Roger is the Subject Adviser for Canva, and first joined u3a over 30 years ago. He helped set up Bourne End & District u3a, becoming its first Chair. Now, he runs regular online Canva courses as part of Interest Groups Online and for u3a regions across the country.

What is AI?

Artificial intelligence, or AI, is technology that can do things we usually associate with human intelligence. It can spot patterns, process information and carry out tasks that seem to involve understanding and reasoning.

AI does not work in the same way as the human brain. It learns from large amounts of data and uses patterns in that data to produce an answer or carry out a task. Although seemingly having human-like intelligence, today’s AI systems are not conscious and they do not have a sense of self.

There are several different types of AI:

• Large language model (LLM) - examples include ChatGPT, Gemini and Claude. These systems are trained using very large amounts of text and other information. They learn patterns in language and use them to produce human-like answers to our questions. Some can search the internet or use other sources to provide up-to-date information.
• AI agent - we can give an AI agent a goal and allow it to take a series of steps to achieve that goal. Depending on how it has been designed, the agent may plan tasks, use computer tools, search for information and check its own progress. AI agents can be useful, but they also need careful controls. If they are badly designed or poorly supervised, they may take actions we did not intend. It is these systems that have been in the news recently - and not in a good way!
• AI systems designed for particular jobs - for example, they may create images from written descriptions, produce reports, recognise speech, analyse data or write computer programs. Some are built for one specific purpose. Others use a general AI model, such as a large language model, as their foundation.

AI and u3a

There is a great deal of interest in AI in the u3a movement. A number of local u3a’s have AI interest groups, and there are several national and online groups. The national groups include:

• AI for Everyone (National Subject Network) - this is the flagship national project team within u3a, composed of volunteer members and overseen by the National AI Subject Advisor. The network runs nationwide online learning events, curates extensive AI for Everyone Libraries filled with presentation materials, manages a monthly AI newsletter, and supports members who want to start their own local AI interest groups.
• AI for u3a AI Agitators - operating under u3a’s Interest Groups Online (IGO), this group meets over Zoom, and is specifically tailored for regular users and leaders who want to raise AI awareness, share teaching resources, and help launch classes.

How I use AI

I spend a lot of time on my computer - writing text such as this, creating designs for cards, posters, presentations etc - and I use AI to assist me with these tasks.

For example, I used AI to help write this article - generating some of the information, and checking the accuracy of the finished result. Not only does it improve what I do, it saves me a lot of time.

We’ve recently set up a new interest group at our u3a - “Science and the Natural World”. I needed a spreadsheet to keep a record of income and expenditure. I could have created this myself, but it was much quicker and easier to ask AI to do it.

I will be giving a short talk on AI at our first meeting, so I used AI to create this title slide to be shown on the screen.

AI can help create copyright-free visuals for presentations and other materials.

Is there a downside of AI?

Like all technology aids - washing machines, dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, satnavs, etc - AI improves our quality of life, but it can make us lazy. And in the case of our brains, this can be a problem.

We no longer bother to map-read as our satnavs will direct us. I didn’t bother to create the spreadsheet as AI did it for me. And this means my brain is doing less, which may result in it becoming less agile.

I asked ChatGPT if this was the case, that using AI could harm my brain. This was its response - “My honest answer is: it could, if you let me do all the thinking for you. But if you use me as a partner to challenge your thinking, improve your writing and test your ideas, I believe you can use AI without sacrificing your mental agility - and may even strengthen some of your skills.”

Discover endless opportunities in retirement with u3a.

Find your nearest u3a

u3a.org.uk/latest-news/friend-…

IGO October 26 News Extra

As the days grow shorter and autumn colours begin to appear, it's a lovely time to settle down with a cuppa and enjoy your favourite online groups, wherever you are.

We've got lots of new groups starting this month, so why not take a look and see if there's something new you'd like to try?

Don't forget, we always love to hear from IGO members about what they've been up to in their groups. If you have something you'd like to share in a future newsletter, please email interestgroupsonline@u3a.org.uk.

Helen Titherington, Trust Volunteer – IGO News Extra Editor

New Groups

New Groups

• Songs of the 60s and 70s
• 20th century world wars
• Northern soul
• Improv-advanced and formats
• Singer song writers' music group
• The Victorian novel book group
• Current affairs: an enquiring approach
• Creative writing
• Electric folk and folk rock
• Island grooves: the best of reggae
• The inner groove: the dynamics of a song
• Restart your writing

Join all groups via Beacon

New Group – Songs of the 60s and 70s

In this group, each member attending the Zoom session will be invited to request a song from the 60s or 70s. We will then listen to it via the leader Diana's Spotify account. After that, we will chat about it.

At each session, the song length and chatting time are variable – sometimes the attendees will have one or two requests each; sometimes there may not be enough time for everyone to have a request.

A fun way to listen to music together.

first Monday of the month at 7.30 pm

Join via Beacon

New group - 20th century world wars

The group will look at the 20^th century's two world wars. Whilst focusing on the military aspects, we will consider the wider social, economic and political aspects. These conflicts have shaped the world we live in.
The group seeks participants with an interest and enthusiasm for 20^th century history. No prior expertise is expected other than a desire to learn together.

Once a month, TBA.

Join via Beacon

New group - Northern Soul

Northern Soul is a music and dance movement that emerged in Northern England and the Midlands in the early 1970s. It developed from the British Mod scene, based on a particular style of Black American Soul music with a heavy beat and fast tempo. It also had its own dress style. It is still very much alive today.

If you are one of the Northern Soul Faithful or just want to hear some amazing music, then this group is for you...

2^nd Tuesday at 2:00 pm

Join via Beacon

Northern soul at the Palais de Danse CC BY-NC 2.0, via Affective Digital Histories

New group - Improv: advanced and formats

This group is for Improv at a more Advanced Level. I already run Improv workshops at Interest Groups Online for ... Improv – Beginners & Practice ... + ... Improv – Intermediates & Scenes.

This new group will allow us to take our Improv to a higher level and provide focus on Improv Formats, including the well-known Armando and Harold Formats.

Time and day TBA.

Join via Beacon

New group – Singer song writers' music group

We will explore all the amazing Singer-Songwriters we have first in the UK, then spread our wings to cover the World. There are some truly outstanding Singer-Songwriters to explore. Eric Clapton; Adele; Lilly Allen; Joan Armatrading; Gary Barlow; James Blunt; and Kate Bush, to name just a few. This will be a really great exploration of their works.

3^rd Wednesday at 10:00 am.

Join via Beacon

New group – The Victorian novel book group

First Book: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.

Step back into the 19^th century with us from the comfort of your own home! This online group is for anyone who enjoys—or wants to discover—the rich storytelling of the Victorian era. We will meet once a month on Zoom for a series of 8 or 9 sessions to discuss classic literature in a friendly, relaxed setting. We will kick off our journey with Charles Dickens’ dramatic masterpiece, A Tale of Two Cities. Our early reading list will also include George Eliot's Middlemarch and Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge. Beyond these opening titles, members will help choose the rest of our reading list together. Whether you are revisiting old favourites or reading them for the very first time, all are welcome.

3^rd Monday at 11:00 am.

First meeting on 16th November.

Join via Beacon

New group – Current affairs

We seem at present to have a public appetite for social improvement in the UK, but so often the question arises of where is the money to pay for it? There must be ways forward, but they are not simple and need a lot of thought and investigation of possibilities. There are strong disagreements in the political sphere on the best way forward for the economy. The big question is: what kind of society do we want to live in? Join in to what I hope will be an informed exploration!

