Teignmouth & District

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Teignmouth & District u3a Groups

art app     

Details We aim to be a friendly, sociable group with a shared passion for artists and paintings. We hear about up to 3 artists and see their paintings at the same time. Members can share their presentations in whatever way they choose. It is all very friendly and informal and we share our thoughts on the art work during the presentations. We have worked our way through the alphabet and are now exploring various themes such as Interwar artists and Aboriginal art. What a wonderful way to discover new paintings and the reasons why our friends enjoy them! We break for tea or coffee and biscuits and a further chat about the artwork we have seen or share our knowledge about any good exhibitions that are on. We also plan trips to art galleries and the Teignmouth Open Studios.

Bible Questions and Answers     

Details Everything you wanted to know about the Bible but were afraid to ask. From big topics such as "Why does God allow suffering?" or "Why did God command such violence in the Old Testament" to specifics such as "What does the Bible say about Heaven and hell?" - we love trying to find answers, especially from a scholarly, theological point of view. You are welcome to come along for a taster session - £1 to cover insurance and room hire.

Birdwatching     

Details Walks in various Devon locations to discover local birds. No prior experience/expertise in birdwatching required, though access to binoculars is essential. Most walks are 2 to 3 miles in length, on footpaths and tracks. Maximum group size 13, reserved on a first come-first reserved basis, following notification 2 weeks before the walk.

Book Club 1     

Details Running continuously every month since October 2019, even through Lockdown (where we learnt a huge amount about Zoom) we are a small group of U3A members with a shared interest in reading and sharing our thoughts about the books we read. Some of the group’s books have been easy, others less so, but it is always interesting to listen to another person’s take on a book.

Book Club International     

Details This is the "Around the World in 80 books" group. As of March 2024 we have read 47 books since we started in 2020, taking us to over 50 different destinations. If you love world literature, translated works, travel writing, or exploring the world through books, this may be the book group for you.

Book Group 2     

Details This is an evening group, meeting at 7.15pm in a private location.The book choices are selected by each member in turn, thus opening up the opportunity for a wider inclusion of the rich literary melting pot, which is available to us! It is hoped that the informality of this arrangement, will also promote a friendly and socially enjoyable experience. BOOKS TO DATE: 10/05/22: Mr Loverman by Bernadine Evaristo 14/06/22: A Perfectly Good Man by Patrick Gale 26/09/22: Grace and Mary by Melvyn Bragg 24/10/22: Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens 28/11/22: All The Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr 23/01/23: If nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things, by Jon McGregor 27/02/23: The Salt Path, by Raynor Wynn 27/03/23: Blackberry Wine, by Joanna Harris 24/04/23: A single Thread, by Tracy Chevalier 22/05/23: Violetta by Isobel Allende 26/06/23: The Noise of Time, by Julian Barnes 24/07/23: The Windsor Knot, by SJ Bennett 28/08/23: Dead Air, by Iain Banks 25/09/23: A Man Called Ove, by Frederik Backman 23/10/23: The Gift of Stones, by Jim Cace 27/11/23: Demon Copperhead, by Barbara Kingsolver 22/01/24: The Thin Paths, by Julia Blackburn 26/02/24: Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus 18/03/24: The Emperor, by Ryszard Kapuscinski

Bridge: beginners     

Details This group is for members who have never played bridge or who are very inexperienced. The Tutor is Doug a u3a member. The current course has been running for 14 weeks with up to 14 students. On 4th April we took in new students to run a "latecomers" course alongside the original people. Places on that course is now full. It is hoped that a new course will start in the Autumn. If you are interested in that please sign up in this Group

Bridge: improvers     

Details We provide tuition and practice for members who can play bridge and wish to improve. Currently the group includes members covering a range of skills in the game; some have not played for several years, others have never learned formally. A very relaxed and informal environment. Meets every Thursday PM at 1400

BSL (British Sign Language)     

Details This group will begin to meet in September 2023 for 10 sessions. Holcombe Village Hall 4thTuesday in the month 11.30-13.00

Campervan Capers     

Details Set up for members with campervans or motorhomes to meet up and chat about anything campervan related. We will share favourite venues and events, discuss pros and cons of various equipment , delve into problems and organise group trips away. In 2023, the group had five trips away in the South West Region.

