Chairman's welcome

Hello and welcome to the Alton u3a Annual Programme for 2025-26. After the big increase in numbers from the start of last year, little did I think that I’d be writing to over 700 members this year, covering four decades of experiences!

The number of groups has also increased significantly. We targeted around eighty groups to offer this year, and at the time of writing we are very close to that number, up from 55 just two years ago! The very many courses added since the start of last year include Ballet and Tap, Ballroom and Latin Dancing, Computer Group, Investigating Faiths, Mindfulness, and Moving
On, some of which started mid-year.

I’m glad to say that the bulk of last year’s programme also continues.

Following positive feedback on last year’s Annual Programme, we have broadly kept to the same format and hopefully you will find it easy to follow again. Please do take the time to read through and find the groups that interest you. We always welcome feedback on what you find either helpful or difficult so we can continue to improve the programme in the future.

Alton u3a is very well established and respected in the town and surrounding area, and indeed we are very fortunate to have facilities such as the Community Centre which allow us to continue and grow, and planned developments will hopefully further expand the opportunities for our interests and social gatherings in due course.

The numbers of high quality special interest groups reflect the huge amount of effort that so many volunteers put in to deliver them for our members, without which, and your active involvement in them, we would have nothing. So I’d once again like to thank everyone who has given their time in the creation and running of groups and this Programme, and in particular, those who have taken on Group Leadership following the stepping down or passing of previous GLs to keep existing groups running. To make their effort truly worthwhile, be sure you take advantage by signing up for a few groups.

Please take your time to read through the enclosures carefully, decide which groups you would like to be part of, and I am delighted to mention that, after much hard work by the Committee, we will have online group selection and membership payments available to all. This means that all new and renewing members have the choice to select groups and pay all in one place, far simpler and less prone to error than the paper system.

We will have an Open Day (replacing a Registration Day) on 9th August from 14:00-15:30 at the Alton Community Centre for all to find out more about the groups.

If you are reading this after the session has started in September, don’t worry as we are happy to accept members joining at any time, although it is worth checking online to see which groups are still available (some may be full due to high demand).

I look forward to seeing you through the coming year.

Alan Robb

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