We will meet once a month. We might have a monthly two-meeting cycle of outlining the problem in the first meeting, going away to investigate it, and then discussing what we have found in the second meeting. We'll decide the format as a group.

Timing to be arranged.

Join via Beacon.

New group – Creative writing

Join our new monthly writing group — a friendly space for poetry, memoir, fiction and all forms of creative expression. We offer gentle prompts, quiet writing time, and supportive feedback to help you get started or keep going. Everyone has a story. Come and share yours.

There’s time to write in the session and time to share work you’ve developed at home. Beginners and experienced writers are equally welcome. Sharing is always optional, and you can write in any way that suits you.

If you’d like a welcoming community to encourage your writing life, we’d love to have you with us.

4^th Wednesday of the month at 3:00 pm.

Join via Beacon.

New group – Electric folk and folk rock

A group for those with a love of, or interest in learning about, electric folk/folk rock. Encompassing long-standing bands such as Steeleye Span and Fairport Convention through to modern artists who are exploring the boundaries of this genre, such as the Gigspanner Big Band and solo performers.

Time and date TBC.

Join via Beacon.

Brian Marks, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

New group – Island grooves – the best of reggae

The one thing I’ve noticed about the excellent U3A Interest Groups Online is the lack of Reggae. I, for one, really enjoy listening to Reggae but sadly haven’t much intimate knowledge of the Genre. Something I would love to change and grow my knowledge and enjoyment of this fabulous music.

So, if you are interested in Reggae and would like to get involved with an IGO covering this fabulous music then please register.

Our first meeting will be on Friday 23^rd October at 10:00 am. Registered members will be sent the Zoom link closer to the time. I will also be asking for your choice of a track or two that we can listen to and enjoy.

Looking forward to seeing you at our first meeting.

4^th Friday of the month at 10:00 am.

Join via Beacon.

New group – Restart your writing

Are you not sure that you can write something that others will want to read? Or have you ideas or beginnings of work that you are going to write one day? This group will help you share your ideas and help with your work. Let others hear your voice!

Go to the Beacon Members Portal to join and get details of when the sessions will take place.

Join via Beacon.

New group – The inner groove: the dynamics of a song

An online interest group that brings u3a members together to listen to landmark songs, explore the DNA of iconic tracks, and share memories and musical insights in a relaxed setting with no prior musical background required. The genre and age can be very wide, but the concept is to pick important or interesting songs that innovated at the time.

The structure would be 3 songs per session analysed under the following headings:

• Why this song?
• Innovative idea(s)
• Narrative of the lyrics
• Cultural impact
• Musical Structure

We will also split the song into separate tracks (stems) to see how each track adds to the overall sound, looking at, for instance, the vocal and rhythm tracks, lead instruments and others.

Finally, we will consider the role the recording process played, such as the studio, producer and the quality of the recording.

(The term Inner Groove refers to the famous hidden audio loop at the end of The Beatles album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.)

Meeting times and frequency TBA.

Join via Beacon.

u3a Rewind – share the soundtrack of your youth!

Music has always been a big part of IGO, and with more than 30 music groups now running, it's clear that IGO has become a real home for music lovers! So we're particularly excited about u3a Rewind, a national project celebrating the music, memories and youth culture of the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s.

The u3a Rewind webpage features some excellent learning packs exploring the music, fashions and cultural movements of these decades, from Teddy Boys and Mods to Northern Soul, punk and New Romantics. We're especially pleased that IGO members helped to create these resources – you know who you are, and thank you! They're full of ideas for group discussions and activities, so do take a look.

But we'd also love you to get involved! Is there a song that instantly takes you back to your youth? Perhaps it reminds you of your first concert, a favourite dance hall, a summer holiday or a special person. We're inviting members to share the songs that meant something to them, along with the memories behind them. Just a few sentences can bring a moment in time back to life, and we'd love to hear your stories.

Whether you're a member of one of our many music groups or simply enjoy reminiscing about the songs of your younger days, there's something for everyone in u3a Rewind.

Explore the learning packs and share your musical memories on the u3a Rewind webpage.

Quiz time

1. In October of which 20^th century decade did Henry Ford's Model T car go on sale?
2. Which Indian was born in October 1869 – he was devout and nonviolent, and his resistance movement ended British rule over India?
3. In October 1927, the first talking picture was released – what was its title?
4. Maria Antoinette was beheaded in October 1793 – when the peasants had no bread, what did she famously declare?
5. Margaret Singer opened the first clinic of its kind in the US in October 1916 – what did it provide?
6. Who married Aristotle Onassis in October 1968?
7. Pablo Picasso was born in October 1881 in which part of Spain?
8. In October 1971, the House of Commons voted 356-244 in favour of what?
9. What linked Great Britain to Europe in October 1990?
10. Chiang Kai-Shek was born in October 1887 and died in 1975 – he led the struggle against what type of army led by Mao Zedong?

Answers at the end

Great Group Leader

I attend the psychology group led by Brenda Maciejkowicz.

I find the sessions so interesting and Brenda is very good at giving everyone a chance to express their views. She picks up on salient points raised and sends links for further study. She constantly encourages members to suggest topics of interest for future meetings, further engaging members in the group discussion.

I thoroughly enjoy these sessions – S. a group member ⭐️🌟⭐️

I would like to nominate a great group leader – Brenda Maciejkowicz, the leader of the psychology group, as being a tremendously good leader.
Very importantly, Brenda knows her subject matter very well, but on every occasion she has not been too proud to say I don’t know. But that is usually followed by BUT I will find out. And she does.
She is polite, very patient and a good communicator. I only wish some other leaders had her qualities.

Anthony - group member⭐️🌟⭐️

Recipe using my new slow cooker

Chilli con Carne

Minced beef browned off in a frying pan

Onion and garlic, Celery and green herb stalks chopped fine, softened in a pan with olive oil

Place the browned mince and the softened vegetables in the slow cooker pot, add drained red kidney beans and a pint of so of passata plus a couple or three whole medium hot chillies. Put the lid on, set to medium and cook for 3-7 hours. Serve with rice and chopped green herb leaves.

Tell us about your great group leader

We know, at Interest Groups Online, how vital our Group Leaders are, but we’d love to hear about them from you!

• Is your group leader amazing?
• How have they helped you to enjoy your group?

Please write a few lines about how they have made your time in the group really worthwhile and email interestgroupsonline@u3a.org.uk – help us celebrate our hard-working Group Leaders.

Quiz Answers

1. 1900s (1908)
2. Mahatma Gandhi
3. The Jazz Singer
4. “Let them eat cake” (although there is no evidence she actually said this)
5. Birth control and contraceptive advice
6. Jacqueline Kennedy
7. Málaga, Andalusia
8. Joining the European Economic Community (EEC)
9. The Channel Tunnel (the British and French tunnelling teams broke through in December 1990, not October)
10. The Communist Red Army, led by Mao Zedong

Back to Interest Groups Online Noticeboard

u3a.org.uk/what-we-do/learning…

From afternoon teas and anniversary picnics to ceilidhs, model railways and a very special quilt, u3as across the movement have been finding all sorts of ways to mark milestone birthdays this year.

We take a look at how nine u3as have been celebrating and reflecting on the friendships, learning and shared experiences that have shaped them along the way.

20 years together

Hammersmith & Fulham u3a used its anniversary as a chance to show the breadth of what happens at their u3a. At St Mary’s Church Hall, Bridge, Scrabble and Mahjong groups demonstrated their activities, while displays showcased everything from archaeology and arts and crafts to books, writing and language learning. The Poetry Group shared readings throughout the event.