Climate Action     

Details Climate change has been termed the greatest challenge human societies face in the 21st century. The world’s scientists are imploring policy makers to decarbonise all human activities. Teignbridge has declared a ‘climate emergency’. What does all this mean? Do we care? How can we as individuals respond?

Coffee & Chat (Virtual)     

Details Friendly, informal group meeting weekly (but NOT on the second Tuesday in the month) via Zoom. Please contact Ruth for log in details

Creative Writing     

Details We do writing exercises in the group to trigger ideas for fiction writing, and focus on various topics like dialogue, character, building tension etc, first learning about it, then practising our skills. We communicate mainly through our Whatsapp group but there is also a group email for sharing work. Parking can be difficult as it is restricted to residents. Parking outside my house is free for an hour. Contact Lucy 07515 630530

Cycling     

Details The aim of this friendly group is to improve our fitness gently whilst enjoying the beautiful countryside we are blessed to live in. We would love new members to join us.

Dance/Movement     

Details This is not an attempt to emulate “Strictly” but to give the opportunity to try some simple steps in Ballroom, Line Dancing, National Dance (UK/ Israeli/ Balkans etc) gentle Keep Fit to music, maybe Tap Dance, Salsa and even some Laban Dance. It will be different every time and is for fun rather than performance.

Dartmoor Way Challenge     

Details We formed as a sub group of the Nordic Walking group who wanted more strenuous walks and it was suggested we complete the 108 mile Dartmoor Way in 6 mile(ish) sections. We commenced April 2022 and are unlikely to complete the whole route till mid 2024. New members welcome and use of poles is optional

Day Trippers     

Details Fancy a day trip? Whether you’d like to explore more of the local area - or venture further afield - this group could be for you. All group members will be asked to organise or help with the organisation of a trip. Where we go and what we do is entirely down to whatever our members want to organise.

Discussion Group 1     

Details A relaxed and friendly group who meet to discuss subjects which may be lighthearted, serious, political, controversial, philosophical, current affairs or anything else. No topic is off limits unless the group chooses to ban it. We usually select at least one subject in advance so those who wish to will have a month to gather information and their thoughts about it I lead, hopefully with a light touch, to make sure that everyone can hear and be heard, and that no one dominates any subject.

Discussion Group 2     

Details We meet every month. The subjects for discussion are agreed by the members of the Group in advance although there is the opportunity to add the issues of the day. To date we have had a mix of serious and light hearted subjects There is no charge but each member should be prepared to purchase a drink in the cafe.

Dog Walkers     

Details This group has been set up to connect dog walkers who might like to get together with others and their dogs for interesting long or short walks. We are looking forward to seeing anyone who would like to meet other dog walkers for a sociable and friendly walk, and there might even be coffee or cake at the end! We will contact each other by WhatsApp, so if you would like to start a walk, just message the group to see who is free to join you! The WhatsApp group contact number is 07479 382388, do get in touch if you would like to join us.

Explorers Walking Group     

Details Moderate walks around 7 miles. The start point, general route and distance are 'mapped out' by the walk leader, and then all group members are encouraged to participate in route finding and map reading during the walk. This allows some flexibility to extend or shorten a walk, depending on weather conditions on the day. It also offers the opportunity for members with little or no map-reading experience to become familiar with using OS maps whilst walking with the group.

French for Fun     

Details A mixed group of individuals who want to develop their French language skills, we range from those who have slightly more than (but maybe a bit rusty) basic French to those more confident with French conversation. The key is being mutually supportive with lots of laughter, starting off together then breaking into smaller groups for fun activities.

Games     

Details An eclectic group of people who enjoy table top games…of all sorts. We currently play bridge, canasta and occasional scrabble. You may also want to bring your own game, and introduce something new to the group! All comer’s are welcome, whether you can play or not…we will be happy to help you learn a new game.

