Woodley and District

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Woodley and District U3A Groups

Afternoon film group     

Meets 3rd Mon pm
Venue On-line
Contact Film@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details The group will meet to discuss films. Films will be chosen from members’ suggestions and usually come from members’ collections on DVD or Blu-ray. During lockdown the group will meet virtually monthly to discuss films. When permitted outings to see films will be scheduled. New members would be welcome.

Art History and Appreciation     

Meets 3rd Tuesday
Venue On-line
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This discussion group is for anyone interested in looking at and talking about art. The topics we focus on and what we talk about will be in the hands of the members. We are not Art experts but all members will be expected to contribute to research and share their results. The group will meet in each other’s homes as soon as Covid allows but will meet over Zoom initially.

Badminton     

Meets Friday pm
Venue Woodford Park Leisure Centre
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details An opportunity to play friendly, sociable games of badminton. All abilities are welcome providing you know the basics of the game. We will be playing at Woodford Park every Friday from 2.30 till 4.00 once Lockdown eases. More members would be welcome. Bring a racket and please come and join us.

Beginners Ballroom/Latin Dance     

Meets Alternate Mondays pm
Venue Coronation Hall - map
Contact ballbeg@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details We will cover a variety of different ballroom and latin dances in a friendly and sociable environment. You are welcome to come along if you have some proficiency or if you are an absolute beginner as some guidance and tuition will be provided. Bring a partner if you can but single people will be matched up when possible. The group will restart once social distancing restrictions are removed. This group is held fortnightly and alternates with the Modern Jive group.

Bird-watching     

Meets Monthly 4th Thursday am
Venue On-line
Contact groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This is a group for members interested in birds to discuss all aspects of wild birds from garden birds to more exotic ones.

Book group for book-lovers     

Meets 4th or 5th Wed pm
Venue On-line
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details In this monthly group for bibliophiles, members share the novels they love, either quality contemporary fiction or literary works of the past, and tell us why they are such favourites. A member champions a book for us to read over the following month and we all bring along our own recommendations for what to read – or perhaps not to read! Meets on last Wednesday of the month. It’s a great excuse to revisit a classic and also a way to discover exciting new authors and new releases from well-loved authors that we may have overlooked.

Book Group for Book-lovers 2     

Meets 2nd Monday
Venue Convenor's Home
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details A monthly group for book lovers where members in turn champion a quality contemporary or classic novel they have read so that other group members can read it over the following month. The group then share their thoughts about the book at the subsequent meeting. The aim of the group is to share and celebrate the joys of reading with like-minded people, and discover or revisit new and established works of literature in a friendly, relaxed way.

Card Making     

Meets 2nd Weds of month am
Venue Members Home
Contact Cardmake@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This group is for members who enjoy card-making and want to learn new skills in a friendly and supportive environment. The group will start meeting once lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Chess For Beginners     

Meets TBC
Venue Members Home
Contact 
Details A short course for people to learn the basics of Chess. Absolute beginners are welcome. The course will not start before October 2021.

Cooking For Friends     

Meets 3rd Thurs
Venue Members Home
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details Join our group of home cooks to share a sociable lunch once a month. We take it in turns to play host and each of us brings a pre-agreed contribution to the meal so no one has to do too much. We would like to recruit one more member to our Food for Friends group. Another man would be great to have a bit of balance but very happy to have another sociable cook for either gender. Dig out your copy of Delia, then come and share some good food and company. The group will restart once social distancing restrictions are lifted.

Creative writing course     

Meets Mon pm
Venue On-line
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details The Creative Writing Course would welcome new members. In these sessions, members will be introduced to the characteristics of writing in a number of different literary genre and have the opportunity to practise their skills and to gain and provide feedback in a non-threatening environment. Sessions will consist in part, of hearing the written passages of members and then of identifying the distinguishing features of a different genre each week. There will also be opportunities to write during some of these sessions. A wide range of genres will be covered including short-stories, romantic fiction, fantasy and science-fiction, horror and ghost stories, historical and local history, writing for young readers, crime, mystery and detective fiction. It will also cover writing for a wide variety of mediums including radio, television and stage and magazines.

Cribbage     

Meets TBC
Venue Members Home
Contact 
Details A small friendly group which plays social games of Cribbage.