The celebration welcomed guests including the Lady Mayor of Hammersmith & Fulham, Sharon Holder, and local MP Andy Slaughter, alongside representatives from other local organisations and u3a.

25 years of learning, friendship and fun

A quarter of a century is certainly worth marking. Evesham, South Durham and Hillingdon u3as have each found their own way to make the occasion special.

Evesham u3a has come a long way since its beginnings in November 2001. Today, it has more than 1,200 members and 90 interest groups.

For its 25th anniversary, members gathered in Abbey Park for a grand picnic. A damp start soon gave way to blue skies, with Deputy Mayor Peter Scurfield joining the occasion and meeting some of Evesham u3a’s founder members.

Evesham u3a's grand picnic in Abbey Park

There was plenty of entertainment too. Sea Shanty singers performed, the Tai Chi group gave a demonstration and the Concert Band provided music. Tim Pearce from the Shakespeare group even appeared dressed as the Bard himself, mingling with the crowd while reciting sonnets and familiar Shakespeare lines.

Hillingdon u3a has embraced its silver anniversary with activities involving groups from across the u3a. There have been special rambles following the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Walkway, a sell-out dinner and dance, and a ceilidh where even hot weather didn’t stop members taking to the dance floor.

The Creative Writing group produced an anniversary anthology, while poet Brian Atkinson wrote a special piece to mark 25 years. Members have also been testing their knowledge with a 25-question anniversary quiz. And there’s been a chance to look back too. A series of ‘How We Started’ podcasts is capturing the memories of some of Hillingdon u3a’s longest-standing members and preserving the story of how it all began in 2001.

Members of South Durham u3a

South Durham u3a began its anniversary year with an afternoon tea honouring founder members, former committee members and past Chairs.

The event brought 47 guests together at The Glass House Restaurant at Darlington College. In a fitting link to u3a’s ethos of lifelong learning, hospitality and catering students prepared the menu and helped run the occasion as they embarked on their own learning journeys.

Guests were entertained by a jazz duo, while founder member Sandy Hood – now South Durham u3a’s first Honorary Member – shared some words with the gathering. More events are planned throughout the anniversary year.

30 years and plenty still to discover

Three u3as have been marking 30-year milestones this year, each in a very different way.

White Cliffs Country u3a brought more than 100 newer and long-standing members together for afternoon tea at Walmer and Kingsdown Golf Club. Guests included Admiral Sir George Zambellas, Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and Constable of Dover Castle, and Lady Amanda Zambellas, who were presented with Honorary Memberships. Memorabilia and a timeline of the u3a’s story gave everyone a chance to look back over three decades, while the occasion also recognised the volunteers, past and present, who have helped make the u3a what it is today.

u3a Anniversary cake

At Buxton & District u3a, the Model Railway Group opened its doors to give fellow members a closer look at its intricate layout in full operation. Visitors could watch locomotives in action, explore the detailed scenery and chat to the people behind it. It was one part of a busy anniversary programme that has also included a Beetle Drive and barn dance, with a Creative Arts and Leisure Showcase still to come.

CEO Iain Cassidy, former and current u3a Chairs and Mayor of Melton Mowbray

Meanwhile, Melton Mowbray u3a brought its anniversary year to a close by putting out the bunting for 120 members and guests. Founded in 1996 with just six groups and two more in the pipeline, it now has nearly 900 members and more than 100 groups.

Its final celebration included afternoon tea, music, memories and four former Chairs joining current Chair David Ramsden. And there was one particularly local finishing touch: Third Age Trust CEO Iain Cassidy went home with his very own Melton Mowbray pork pie!

For one member, the anniversary was also a chance to reflect on what joining had meant personally: “u3a was my lifeline… I have met some wonderful people whom I am starting to call friends.”

40 years and still going strong

Sheffield and Salford u3as have both reached an impressive four decades this year.

Sheffield u3a, now with more than 3,200 members, headed to Whirlow Brook Park for a day packed with activity. Music groups kept playing even when the rain arrived, while members enjoyed walks, orienteering, art and drama sessions, a plant sale and, naturally, anniversary cake.

Cake cutting ceremony at Whirlow Brook Park

At Salford u3a, the Mayor and Mayoress joined an anniversary lunch alongside Doreen, its longest-standing member, who joined in February 1992. One of the stars of the occasion was a specially created anniversary quilt. Made by the Quilting groups, it depicts more than 50 interest groups alongside recognisable Salford scenes.

The celebrations won't end there. Groups are marking the anniversary in their own ways, with plans to bring their stories together in a ‘Salford u3a at 40’ archive for future members.

Here's to the next chapter

However they chose to mark the occasion – with a picnic, a dance, an afternoon tea, a quilt or even a pork pie – these anniversaries are about much more than the number of candles on the cake.

They are a chance to look back at the people who started each u3a, thank those who have kept them thriving and celebrate the friendships, interests and experiences members continue to share today.

Congratulations to Evesham, South Durham, Hammersmith & Fulham, Sheffield, Salford, Hillingdon, Buxton & District, Melton Mowbray and White Cliffs Country u3as! Here’s to many more years of learning, laughing and living together.

Discover endless opportunities in retirement with u3a.

Find your nearest u3a

u3a.org.uk/latest-news/celebra…

Carol, a member of Welshpool u3a who has worked with Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) since 1986, written several books on the subject and previously chaired the Association for Neuro-Linguistic Programming, shares some simple ways NLP can help us challenge negative thoughts, build confidence and embrace new experiences.

How often do you think about doing something and then decide you can’t? Sometimes we have real constraints, such as lack of time or energy, but often our minds hold us back.

If this sounds like you, then Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP for short) can help you change your beliefs about what you can do, think more positively, feel better about your capabilities and – as a result – explore, and engage in, new things with enthusiasm. NLP has been used for over 50 years in fields such as business, education, sports, health and lots more; here are some ways of using it:

Negative thoughts

If you have negative thoughts, notice if you are saying something to yourself in your head about a situation. Then, hear the same words, but in a cartoon character’s voice. You can’t take it seriously when you do that.

Learn something new

Practising in your imagination is really useful and helps develop skills. This can be applied to lots of things, such as dance steps, golf swings or starting conversations with new people.

A practical introduction to NLP techniques by Carol Harris

A beautifully illustrated children's book about friendship by Carol Harris

Confidence

Imagining people saying nice things to you, or about you, can boost how you feel. In your mind you can use all your senses to bring that imaginary scene to life with colour, movement, sound and so on. Also, changing your ‘physiology’ helps - relaxing your shoulders, breathing more deeply and smiling for example.

Communication

It’s easier to communicate with people if you’re on the same wavelength. One way of finding this out is to look for some of their personal patterns (which show up through their language and behaviour). For example, do they need lots of detail, are they very self-reliant or do they constantly want to achieve things. Each trait needs different approaches, and NLP can help you identify such patterns in yourself and other people, so you can improve your relationships.

This is only a tiny fraction of what NLP is about, and can achieve. It’s a fascinating field, can help people with all kinds of things and is well worth exploring.

Discover endless opportunities in retirement with u3a.

Find your nearest u3a

u3a.org.uk/latest-news/how-to-…

IGO September 26 News Extra

September often feels like a fresh start, and there are plenty of opportunities to try something new with Interest Groups Online this month.

We’re delighted to welcome two new additions: The Odyssey, for members who would like to explore Homer’s great epic together, and a new Canva course, offering another opportunity to discover what you can create with this popular design tool.

I hope you enjoy catching up with what’s happening and perhaps find something new to get involved in as we head into autumn.