Gardening     

Details A group for all things gardening... sharing ideas, help, advice and plants. Visits to gardens and anything else members would like to do which are gardening. During the winter months we will have flower arranging, making table decorations and wreaths

Genealogy     

Details Are you interested in investigating and/or recording your family history? Enjoy comparing your research experience with others? Meetings offer the opportunity to assist with finding relevant details, to discuss your difficulties and perhaps identify new sources to assist. Plus generally researching newly available found details and information.

German     

Details An opportunity to practise German and explore German-speaking cultures in a friendly environment.Beginners group meet at 9.30a.m. using Talk German 1 BBC course and other materials, until 10.30 am ,with Intermediate starting at 10.30am and a more advanced group meeting at 11.30 a.m.until 12.30 p.m.(or later by arrangement eg if viewing a film) discussing a variety of issues in German. Please contact Karen to join any of thèse groups so she can help you be allocated to the most appropriate one. We meet at Karen's home ( in her garden when fine) on the same Tuesdays of every month, to learn or improve our German and learn more about the German-speaking cultures (including Austria, Switzerland and Namibia).

Happy Art     

Details Are you interested in painting in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere? Happy Art is aimed at both total beginners and those with some ability/ experience. No pressure to produce something ‘good’ – feel free to create a masterpiece or a mess! Chat, laugh, have fun and help each other. Experiment with colour, different media and styles. If the group is full, please put your name on the waiting list if you would like to join and/or email Tricia

Helping Hands     

Details Our u3a is always looking for members to help with social events, monthly meetings, and general admin/IT support. This can be on a one-off basis or a more regular commitment - it's up to you! We also receive requests from other local community organisations who need extra volunteers to help with a special event or project. Members acted as stewards at the Teign Maritime Shanty Festival and have litter-picked to 'Keep Britain Tidy'.

Horse Riding     

Details TBC

Local History     

Details Members research and present historical themes which are specific to Teignmouth. Subjects are varied and can be linked to any aspect of life. In recent months we have had presentations on-Keats in Teignmouth, the French invasion, the History of St James Church,Teignmouth pubs both past and present, the Shaldon Bridge, Teignmouth in World War 2 and the history of the Morgan Giles boatyard.We have a good and varied schedule for the remainder of the year There is a £1 charge per member towards the room hire

Monday Movers walking group     

Details We originally had a fitness trainer guiding us and encouraging us to improve our fitness and when that finished we decided to continue to meet. We like to start the week off with a brisk walk of 4-5 miles each Monday. We have recently increased the group numbers to include more people. Each member is encouraged, to chose a walk so anyone who wants to, can plan or share their favourite walk.

Motor Manics     

Details For enthusiasts that are interested in classic cars, motorsport and motorcycles. Whether your interest is owning, driving, spectating or simply sharing knowledge and information. Our regular meetings (usually whilst enjoying a coffee or tea and cake) will be tailored to reflect members interests. We also organise day trips to places of interest, for example Classic Car Shows, Motor Museums etc.

Needle and Natter     

Details We welcome all needlecrafts: knitting, embroidery, cross stitch, felting, crochet ... Join us to chat, socialise and learn from each other

Nordic Walking     

Details We walk in various local locations and welcome new members. You will need a set of poles and we can explain the techniques to maximise the health benefits of Nordic walking. All abilities catered for and we have 2 spare sets of poles to loan to beginners and nordic pole tuition/ refresher training is available by arrangement over winter when group walks usually cease (Nov-Feb)

Parkwalk     

Details Parkwalk is part of Parkrun, a national, and international, free, fun and friendly weekly 5k community event. Our local Parkrun/ Parkwalk takes place every Saturday morning at 9am on Teignmouth Promenade. The u3a group is a place for members to make contact with each other if they would like to take part, and we meet at about 8:50 in front of The Captain's Table. A WhatsApp group allows us to contact each other to find out who, if anyone, will be walking on any given Saturday. There is no requirement or expectation that anyone will take part every week, or obligation to finish the full course after starting it. Our idea is that we will walk (or you may wish to jog some of it!) the 5k (roughly 3 mile) level, sea-front course at our own pace, often in the company of fellow u3a members. It is free to join Parkrun but you will need to register with them - go to parkrun.org.uk and then 'register' - to take part fully. You bring your barcode with you each time you attend and it will be scanned as you finish to record your time. After the event will meet at The Riviera Tearooms for a well-earned drink and a catch-up!

