Applying to join a group
Preston Park u3a Interest Groups are for Preston Park u3a members only. Non-members cannot join or sign up to a group until their membership application has been processed (see our Membership page to become a member).
If you are interested in joining a group, please contact the Group Leader via the link on the relevant group page under our website's Groups page. You can send the Group Leader a message by clicking on their name or the Group email address. A message box will appear for you to email them.
Please note that all activities in our groups are undertaken at your own risk. Tutors for taught activities involving physical exercise may also require you to complete a medical questionnaire before you join the group and their decision on your suitability for their classes is final.
Groups are often limited in size, particularly those that meet in members’ homes, and are sometimes unable to accommodate more members immediately. It is an indicator of our success that few of our groups are short of members and that group membership tends to remain stable.
If the group is full, your name may be put on the waiting list on our Beacon computer membership system. When a place becomes available it will be offered to the first person on the waiting list.
Setting up additional groups
If there are a number of members waiting to join a group, it may be possible to establish an additional group providing someone is willing to help with the organisation and become a Group Leader. Our present list of Interest Groups has several examples of extra groups that have been set up to meet demand.
If you are interested in organising a new group or have a suggestion for a new group, please contact an Interest Groups Co-ordinator or any Committee Member, at a meeting or via the Contact page. You do not need to be an expert on the subject. An Interest Groups Co-ordinator will provide guidance and support for an initial period.
Apologies if you are unable to attend a group meeting
If you cannot attend an Interest Group meeting it is important that you inform the Group Leader as soon as possible. If you miss two consecutive meetings without a prior explanation or subsequent apology, the Group Leader may, once a warning has been given, assume you have left the group.
u3a visits, holidays and events
Visits, holidays and events which are open to all members will be first publicised on our website or in our Monthly Updates. Places are offered on a first come first served basis. Once you have booked and paid, a refund cannot be guaranteed.
Booking conditions for visits and events
There are specific booking conditions for our Heritage Visits Group visits and Preston Park u3a Holidays. Other groups that arrange visits may apply our standard Booking Conditions. Where applicable, a completed booking form and/or payment must be received by the Group Leader by the due date. Once made, a refund of any payment cannot be guaranteed.
Group activity fees
Some groups pay a Tutor and/or hire a venue, for example, to learn and practise yoga in a church hall. These costs will be shared equally amongst the group members for each course of classes or meetings, to recoup the costs.
The venue and Tutor costs have to be paid no matter how many group members attend each class/meeting. Therefore there is no allowance for members’ holidays or other absences, so fees will not be reduced if you do not attend classes/meetings that you have signed up to.
The cost of any miscellaneous expenses, such as photocopying or equipment hire, will also be shared between the group’s members.
Members may have one free ‘taster’ session before they join a group.
Paying group activity fees and for visits and events
Where possible payments for classes, courses, events and visits should be made by bank transfer into our social activities account using:
- Sort Code – 20-12-75
- Account Number - 60860212
- Account Name - PRESTON PK U3A NO2
- With a reference to enable the Treasurer to identify what the payment is for, e.g. Pilates or Yoga.
NB This is not the same account as the membership subscription account. See also Bank Transfer Payments - Other Costs.
Please make separate payments for different classes or events using different references.
If paying by cheque for courses, events and visits, make the cheque payable to “Preston Park u3a no. 2 a/c”. Please write the group or event name and your name(s) on the back of the cheque. Please provide separate cheques for different events and pass them to the appropriate Group Leader. Cash is not accepted.
Refreshments costs
When members meet in the Group Leader’s or another member’s home, the host may ask them to pay up to £1 each to cover minor costs such as tea or coffee and biscuits. Refreshments are also available at some other venues for a small fee. Please pay by cash.