Please send us any news or updates you’d like to share in next month’s News Extra: interestgroupsonline@u3a.org.uk

Helen Titherington, Trust Volunteer – IGO News Extra Editor

New Groups

New Groups

• 
  
  • German beginners 2
  • New Canva course
  • The Odyssey
  • Custodians of Mother Earth
  • Creating art to learn about your mind
  • The best of the 80s and 90s
  • World music
  • German fortgeschrittene

Potential Groups

Reggae

Join all groups via Beacon

New Group – German beginners 2

This group is for anyone who would like to learn German at beginners level.

We will meet for an hour, once a week, and will make use of free online learning materials. There will be a mixture of speaking, reading, grammar and games and the aim is to help each other in a friendly, supportive way, to develop our confidence with German.

Dates and times TBA

Join via Beacon

New course - Canva - starting October

The next Canva (Graphic Design) course starts on October 12th. The course sessions are twice monthly on Mondays at 4pm, and you can view the course programme here.

It covers all aspects of creating designs in Canva that are relevant to u3a members, including creating presentations, videos, websites, posters, newsletters, social nedia posts, using Canva's AI, and so on. All the course resources are available online.

Many thanks, Roger, Convenor of the IGO Canva Course

Join via Beacon

New group - Custodians of Mother Earth

Philosophical discussion group

This group is for open-minded people who enjoy exploring ideas about how we live our lives and the challenges facing society today.

Over six discussion sessions, members will consider our roles and relationships as individuals, within our communities and as part of a wider world. Each session will explore a different theme:

1. Looking at ourselves – reflecting on our lives, experiences and personal growth.
2. Supporting the next generation – considering the values and guidance we pass on.
3. Learning throughout life – exploring continuous learning and self-development.
4. Rethinking the world of work – considering the purpose of work and our wider responsibilities.
5. Sharing ideas for a better future – exchanging perspectives on how we might improve our lives and those of others.
6. Living together in a changing world – discussing some of the wider challenges facing society.

The discussions will be guided by the core values of contemplation, curiosity, consciousness, compassion, collaboration, cooperation, consensus and consent. The aim is not necessarily to agree, but to listen to different perspectives and think more deeply about the way we live.

The group will meet for six sessions of 60–90 minutes at 11am on the last Wednesday of each month (except December), beginning at the end of September.

Join via Beacon

New group - The Odyssey

Odysseus, king of Ithaca, has been away from home for twenty years, ten fighting in the Trojan War, ten lost at sea. After many adventures, he returns home to deal with 108 suitors, seeking his wife, Penelope's, hand in marriage. One of two major epic poems attributed to Homer (the other is the Iliad) it is one of the oldest surviving works of literature. Over 12109 lines, originally in Homeric Greek, the poem deals with themes of wandering, return and homecoming, guest-friendship, testing and omens.

In this group, we will work our way through the poem (in English!), discussing the themes and characters.

Dates and times TBA

Join via Beacon

New group - Creating art to learn about your mind

This is a friendly, participative group where members will draw, share what they have created and talk together about their observations and experiences. No previous drawing experience or artistic ability is needed.

To get the most from the group, you will need to be able to make intentional marks on paper using a pencil, crayon, ballpoint or felt-tip pen, and to see what you are drawing. You will also need a way of showing your drawings to the group, usually by holding them up to your Zoom camera.

Members will be encouraged to join in group discussion, so you will need to be able to mute and unmute yourself on Zoom and communicate with other members.

From time to time, members may share personal thoughts or experiences as part of the discussion. Everyone is therefore asked to respect the privacy of other members and not to share personal information or experiences outside the group.

The group is intended as a creative and supportive learning activity rather than therapy or counselling. It is not designed to provide support for someone experiencing acute emotional distress.

1st Tuesday of the month, 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

Join via Beacon

New group - The best of the 80s and 90s

The 80’s and 90’s no doubt provided some outstanding music. In this group, we will delve deep into it. We will be focusing on albums and songs of these truly amazing Decades. Think of Madonna, Dire Straits, Culture Club, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Fleetwood Mac, and even Kylie Minogue. Nothing will be left untouched as we enjoy these truly amazing times.
Members will be asked to submit tracks or albums to play and discuss each month. We will have 1½ hours to squeeze in as much fabulous music as we can.
It's going to be fabulous!

Join via Beacon

New group - World music

Each month on Zoom, group leader Diana will share recorded music tracks and videos focusing on one particular country. We will hear music which is indigenous to that country, music composed or performed by people from that country, and music about that country. No preparation by group members is needed – just relax and enjoy, and we'll have an informal chat at the end. A great opportunity to experience music from around the globe.

Join via Beacon

New group – German fortgeschrittene

Dieser Unterricht beinhaltet Lesen, Sprechen, Schreiben und Grammatikübungen.

Wir lesen Artikel, die wir online finden, Märchen und Bücher. Viel Spaß!

This class contains reading, speaking, writing and grammar exercises. We read articles we find online, fairy tales and books. Enjoy!

Join via Beacon

A group to join - Tropical fish keeping

Whether you are an experienced aquarist or completely new to the hobby, our friendly community is the perfect place to share your passion for freshwater fish.

Fish keeping is a deeply rewarding hobby that has many benefits, offering a proven way to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and bring a beautiful slice of nature into your home.

Join via Beacon

The IGO code of conduct

The Code of Conduct that we all abide by in Interest Groups Online.

Mutual respect, supporting and learning from each other and effective communication are key elements to our work. u3a staff, members, Volunteers, Trustees and Council Representatives have the right to carry out their responsibilities without being bullied or abused either verbally or physically.

We expect u3a members, Trustees, Council Representatives, Volunteers, and contractors to:

• Treat everyone with dignity and respect regardless of their age, gender, ability, race, cultural background, sexual orientation or religious belief.

• Maintain a respectful attitude towards the opinions of others.

• Act as a good role model with appropriate behaviour.

• Act in the best interest of the Third Age Trust and not do anything which may bring the Trust or the wider u3a movement into disrepute or expose it to undue risk.

• Uphold the Principles of the u3a movement.

• Promote diversity, equality, and inclusion in everything we do.

• Abide by Third Age Trust policies and procedures (as relevant to their role).

• Use the Trust’s resources responsibly and only to further its stated charitable objects/purposes.

• Reflect the current organisational policy of The Third Age Trust, regardless of whether it conflicts with personal views.

• Ensure organisational and individual confidentiality at all times.

• We expect everyone to contribute in a positive way and ask that everyone keep this Code of Conduct in mind to make the Third Age Trust a positive place to work, volunteer and be a part of.

• The Third Age Trust operates a zero-tolerance policy towards violence, harassment, bullying and sexual, religious or racial discrimination of staff, u3a members, Volunteers, Trustees, Council Representatives, contractors and the general public. If this is identified, the Trust will take appropriate action to protect the relevant parties.

• All those who are part of the u3a movement have a duty to report any safeguarding concerns either to their local u3a where it concerns a member of their own u3a, or the u3a Office if it relates to Trust Volunteers, Trustees or staff.

• If you have any queries or concerns regarding the above, please contact the Third Age Trust office: info@u3a.org.uk or telephone 020 8466 6139 (Monday to Friday, 9.30am – 4.30pm).

Additional rules for IGO

• Not to promote goods or services within meetings. Lists of resources or services may be mentioned in passing if they will be helpful to other members.

• Not to request payment for any of the activities offered by IGO.

• To treat any sensitive information shared within groups with confidence.