Photography     

Details If you have an interest in any area of this broad topic please get in touch

Pilates     

Details Meets fortnightly outdoors from May till end September and weekly indoors all year. After qualified instruction in 2020/2021 the group continues on a self led basis. New members will require an induction before joining the group if they have not done any Pilates before.

Pilates: beginners     

Details This group is now full. Sessions will be held on: 16 April 2024 23 April 2024 30 April 2024 7 May 2024 14 May 2024

Pilates: beginners 2     

Details This group is now full. Sessions will be held on: 4 June 2024 11 June 2024 18 June 2024 25 June 2024 2 July 2024

Real Ale Appreciation     

Details We meet each Thursday and occasionally organise trips to visit breweries and/or other local pubs.

Repairs R Us     

Details Purpose of the Group: 1. To repair broken/faulty items brought in by U3A members so far as possible by members of the group. 2. To exchange and enhance knowledge about repairing items. 3. Teach and assist U3A members to repair and maintain objects they own. 4. To be a social group of people with similar interests (e.g. they dislike waste of repairable goods).Assemble in the Scrummies Cafe- then move to our room.

Russian Studies     

Details To include language, history and current affairs.

Sea Swimming     

Details Meeting Wednesday weekly in summer and at least monthly over winter on Teignmouth beach. In the summer frequency and location increases meeting at various coves along the coast including breakfast barbecues and sunset swims. A WhatsApp group will organise details inc changes for weather, tide, location etc. All abilities welcome. Wetsuits recommended in colder weather when we meet 1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month

Shanty Crew     

Details If you enjoy it, and want to join the group, you can add your name on the Members' Portal, or let us know when you are there and we can do it for you. SPIRIT OF THE SHANTY CREW:- We get together mainly to have fun - skill levels being largely unimportant. We are not aiming at musical perfection. We will keep any comments positive and constructive. We are not particularly interested in performing in front of audiences but may do so by consensus. There are often a large amount of harmony lines / grunts / shouts which may fit well into most shanties. Feel free to try a harmony /grunt / shout if it occurs to you at any stage. We can all make constructive suggestions about the songs but as a song acquires its own leader, that leader has final say on any changes. No one has to take part in performances unless they wish to do so, but if they would like to be involved it will be necessary for them to come to rehearsals.

Share IT     

Details A group aimed at helping members gain confidence in using IT as well as address specific application issues or problems when using their phones, tablets, laptops or desktops. Focus is on Apple products iPhone and iPad inparticular.

Singing for Pleasure     

Details An informal group of mixed voices sharing the enjoyment of singing together. We meet outside in the Orchard, Mules Park until the end of the September, and thennmeet at Holcombe Village Hall during the winter. This group will evolve by choosing music to please as many of the group as possible. It will not be giving performances.

Spanish beginners     

Details The beginners Spanish group is starting on Wednesday 5th April 2023. We will be using the book BBC Talk Spanish 1 and learning some basic conversational Spanish

Spanish post beginners     

Details This group is for those who know some Spanish and would like to continue. We have worked our way through the BBC books Talk Spanish 1 & 2 and we are doing some revision of the topics we've covered.

Speak Easy     

Details A group evolving from play reading to also include poetry, stories, and articles. If you enjoy sharing all types of reading material, having a great chat about anything and everything, sharing lots of laughter, then join us in this relaxed approach to sharing the spoken word.

Strollers Walking Group     

Details We have three levels of walk; Easy - approx. 3 miles, sometimes with gentle inclines (4th Tuesday) Medium - 3 to 5 miles, which may include steeper inclines (3rd Friday) ‘Strollers with Stamina’ - 5 to 7 miles, which can include steep inclines at a faster pace (3rd Friday). The details of the walks are emailed to group members.

Table Tennis     

Details All levels welcome to this newly formed, fun group! Please bring your own bat if you have one, but don't worry if you don't as we will have a couple of spares.