Crochet     

Meets Tuesday pm
Venue Members Home
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details For members of all abilities to learn how to crochet, and for the more experienced members a chance to show off their skills and support the beginners.

Discovering Science     

Meets 1st Fri pm
Venue On-line
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This group is meeting virtually during lockdown. It meets monthly to discuss topics of current science. The group may attend public lectures, exhibitions and visit museums.

Embroidery     

Meets 2nd and 4th Thursday
Venue On-line
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This is a new group for anyone interested in the craft, whatever their level of experience from complete beginners to expert. The aim is to support each other in developing ideas and carrying out personal projects. We will meet over Zoom. The group's first meeting will be on 14th January 2021.

Family History for Beginners 1     

Meets Varies
Venue Convenor's Home
Contact Famhistory@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This group is for members who are absolute beginners in using the internet to do research family history.

Family History for Beginners 2     

Meets 2nd Wed pm
Venue Convenor's Home
Contact Famhistory@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details Come and learn how to trace your ancestors back to the late 1700s through the use of a variety of records. Members must have their own laptops or tablets to bring to the sessions. The course meet once a month for 6 months but there will be no meeting in December.

Family History Research Group     

Meets 4th Wed pm
Venue On-line
Contact Famhistory@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details A group for people who have already researched much of their family history, who meet to help each other with problem solving. The groups provides mutual support and investigates ways to get past problems that are blocking further progress. Members will need to have their own laptops or tablets to bring to the sessions. The group will not meet in December.

French Conversation - Group 1     

Meets 1st & 3rd Wed am
Venue On-line
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details Develop your French conversation in a friendly and supportive group. Topics for the conversation will vary between meetings and will be decided at the previous meeting. The group is meeting virtually during lockdown.

Galleries & Museum Visits     

Meets Varies
Venue Varies
Contact Gallvisits@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details The group will offer excursions to art venues, special exhibitions and museums in the South East region using own and public transport. Members will contribute ideas and then select from the options suggested to produce a programme at a monthly planning meeting. The group would welcome new members who would like to contribute to the outings offered by the group members. This group has now merged with the Local Trips group to form the Social, Cultural and Arts Visits group.

Guitar Group 1     

Meets Fortnightly Thursdays am
Venue On-line
Contact Ballbeg@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This is a group for guitar players to play together. We are not Spanish or Classical guitar, we are mostly strumming with some of us singing. We will have a go at anything including Buddy Holly, Abba, Eva Cassidy and much more; we have even tried Ed Sheeran – we will try anything any of us in the group come up with. Players need to be able to play some basic chords to participate as no formal tuition is provided, though lots of encouragement is offered.

Guitar Group 2     

Meets Varies
Venue On-line
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details We are a fun, friendly and relaxed acoustic guitar group. Most of us have been learning for a year or so and we have an experienced guitarist as our "Encyclopedia Guitarica". We strum and sing enjoyable new songs whilst learning new chords to progress our repertoire. To join us you should already have knowledge of basic guitar chords. We have access to a vast music library which you will be able to download and print. Meetings last a couple of hours and will include time for a drink. We will meet in one of the group member's large garden when the weather is good and on-line, using Zoom, if weather is poor during lockdown.

History Topics     

Meets 4th Friday of the Month
Venue On-line
Contact systemadmin@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details The Group will hold a variety of Meetings combining Outside Speakers, Members Research, Day Visits and presentations. Presentations by different members of the Group about a specific subject should last 20 to 30 minutes. Followed by a discussion and questions about the subject. Initially Meetings will be held over Zoom.

Jazz Appreciation     

Meets 1st and 3rd Tues pm
Venue On-line
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details A group for people who enjoy music and would like to have an understanding of jazz and related music. We currently have space for a few new members to join us. The group is meeting virtually during lockdown. We will listen and discuss a wide range of jazz. We will also consider other music, in particular improvised music, which has a relationship with jazz. People who love jazz but also people completely new to the music would be equally welcome.

Kitchen Table Bridge     

Meets 1st and 3rd Tuesday am
Venue On-line
Contact Ktbridge@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details Are you a occasional bridge player who would like to play with others in a sociable friendly group? If so then this could be the group for you.