Quiz time

1. “Do you remember the 21st night of September? Love was changin' the minds of pretenders, While chasin' the clouds away…” this song entitled September was released in 1978, by which band with the initials E., W. and F?
2. What happened in London’s Pudding Lane in September 1666?
3. Which novel, the first by Donna Tartt, written in September 1992, can be said to epitomise the mood of early September in New England?
4. Harry Jackson in September 1902 was the first person to be convicted using what kind of evidence?
5. Which song (originally created in 1937) has these lyrics? - ‘The leaves of brown Came tumbling down, remember, In September ….?
6. Spearheaded by the Marine Conservation Society, The Great British - - - - - / - - - - - is a week long citizen science event, 18-27 September, taking place in hundreds of locations up and down the UK - Can you complete the missing words in the title?
7. “What should I write? What can I say? How can I tell you how much I miss you? The weather here has been as nice as it can be…” can you name the song title with these lyrics?
8. On what day in September is the Autumnal Equinox - the official start of autumn in the North Hemisphere?
9. His birthday is 23rd September and three of his best known songs are ‘Born in the USA’ ‘Dancing in the Dark’ and ‘My hometown’ amongst many other hits - can you name him?
10. In what decade of the 20th Century was the film pictured released?

Answers at the end

The Old Man of Soul: a love of music

I stumbled upon u3a. Someone mentioned it on a Facebook music page I followed which piqued my interest. I then asked the question on my HiFi Dealers Facebook Forum page, of which I’m very much involved and to my surprise, several members said that they were u3a members and loved it.

This was enough for me to delve deeper. I liked what I saw. In particular, the IGO, Interest Groups Online part. I noticed that there are many varied music groups so decided to sign up and join them to see what it was all about.

My interest in music began at an early age when I heard the odd Motown track on the radio. Radio Caroline was bringing Soul and Motown to the UK, and I used to listen to it in my room. The only other comparison was my elder brother listening the Beatles. ALL. THE. TIME. Drove me nuts.

I joined the Army as a boy Soldier at 15 ½ and my first real Posting was to Berlin where my friends’ secured tickets to the best concert I have ever seen, I’ve now seen hundreds. That concert was James Brown, and he was at his peak. As a young lad from Yorkshire I’d never seen anything like it and it became engrained in my brain and cemented my love for all things Soul, Motown, R&B and of course, Funk.

Over the next decade I had a few music related weird moments. The first being in the late 70’s when after a successful tour as an instructor teaching Jungle Warfare with Training Team Brunie, I was on my way home and on a stopover in Hong Kong, visited the then famous bar/club called Ned Kellys Last Stand and heard an absolutely gorgeous song which was Native New Yorker by Odyssey. I had to have it and bought the album as soon as I got home.

The second was even more weird. In 1979 I was in Rhodesia as part of the Cease Fire Monitoring Force and stayed on after they gained independence and became Zimbabwe, Running a battle camp for the new Zimbabwe Army. One day whilst driving along I went through Fort Victoria, a one-horse town. I noticed a green fronted café and decided to stop for some fresh food and a decent brew. Wasn’t supposed to as it was still very volatile. When I got inside, I noticed they had a record player, and they started to play some fabulous music. When I enquired, it was Change and the album was The Glow of Love. I had to have it and at great expense bought the album from them. They definitely saw me coming. I then wrapped it in towels in my Bergan (Rucksack) and there it stayed for several months until I got back home to clean it and play it. Loved it ever since.

More recently, some 3-4 years prior to retirement I decided to upgrade my HiFi game and ditched the B&O stuff for serious HiFi components. By the time I retired in 2024, November, my stereo was in a fine place, and I could now play my music as often as I wanted instead of just when I had an odd day off from work.

After I found u3a and saw what other music groups were doing I noticed a lack of Soul being played so set up the Group Soul Train, which I’m not only very proud of but is going extremely well. There is a fabulous bunch of members who all very actively join in. More recently I’ve started ‘Best of the 80’s and 90’s and also asked for a ‘Potential’ group to be listed to test interest called ‘Island Vibes: The best of Reggae. Hoping that one kicks off soon as I really want to further my knowledge of Reggae. I’d like to add also that the training new group leaders receive is absolutely brilliant making the whole process very easy and pain free. Big thanks to Alison and Catherine for putting up with my constant bombardment of questions. Appreciated.

To sum up. If anyone is on the fence about joining u3a, don’t be. Sign up now. It’s certainly added some great fun and excitement to my life and of course, I’ve met some truly brilliant people as well.

Roger

The Old man of Soul

Best practice for screen names when in a Zoom meeting

1. In IGO you should ensure your screen is labelled with your full name OR your first name and IGO membership number
2. If you have Zoom installed on your device - find your profile then choose Display Name to enter your name
3. An alternative to this is to change the screen name once you have joined a Zoom meeting - go to participants, find your current screen name in the list and click on it to see the option rename and then enter your full name or your first name and your IGO membership number. This will last only for the duration of the meeting.

Tell us about your great group leader

We know, at Interest Groups Online, how vital our Group Leaders are, but we’d love to hear about them from you!

• Is your group leader amazing?
• How have they helped you to enjoy your group?

Please write a few lines about how they have made your time in the group really worthwhile and email interestgroupsonline@u3a.org.uk – help us celebrate our hard-working Group Leaders.

Quiz Answers

1. Earth Wind and Fire
2. The start of the Fire of London
3. Secret History
4. Finger prints
5. September in the Rain
6. Beach Clean
7. It might as well rain until September
8. 23rd September
9. Bruce Springsteen
10. 1961

Back to Interest Groups Online Noticeboard

u3a.org.uk/what-we-do/learning…

IGO August 26 News Extra

I hope you’re enjoying August, wherever the summer has taken you. For some of us, a little rain would be very welcome!

In this month’s News Extra, there’s plenty to discover, with news, ideas and opportunities to get involved from across u3a. Whether August is a busy month for you or a chance to slow down a little, I hope you’ll find something here to interest and inspire you.

Wishing you a lovely rest of the summer.

Please email interestgroupsonline@u3a.org.uk with any additions for next month.

Helen Titherington, Trust Volunteer – IGO News Extra Editor

New Groups

New Groups

• 
  
  • FUSION tai qi gong for beginners
  • Ancient Greek for beginners
  • Spanish fluency intermediate plus
  • Irish language for beginners
  • German fortgeschrittene Dienstag
  • Greek myths
  • German for beginners (second group)
  • The Odyssey

New Course

• English: the first 4,000 years

Join all groups via Beacon

New Group – FUSION tai qi gong beginners

FUSION Tai Qi Gong combines two ancient methods for enhancing health and wellbeing - Qi Gong and Tai Chi. Qi Gong involves calming the mind and gently working the body in harmony with the breath. Tai Chi is a moving meditation, involving a sequence of movements and postures to enhance mental and physical wellbeing. Together and practised regularly (at least once a week if possible) they are proven to maintain and enhance health.

There is an existing FUSION (Intermediate) Group which has been learning these routines for over a year, and demand means a second group is now starting for those new to these disciplines. Only a basic level of general health is needed to get started, and the weekly Zoom classes cover a short warm up, some Qi Gong Exercises, and learning the Tai Chi 10 and the Tai Chi Yang Style 24 which is the World's most popular form of Tai Chi, practised by tens of millions of people. The latter has been adapted slightly to make it easier to learn and practice over Zoom, whilst retaining all of the proven health benefits.

Thursdays at 10:00 am for an hour.

Join via Beacon

New group – Ancient Greek for beginners

Have you ever wanted to read the Odyssey or Plato’s Republic in the original Greek, but can’t because you don’t know enough Greek? This group aims to take the absolute beginner from zero knowledge to a working knowledge of Ancient Greek. A schedule of meetings will shortly be available.

Join via Beacon

New group – Irish language for beginners

The group is for people with little or no knowledge of Irish

The first meeting will be on the 10^th August and thereafter on the 2^nd and 4^th Monday of the month at 5:00 pm.

