events will be posted here when available. If you have any queries regarding their Future Matters Service, drop them a a note: get in touch.

Positive Ageing: see here for why u3a helps enable a positive view of growing old: Video

Bereavement Support: if you have recently suffered a bereavement you may wish to considering using the Islington Bereavement Community service. You can see some information about the service here or through their website: St. Joseph's Hospice (stjh.org.uk).
Or, if you want to help them and consider voluntering for them, find their contact details in the linked document above.

Islington Public Toilets Campaign: help improve the availability of loos in our borough. For more information and to sign the petition look here or here is the direct link for the petition: Sign Here

MerchandiseMerchandise: there is a wide range of branded u3a merchandise available. You can see the price list here.
You can order this direct yourself through the national website here or through Derek (website.manager@islingtonu3a.org)


Tutoring:
do you want to help with tutoring disadvantaged pupils? See here for more information on this worthy cause.

London Age-Friendly Forum (LAFF): The latest report on this London Mayor initiative here.

Claremont Psychotherapy Service: See their pdf here.

Nationally — Third Age Trust
The Third Age Trust is the national U3A organisation. It organises events, competitions and other activities for u3a members nationally. Some of these are in London, others across the country. Some get booked up quickly — to hear about events and when booking opens, you should join the Third Age Trust U3A events mailing list. To do so, you must register (it's very straightforward) with the Third Age Trust website, but their latest mailing is here.

Communications: Third Age Trust are moving towards more electronic communication. There is now a free e-newsletter and any member can register for the e-newsletter here. The National Office is trying to raise the profile of the Third Age Trust and to publicise the benefits of u3as. With this in mind they have produced a booklet, which you can read here.

Third Age Matters: Have you consider taking the national magazine, 'Third Age Matters'? It's very good value at just £3.80 for five issues per year. You can select the membership class which includes provision of the magazine when you renew your membership. Or if you missed that option but want to add it now, please contact Joy at iu3amembers@outlook.com. There is also an abreviated digital version available through the national webst: https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/publications

Interest Groups Online: this started during the Covid-19 pandemic when some UK u3as were shut down or offering only limited activities (then called 'Trust u3a') but as it's proved so popular it will continue. There is a wide range of online interest groups (nearly 70 currently) with members from all over the UK. Annual membership is just £12.00. You can find out more information and join through this link: Interest Groups Online.

National Benefits: iU3A pays £4.00 to the national organisation per member. If you ever wonder what benefits we, and you, gain from being part of this national organisation (the 17th largest organisation in the UK) then this might explain it: Where Does My £4 go? 

London Region of U3As (LRU3A)
LRU3A is a forum or network that organises study days and other events for all of the London independent u3as. To find out what’s on see below or have a look here.

Your iU3A representatives on the London Region of U3As are currently:

If you have any queries or ideas regarding London Region of U3As use the email links above.
If you want to read more about networks with U3A generally then look here.

Other Events: to find out what is on across the London Region click here.

London Region Summer School Under Threat: the London Region of U3as has run very successful Summer Schools over many years. But now it’s under threat — currently it looks like they will not be able to put one on next summer. This is due to the lack of volunteers to help organise. Catherine Ware in particular is standing back from chairing the SS Committee (and thanks go to Catherine for establishing such successful Summer Schools) and other volunteers are also stopping. If you would be willing to work with others in trying to form some sort of London Region wide Summer School or Study Days next summer, please contact Vivek at communications.lru3a@gmail.com

London Parks and Gardens Trust
Project proposal: We are looking for a small group of people who would be interested in a proposal to set up a u3a project with London Parks and Gardens Trust. Before reading further, please look at their website. All the aims, work and achievements of the trust are there. Quite fascinating. See link here
If you think you might enjoy getting involved, please email Jo to have a chat about it. Obviously it is all just an idea at the moment, but with your help, we can have a sociable and flexible plan of action by November. Possible Ideas to develop or reject:
1.    Inventory review and update of green spaces in an individual borough. Additions? Changes?
2.    Gather information on 3 specific parks with known benefactors?
3.    Research into individual benefactors of land. Sites? Are the wishes of the benefactor still being complied with?
4.    Garden designers across London. Comparisons? Changes?
 
Do get in touch, at jo.walters.slp@gmail.com              


Research Projects
As many members wish to volunteer for local organisations or as subjects for university research studies we include opportunities that we are sent from time to time here and in WOW.

Imperial College Research March 19 2024: see the pdf here.

Researchers reading this and wishing to submit any requests for support should be aware of the u3a's guidelines on this topic. This can be read here: Research Application Guidelines.  
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From U3A National Office: We are often asked to publicise research studies and trials to our members.  Where we do so it is because we believe it may be of interest to you and we are not endorsing or promoting the research study in any way. U3A has not undertaken any checks or due diligence on the relevant department or the study and accepts no liability whatsoever if you decide to agree to participate. If you choose to take part in any study you do so at your own risk and in your own capacity (and not as member of U3A). You should make sure that you understand all the risks associated with any study before you sign up and ensure that you understand the time commitment, any restrictions and possible side effects. You should also ensure that you will be insured as part of the study.


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