Knitting & Wool Craft     

Meets 3rd Friday pm
Venue Varies
Contact Cardmake@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details For members of all abilities to enjoy a relaxed time knitting charitable items or projects that you may have started and to help each other with any issues and learn new skills. The group will restart once lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Local trips out     

Meets 1st Monday pm
Venue Varies
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details A group that will visit local places of interest via public transport or members' cars. Venues can include gardens, NT houses, museums. Members will be responsible for paying for their own admission and transport costs. Members who would like to join us and increase the number and range of outings offered would be very welcome. This group has now merged with the Local Trips group to form the Social, Cultural and Arts Visits group.

Mah-jong for Beginners     

Meets 2nd & 4th Thu am
Venue Convenor's Home
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details A short course of eight sessions to introduce you to the basics of Mah-jong. The course will include how to score and some special hands. The course will start in September - lockdown easing permitting. Spaces are limited to five!

Mah-jong for Improvers     

Meets 1st & 3rd Thu am
Venue Members Home
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details Members are invited to join this friendly group to play sociable games of Mah-jong. Anyone who has played Mah-jong before would be welcome to join us as most of us are relatively new players and are still getting to grips with scoring and high scoring "special" hands. The aim of the group is to have fun and develop our Mah-jong skills at the same time. We use the rules adopted by most U3A groups.

Maths Topics     

Meets 2nd & 4th Wed am
Venue On-line
Contact Maths@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details The aim of the Group will be to start with the current GCSE as a base level, with a view of heading towards the current A level. The content will be modified to suit the group’s interests and backgrounds. The group would welcome new members to come and join us. The group is meeting virtually during lockdown.

Modern Jive     

Meets Alternate Mondays pm
Venue Coronation Hall - map
Contact ModJive@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details A Partner Dance to modern music for all ages. A fantastic, fun way to keep fit and meet people. Easy to learn with no step sequences to memorise. No partner needed. We move you around. Absolute beginners welcome. You will be dancing some basic moves by the end of your first lesson. The group will resume once all social distancing restrictions are removed. This group runs fortnightly and alternates with the Ballroom and Latin dance group.

MOTO 1     

Meets Varies
Venue Varies
Contact Medical@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This group offers members on their own (MOTO) an opportunity to go out to local venues, meet for coffee, share meals together. The events available will depend on what members want to do and are willing to arrange. There will be a monthly planning meeting where members will contribute ideas for activities during the next few weeks.

MOTO 2     

Meets Varies
Venue Varies
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This group offers members on their own (MOTO) an opportunity to go out to local venues, meet for coffee, share meals together. The events available will depend on what members want to do and are willing to arrange.

Nature Walks     

Meets Thur 3rd pm
Venue Varies
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details Slow walks in and around Woodley taking time to enjoy what we see on the way. Stops to watch birds, identify fungi and photograph flowers, etc. Expect to spend 1½ - 2 hours and walk less than 2 miles. It may not be obvious but Woodley has an interesting range of public open spaces and good networks of footpaths. There are 2 walks a month over the same route. One will be on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Day and week of the 2nd walk will vary. Suitable for anyone wanting a little fresh air and exercise who enjoys the countryside. Please leave your pet/s at home so that they do not disturb wildlife we are watching. The group will start to meet again once social distancing restrictions are lifted.

Neurodiversity Discussion     

Meets 4th Friday pm
Venue On-line
Contact 
Details A group for the discussion of neurodiversity of any type open to people who, for whatever reason, are interested in discussing this topic. The group will meet monthly and online initially.

On-line Quiz Group     

Meets 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm
Venue On-line
Contact indgames@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details Enjoy taking part in a team quiz in the comfort and safety of your own home. All you need is a laptop, tablet or smartphone and a free copy of the Zoom app.

Painting and Drawing     

Meets Monthly
Venue On-line
Contact groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details A new group for anyone who is interested in painting and drawing.

Photography     

Meets 3rd Wed am
Venue On-line
Contact Chairman@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details The intention of the group is to encourage its members to take a wide variety of themed photos based on an agreed theme for the period, and for each of the members to review the output so we can all learn from each other. New members would be welcome. This group is meeting virtually during lockdown. The intention of the group is not to be focused on the technology of taking photos so any camera type is welcome and all levels and abilities are welcome.

Playreading     

Meets 2nd Monday pm
Venue On-line
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details Reading through a variety of plays by both well-known and lesser known authors. No dramatic performances are required! This group is meeting virtually during lockdown.