Join via Beacon

New group – Greek myths

The ancient Greek myths, as told by Hesiod and Homer amongst others, have inspired countless works of art over the span of 2,500 years or more. One of the joys of wandering an art gallery is realizing that, without looking at the information plaque, you can tell what a painting is about from your knowledge of the myths. But what is the enduring power of these tales?

This series of talks, beautifully illustrated with works of art, will explore the interwoven myths from the creation to the time of heroes. There will be eight talks in all, two each month on days to be set.

Join via Beacon

New group – Spanish fluency – intermediate plus

This is a group for those who have at least an intermediate level of Spanish (CEFR levels B1 or B2). You can test your Spanish level (free, no email required) at Lengalia.

This starts with level A1/A2 (basic), then, provided you’re at level A2, continues to B1/B2, (then C1, if you want to challenge yourself). It includes audio clips.

Each session of this conversation group will be based around a theme. The emphasis will be on improving confidence and fluency in speaking Spanish. There will be some reminders of grammatical structures and suggestions for improvement of pronunciation.

The aim is to:

• Participate in guided discussions (with prompts, as required).
• Benefit from positive correction and vocabulary expansion.
• Improve your level of Spanish (towards B2/C1) by improving fluency, accuracy, and confidence.
• Enjoy speaking and improving your Spanish.

Wednesdays at 10:00 am.

Join via Beacon

New group – German fortgeschrittene Dienstag

Dieser Unterricht beinhaltet Lesen, Sprechen, Schreiben und Grammatikübungen.

Wir lesen Artikel, die wir online finden, Märchen und Bücher. Viel Spaß!

This class contains reading, speaking, writing and grammar exercises. We read articles we find online, fairy tales and books. Enjoy!

Join via Beacon

New group – The Odyssey

Odysseus, king of Ithaca, has been away from home for twenty years, ten fighting in the Trojan War, ten lost at sea. After many adventures, he returns home to deal with 108 suitors, seeking his wife Penelope's hand in marriage. One of two major epic poems attributed to Homer (the other is the Iliad), it is one of the oldest surviving works of literature. Over 12109 lines, originally in Homeric Greek, the poem deals with themes of wandering, return and homecoming, guest-friendship, testing and omens. In this group, we will work our way through the poem (in English!), discussing the themes and characters.

Read the first 75 lines of Daniel Mendelsohn's translation of The Odyssey here.

More information to follow regarding meeting dates and times.

Join via Beacon

Why not join a potential group?

• About whiskey, 6 (number of members expressing interest)
• Advanced Spanish, 2
• AI for artists, 10
• Current affairs, 9
• Food and drink, 11
• German improvers, 8
• Great albums of the 80s & 90s, 10
• Greek conversation, 1
• Presentation skills, 11
• Russian beginners, 6
• Songs of the 60s & 70s, 6
• Welsh beginners, 14

Once we have a goodly number of interested members, our group organiser will be in touch to help you get the group off the ground… visit the Beacon members portal.

New course – English: the first 4,000 years – and perhaps a few more!

Why are Welsh and Bengali surprisingly similar? What do a newt, an adder and an orange have in common? Why did English suddenly become less like German in the 12th century – and could all our consonants eventually turn into glottal stops?

These are just some of the questions explored in English: the first 4,000 years, a popular IGO group returning for another journey through the extraordinary history of our language.

This year, there was so much interest that the journey has started a little earlier. A short pre-course, running until 28 September, takes the story even further back to explore what came before Proto-Indo-European (PIE), the reconstructed ancestor of a huge family of languages spoken today. Beginning with the Yamnaya and the peoples of the Caucasus and Lower Volga, it considers the importance of developments such as the horse and the wheel – and looks at the scientific evidence linguists use to reconstruct a language that was never written down. Perhaps English: the first 6,000 years might eventually be a more appropriate title!

The main course begins on Monday 28 September, with sessions held weekly on Mondays from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. It follows the academic year, drawing on the curriculum used by speech and language therapists, and traces the development of English from its distant origins right through to the rapidly changing language of today.

Along the way, the group will investigate how sounds and words change, how many vowel sounds English really has, and how infants acquire an instinctive understanding of language before they can even speak. At the other end of the timeline come tech acronyms, cyberpunk and the challenge faced by the Oxford English Dictionary in keeping pace with the language of programmes such as Love Island. Is our language progressing, or are we simply getting lazy? Will we ever stop swearing – and whatever happened to blasphemy?

Sessions alternate between history and linguistics. The history-themed sessions take place in weeks 1, 3, 5 and so on and are suitable for anyone interested in following the story of English. The even-numbered linguistics sessions go into greater depth and are more challenging. As the group leader puts it, if you think you could manage a good GCSE in Latin and another in German, you should cope. If not, you can simply follow the history sessions once a fortnight.

The pre-course is already under way, but members interested in joining the journey can find the full session plan here

Join via Beacon

Quiz - August connections

1. In which century was Rule Britannia first sung? 17th, 18th or 19th?
2. Born in 1957 which snooker player was the first to earn £1 million from the game?
3. Maureen O’Hara the Dublin born actress was born in 1920. What was the title of the film set in Ireland in which she co starred with John Wayne?
4. In which century was Liverpool created as a borough? 13th, 14th, or 15th?
5. In what country was Mother Teresa of Calcutta born in 1910?
6. At which site, recently in the News, did Sir Bernard Lovell, born in 1913, develop airborne radar deployed in WW2
7. Mary Shelley had an August birthday first in which century? 17th, 18th, or 19th?
8. Spell August using the international words from the NATO phonetic alphabet, for each letter

Answers at the end

Out and about

International Beatle Week

Ready to Twist and Shout? Come Together in the Beatles’ hometown of Liverpool from 26 August to 1 September 2026 for International Beatleweek - a top-notch tribute to the world-famous band. The festival is organised by the Cavern Club, where the Beatles made their name, and celebrates the group’s legacy with a week of live music, memorabilia sales, exhibitions, guided tours, guest speakers and more.

Shrewsbury Folk Festival

Visit Shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk for tickets and a full list of artists.

Edinburgh Fringe

For three weeks in August, 7–31, the city of Edinburgh welcomes an explosion of creative energy from around the globe. Artists and performers take to hundreds of stages all over the city, presenting shows for every taste – from big names in the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers.

Blackberry gin

• 350g Blackberries, fresh or frozen,
• 150g sugar,
• 700m bottle of gin

Step 1

Tip the blackberries and sugar into a 1.5-litre sterilised jar. Pour over the gin, seal the jar and swirl around to dissolve the sugar. Store in a cool, dark place and turn the jar once a day for the first week.

Step 2

After two-three weeks, strain the gin through a sieve. Pour the gin into bottles, and label. The gin will keep its colour for a few months and will be drinkable for up to a year. Use the infused blackberries in a cocktail like a bramble, or in a trifle.

Soul Train news

Just wanted to provide a little feedback on today's first meeting of Soul Train.

We had 9 members logged in plus myself, with 3 giving apologies before the meeting, which I thought was brilliant. Certainly the newsletter sparked big interest.

All went well, and both tunes and videos were enjoyed by all, with some very positive feedback which was great.

Have to say I couldn't have done it without your help, and it's very much appreciated. I gave you a big thumbs up for the training meeting. Very well deserved.

Overall, I've really enjoyed the whole process and feel we are already at a good level which will only grow as we move forward. Exciting times ahead - which has me thinking now of any other group that I could get going or what u3a/IGO I could get involved with.