Teign Tunesmiths     

Details New members are guaranteed a warm welcome from our friendly group of singers and instrumentalists. You don't have to be an accomplished musician to join us. All you need is a love of making music together with others and a willingness to commit. This is because we come up with our own arrangements, including harmonies, so it really helps if you can attend regularly. That said, we provide scores and audio files for most of the songs we sing, so it's easy to catch up at home if you miss a session. We cover a range of styles, reflecting the interests of our members, from folk and blues to popular classics. Some of our songs are relatively easy to learn, others present more of a challenge. Drop in for a taster session, and if you like what we do, become a member. It's lot of fun!

Tennis     

Details For players of all standards.....coaching available for anyone wanting to 'get back into the game’. Contact Val for details. .. We arrange for four people to play at any time which suits them. Everyone is welcome and groups are arranged in advance.

Theatre Goers     

Details Our aim is to support productions by amateur dramatic societies as well as professional touring companies, and 'live screenings'. Members arrange to book tickets for productions using WhatsApp.

Theology & Philosophy     

Details We have been meeting every month since November 2019 and respectfully discuss all aspects of both genres, appreciating the diversity of our beliefs and backgrounds. After "Afterlife", "Bethlehem?", "Confucius", "Darwin/Evolution", "Fundamentalism", "God and the Goddesses", "Heaven and Hell","Identity", "Judaeism", "Knowledge", "Light", "Mary Magdalene". we move on to "Nietzche" on 27 March, "Orthodox" on 24 April and "Palestine" on 22 May, then a topic beginning with Q on 26 June 2024

True Crime     

Details A friendly and informal group where every aspect of the criminal justice system is open for discussion. Members come 'armed' with issues that have caught their attention in the previous month, supplemented by pre-arranged topics covering what happens from crime to conviction (or not!).

Ukulele     

Details We have been playing together for about 9 months, meeting on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at Holcombe village hall. There are generally 8-10 players, some of whom were total beginners. We play for fun and have a laugh while we are learning. We play for an hour and a half, which gives us time for a chat, and tips on improving our playing. We are learning several songs including ‘Eight days a week’ ‘Wonderful World’ ‘Don’t worry be happy’ ‘Jamaica farewell’ and ‘Hello Mary Lou’. New members are welcome, whether a beginner or an experienced player. If you do want to join, come along and sit in, before buying an instrument, as we can advise you what to buy

Walking Netball     

Details We are already meeting once a week to learn some basic skills and rules. We are also visiting an established club in Exeter to watch and learn from the AENA development officer for the area. From Thursday 18th January to the end of April we will play on the covered court at Trinity School. The cost is £2 per session.

Wine Safari     

Details The idea for this new group is to 'visit' different countries to enjoy wine-tasting and regional food.

Wobbly Walkers     

Details These walks are intended for members who like to get out for some gentle exercise and enjoy a chat at the same time, hopefully fitting in a refreshment stop too. They are no more than 2 miles, but often less as we vary the walks to be suitable for those taking part on the day. We avoid inclines as far as is possible in Devon! Well-behaved dogs are welcome on a short lead please.

Yummies     

Details A new 'pop up' group. Enthusiastic fellow u3a Foodies eating out together with a taste of the mystery shopper. Active in October & November and February to April 2023/24. If you like eating out and meeting people - this is the group for you.

zCommunications Team     

Details Sub-Committee meets on the first Monday of March, June, September and December.

zGroup Support Team     

Details Sub-Committee meets quarterly on the first Monday in February, May, August and November.

zGS General Studies     

Details Group Support - General Studies. This post is set up to help Group Leaders deal with any problems they might have while running their group. If I don’t know the answer, I will try and find out for you. Chris Edmonds

zGS Outdoor Pursuits     

Details Group Support - Outdoor Pursuits

zGS Social Activities     

Details Group Support- Social Activities..Convenor June Snell

zNew Groups Support     

Details 

zReserved Seats     

Details Group to support accessibility arrangements. Please contact Wendy Viner for further information.

zSocial Events Team     

Details Members of the team arrange social events, and assist with organising Members' Coffee Mornings. They provide refreshments at our monthly General Open Meetings and ensure new members and visitors are made welcome.