Poetry Appreciation     

Meets 3rd Wednesday pm
Venue On-line
Contact groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This is new group where members will share and discuss poems they enjoy. It will met via Zoom initially.

Poetry Writing     

Meets 2nd Tuesday
Venue On-line
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This group will meet virtually during the lockdown. It will be an informal group for people who already write poetry and want to learn more about writing poetry and for people who would like to start writing poetry. For each monthly meeting a subject would be chosen and then the group would listen to the group members’ prepared contributions. There is no right or wrong way of writing poetry as each person has their individual style, but writers would be encouraged to try different poetry forms and learn about meter, rhyming, and rhythm and to explore their uses. In addition as part of the learning process, the group would read and discuss the work of published poets.

Rummikub     

Meets 2nd Monday pm
Venue Members Home
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details An opportunity to play the popular game of Rummikub in a friendly and sociable group. Beginners as well as more experienced players are equally welcome. We currently have space for one or two more members to join us.

Scrabble     

Meets 2nd Tues pm
Venue Members Home
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details Sociable games of Scrabble for those who can already play or want to learn to play the game. The group will restart when lockdown restrictions allow.

Scrabble 2     

Meets 3rd Tuesday am
Venue Members Home
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details An opportunity to play Scrabble in a friendly and sociable group. Experienced and beginners are equally welcome to join us.

Social Cultural and Arts Visit     

Meets Varies
Venue Varies
Contact groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This is a group for people who enjoy visiting local historic houses, gardens, galleries and museums with other u3a members. The trips are usually in the local area but may include visits to places further afield such as London or Oxford if members propose trips further afield. The range of trips in the programme will depend on the group members’ interests and their willingness to organise trips. The convenors will provide support for anyone offering to organise a visit. This group combines two existing groups – local Trips and Gallery visits as the membership and the places to visit regularly overlap.

Spanish conversation     

Meets Thursday am
Venue On-line
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This new group is for people who would like to use very basic Spanish to practise conversing in the language. One or two more members would be welcome. The group will be meeting virtually during the lockdown.

Sunday Lunches     

Meets 1st Sun and 3rd Sun pm
Venue On-line
Contact slunches@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details The group will visit local eating places to enjoy a sociable Sunday meal. This group is particularly suitable for members on their own. Members will pay for their own meal and drinks. This group is now meeting on-line to chat over lunch but hopes to resume face-to-face meet-ups as lockdown eases.

Textile Crafts     

Meets 2nd and 4th Wed pm
Venue On-line
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details The Textile Crafts group encompasses a wide variety of projects that can be created in fabric. Members bring their own interests and skills to the party and we all learn from each other. While needlework of all kinds is the norm, new ideas and crafts are welcomed – if you can make it with textiles, we’ll give it a go. All levels are welcome and more experienced members will offer help and support when they are able to.

Ukulele     

Meets Alternate Thursdays pm
Venue On-line
Contact Ukulele@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This group is meeting virtually during lockdown. The group will offer the opportunity to sing and play the ukulele in a small group for personal enjoyment and possible amateur performance. Participants will be given the chance to learn the instrument from scratch as well as develop and contribute their musical knowledge, working from strum-along songs to more sophisticated arrangements. This will be very much dependent on the group’s abilities and interests. The group would welcome more members to come and join us.

Virtual Galleries Visits     

Meets 4th Saturday pm monthly
Venue On-line
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details This group goes on virtual visits to art galleries around the world using internet resources that may include virtual tours, videos and articles. More members are welcome to join us. This group was set up in response to lockdown but may continue afterwards if there is demand.

Walking For Pleasure     

Meets 3rd Wed am
Venue Varies
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details Circular walks of up to 6 miles in the local areas using well used footpaths and routes in a small and friendly group. The walks will be at a moderate pace but may involve some short climbs and stiles so members should ensure they are fit enough to do the walk.

Walking with Cameras     

Meets 2nd Fri am
Venue Varies
Contact Groupsco@woodleyu3a.org.uk
Details The group is open to anyone who enjoys walking and taking photographs. All abilities would be welcome and you would not need to have a fancy DSLR camera - anything goes even a camera phone. The walks would end at a pub so members can enjoy a pub lunch together. The group would welcome new members.