Roger, group leader

The Old Man of Soul 🎵🎶🎵🎶

Quiz answers

1. 1740, the 18th century
2. Steve Davis
3. The Quiet Man
4. 1207, 13th century
5. Albania
6. Jodrell Bank
7. 1797, 18th century
8. Alpha, uniform, golf, uniform, sierra, tango

Back to Interest Groups Online Noticeboard

u3a.org.uk/what-we-do/learning…

2026 is the National Year of Reading and there are hundreds of u3a book groups across the movement where members are embracing a love of reading and discussing literature. We asked u3a book groups to share the novels that they think are perfect for reading in the summer months.

The National Year of Reading is a campaign designed to help more people of all ages discover the joy of reading. A 2025 survey by The Reading Agency found that regular readers are 86% more likely to report feeling a sense of belonging to their community and 58% feeling generally happy, compared to non-readers.

Book groups within u3a are open to lifelong literature lovers and casual readers alike. The formats of these groups vary across the movement. At some, members meet to discuss the books they're reading in their spare time while others take on a more traditional book group format, with members all reading the same book. Many groups read all types of literature while others are dedicated to specific genres. By combining novels with conversation and social interaction, joining a book group can be a compelling way to get back into reading.

If you’re looking for some inspiration, we’ve asked book groups across the movement to share recent novels that they think are perfect for the summer months.

Bakewell u3a Book Group

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Light but beautifully crafted summer reading, this is a wonderfully told, gentle story, in print and audio. Although the premise sounds a bit wacky - the narrator and eponymous hero is an octopus, Marcellus, who bonds with the aquarium night cleaner and solves the mystery of her disappearing son - the book explores themes of family, love, connection and healing across generations. There’s even an excellent and very moving film starring the ever-wonderful Sally Fields. We read it as a Christmas ‘extra’ and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

The book cover of Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Shimna u3a Book Group

Seven Sisters by Lucinda Riley

“This series, based on the Seven Sisters stars consellation, tells the story of seven sisters from around the world.”

Hungerford & District u3a Book Group

The Fortnight in September by RC Sheriff

We have just finished this novel. A very gentle read, this brought lots of memories for our older readers. Coincidentally it was given a write up in Giles Coren’s ‘restaurant’ review in the Saturday Times!

The book cover of The Leopard

Hay u3a Book Group

The Leopard by Tomasi Di Lampedusa

This novel, set in 1860’s Sicily follows the toppling of the Bourbon kingdoms by the invasion of Garibaldi’s Redshirts.

The subsequent decline of the power of the aristocracy is reflected in the plot of the novel. Prince Fabrizio and his family play a chess like game, negotiating their way through the new regime. Recently included in The Guardian’s top 100 novels of the century, the prose is sublime.

Newcastle u3a Novels in Translation Group

After Midnight by Irmgard Keun

This tells the story of a naive young woman in 1930s Germany who gradually becomes aware of the horrors of that time.

u3a Office Book Group

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Gothic, engrossing and faintly magical, this is a fairytale-esque story about the power of books, all set against the backdrop of post-war Barcelona.”

The book cover of The Shadow of the Wind

Start your reading journey and find a book group near you with u3a.

Find your nearest u3a

u3a.org.uk/latest-news/u3a-boo…

IGO July 26 News Extra

Hello everyone, and welcome to the July edition of the Interest Groups Online News Extra!

I hope you're all enjoying the summer and finding time to join in with your favourite groups – or perhaps even try something new. I'm especially pleased to say that we've recently added new groups in both Music and Languages, so do take a look if either of those takes your fancy.

As always, this News Extra is all about you and the wonderful things happening across our Interest Groups. If your group has had an interesting discussion, a great speaker, a special event or even just a memorable meeting, I'd love to hear about it. Please send your stories, photos and articles to interestgroupsonline@u3a.org.uk. Every contribution helps keep News Extra lively, varied and full of ideas to inspire others.

Happy reading, and thank you to everyone who has contributed to this month's issue!

Helen Titherington, Trust Volunteer – IGO News Extra Editor

New Groups

New Groups

• 
  
  • The soul train
  • Sountracks of our lives
  • French reading
  • Fish school

Potential Groups

• Ancient Greek for beginners
• Learn Geoguessr

Join all groups via Beacon

New Group – The soul train

Soul, Motown, R&B and Funk — if you like any of the above genres, then it will most definitely be worth checking us out.

Each month, we will share our love of all things Soul, Motown, R&B and Funk, including great music and good conversation. We will start by selecting an album to listen to and discuss, then as the months tick by, we will open it up to members' choices, which will really be fun to hear all your favourites and for the whole group to enjoy.

The first few months will get us going as follows. We will start with the gorgeous album from Toni Braxton, Secrets. This album was 30 years old on the 18th of June just gone, and it’s the one which really sealed Toni’s place in R&B history. Well worth a visit.

Month Two will be a look at the albums of Sade, 6 in total, so far. So far, being the appropriate name of her full 6 album record collection box set. It really is a work of Art and with ongoing talk of her returning and releasing more. This really could be a winner.

In Month 3, we will look at the series Motown Chartbusters, released in the 70’s. It was Volume 3, which sealed the deal for me with Motown and is a great album featuring the Temptations. Marvin Gaye. Stevie Wonder, Marther Reeves and the Supremes, to name just a few.

We will meet on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 10:00 am until 11:30. 1 ½ hours of first-class music.

As James Brown once said, “We're gonna have a funky good time”.

Roger, Group Leader

Join via Beacon

New group - French reading

Toute conversation en Francais

Presupposes an ability to read in French and discuss fluently.

Rather than undertaking to read a full length work, we will read and discuss ONE short story each month.

As Maupassant is an internationally acknowledged master in this field, we will use the following text: Tous les Contes et Nouvelles de Maupassant (available for download at a modest cost) on Amazon Kindle

Ce cours suppose une bonne maîtrise du français, tant à la lecture qu'à la discussion. lieu de lire une œuvre complète, nous lirons et discuterons d'une seule nouvelle par mois.

Maupassant étant un maître reconnu internationalement dans ce domaine, nous utiliserons le recueil suivant : « Tous les Contes et Nouvelles de Maupassant » (disponible en téléchargement à un prix modique) sur Amazon Kindle.

FIRST THURSDAY 11 am

Join via Beacon

New group - The soundtracks of our lives

Once a month we meet on Zoom to hear a short talk by one of our members about their own life, and listen to five pieces of music which are important to them. Talks will be prepared in advance. Group leader Diana will host each session, playing music via Spotify. An opportunity to share your personal history and the music that has inspired you, and for those listening to be enlightened and entertained.

Every 4th Wednesday from 7:30 pm

Thanks very much - Diana, Group Leader

Join via Beacon

New group – Fish school

Commencing July 23rd, 2026

Welcome to the u3a Tropical Fish Group! Whether you are an experienced aquarist or completely new to the hobby, our friendly community is the perfect place to share your passion for freshwater fish.

Fishkeeping is a deeply rewarding hobby that has many benefits, offering a proven way to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and bring a beautiful slice of nature into your home.

You will be surprised how fast you can learn to recognise some words. The course is for complete beginners. Tuesdays at 11am

Join via Beacon

Potential group – Learn Geoguessr

GeoGuessr is a browser-based geography game in which players try to deduce locations from Google Street View imagery. Essentially its a game where you are given a photo of anywhere in the world and you have to work out where it is. The skilled can do it in less than a minute!!!

Join via Beacon

Potential group – Ancient Greek for beginners

Potential groups provide an opportunity for members to help set up a group which is not currently included in our active groups or where existing groups are full. When there are enough members in the Potential group, we organise a meeting so you can decide between you how the group will work and how it will be run.

The group will be for people with no prior knowledge of Ancient Greek.

Join via Beacon

Help urgently required in running the IGO Gardening group

An informal but participatory group which discusses all forms of gardening on all types of soil. What we buy, what we grow and how we do it Mistakes we've made and successes we have created, visits made or planned, new ideas; we have read, seen or tried, recommended or not!

A reasonable knowledge of gardens or gardening is required.

Meetings held first Monday of the month 4:00 pm for approx 1 hour.

Contact Barbara for a chat (via interestgroupsonline@u3a.org.uk) if interested.

Quiz time

1. In what year was American independence declared on July 4th?
2. In what 20th-century decade did Kylie Minogue release her first album, entitled Kylie?
3. In July 1976, at the Olympic Games in Montreal, Nadia Comaneci was the first person to score a perfect 10 in a gymnastics event - how old was she at the time?
4. In July 2007, the last in the Harry Potter series – Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – was released. How many millions of copies were sold worldwide during the first 24 hours, making it the fastest-selling book in history?
5. In what 20th-century decade did the Prime Minister Harold McMillan sack 7 members of his Cabinet?
6. In July of what year did Boris Johnson become the prime minister?
7. In July 1981, Charles and Di were married. What was the estimated world wide Tv audience?
8. In July 1966, who won the World Cup with a 4-2 victory?

Answers at the end

Correction - American politics

The meetings for this will take place on the 4th Monday from 4 pm, not on the 4th Friday, as advertised last month – Apologies.

Quiz Answers

1. 1776
2. 80s
3. 14
4. 10.95 million
5. 1962
6. 2019
7. 750 million
8. England

Back to Interest Groups Online Noticeboard

u3a.org.uk/what-we-do/learning…

u3a Festival 26 has begun, with over 1,000 members gathering in York for three days of creativity, sport, learning and connection.

The event officially kicked off with an opening ceremony on Wednesday 1 July, where special guest Johnny Ball, cut a blue ribbon. Known for his career in which he championed a fun approach to learning, Johnny Ball is the perfect guest for u3a and will delivering a talk about his life at the Festival.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Iain Cassidy said, "This event showcases the u3a spirit on a national level. People across the UK have come together to learn, to laugh and live. A huge thank you to the volunteers and the staff - a special shout out to Karen, Margaret and Julie - without whom this event would literally not be happening."

Karen Sawyer is Chair of the Festival Working Team while Margaret Fiddes is the Festival Programme Coordinator and along with Special Events Officer Julie Travers, they have led the Festival Working Team. They have tirelessly worked to create an engaging programme that puts the members at the heart of the event.

Across the three days, over 120 activities are taking place with activities covering sport, music, art, history, and learning. There is a range of talks as well as interactive workshops, providing members with a variety of different ways to learn. Some of the more unusual activities members can sample include laughter yoga, a walking cricket tournament, and shinrin-yoku, more commonly known as forest bathing.

Discover endless opportunities in retirement with u3a.

Find your nearest u3a

u3a.org.uk/latest-news/u3a-fes…

IGO June 26 News Extra

This month, we remember David Hockney, one of our foremost modern artists, who died on the 11th June aged 88.

Please email the editor, Helen, on: interestgroupsonline@u3a.org.uk

with any articles for inclusion in the next issue.

Helen Titherington, Trust Volunteer – IGO News Extra Editor

New Groups

New Groups

• 
  
  • American politics
  • Mindfulness now
  • Beginners bridge
  • Exploring science fiction novels
  • Italian upper-intermediate conversation
  • Ab initio lingua Latina pro tironibus
  • Meditation
  • Microcontrollers and electronics users group

Join all groups via Beacon

New Group – Mindfulness now

This 8-week rolling mindfulness course offers an opportunity to explore the origins of mindfulness, understand the theory behind its many benefits, and develop a personal mindfulness practice in a supportive and relaxed environment. Each session includes guided practices and practical techniques that participants can continue to build on at home, helping to bring greater awareness and balance into everyday life.

Mindfulness has been shown to support wellbeing in many ways, including helping to reduce stress, improve focus, encourage relaxation, and promote a greater sense of calm and resilience. Whether you are completely new to mindfulness or looking to deepen an existing practice, this course provides gentle guidance and encouragement to help you move forward at your own pace.

1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 1pm

Sue Bishop Group Leader

Join via Beacon

New group - American politics

This group will explore how American politics works, from the Constitution and the separation of powers to the roles of the President, Congress and the Supreme Court. We’ll look at how elections are run, why the two‑party system dominates, and how issues such as civil rights, federalism and public opinion shape political debate. The aim isn’t to take sides but to understand the ideas, institutions and history behind today’s headlines. Everyone is welcome to bring questions, share views and explore the topics that interest them most.

4th Friday of the Month at 4pm.

Group leaders are Peter Grimes and Imogen Hal

Join via Beacon

New group - Beginners bridge

We are now taking names on a 'first come, first served basis' for our next Beginners Bridge Course starting in June 2026.

The online course has been developed over the past 4 years to ideally suit those u3a members who have never played Bridge before.

The course consists of lesson handouts, videos, quizzes and exercises that you study at home at your own pace.

The course consists of lesson handouts, videos, quizzes and exercises that you study at home at your own pace.

We have weekly Tuesday afternoon online meetings where key points are discussed and questions are answered. This is followed by supervised practice sessions where you play hands with other class members to reinforce the lessons you have learned.

The course lasts for 24 weeks and you should be prepared to devote approx. 7 hours per week to complete the course.

By the end of that time, you will be able to enjoy Bridge games with friends and play in a novices Bridge Club.

Bridge is recognised as one of the most popular u3a activities because it is fun, it keeps you mentally active, it is sociable and a great way to make new friends.

Our Beginner’s course gets you off to a great start, but you will continue learning, improving and developing your Bridge for the rest of your life – it’s a never-ending and rewarding journey - sign-up today !!!

Tuesdays at 2pm.

Join via Beacon

New group - Science fiction novels

An informal group meeting each month to discuss science fiction novels of all types and from all eras. It is a chance to share favourite books and authors whilst trying to get to grips with time travel, alternative histories and life on other planets. From Brian Aldiss to Roger Zelazny, the sci-fi universe is out there for us to explore.

Second Tuesday of the month, at 2pm.

Join via Beacon

New group - Ab initio lingua Latina pro tironibus

Have you ever wanted to read Martial's tales of the 100 days of games mounted at the opening of the Colisseum, Ovid's account of the ill-fated lovers Pyramus and Thisbe, Caesar's recounting of the Gallic Wars, the incomparable odes of Horace, or Vergil's epic tale of Aeneas, but in the original Latin. Maybe you just want to decipher old plaques in country churches and cathedrals. Here is your opportunity. In this group, you will be taken from the very beginning to a good understanding of classical Latin through learning the fundamentals of grammar, translating simple sentences (to begin with!) and tackling original Latin literature.

Mondays at 11.30.

Join via Beacon

New group - Meditation

The meditation will be about 30 minutes long , it consists of beginning with a very short gentle breath work, followed by going on a guided inner journey sometimes experiencing removing negative energies and obtaining good energies, journey will be to create harmony and inner peace , then returned back again.

Fortnightly on Wednesdays at 16.00

Ersoy Mehmet - Group Leader

Join via Beacon

New group - Italian upper-intermediate conversation

An Italian group to improve speaking/listening & conversational skills. We will be taking turns to speak throughout the session. I will not be teaching grammar etc. You should have studied all the tenses (apart from passato remoto & conjiuntivo) but may not be able to speak well using them. Making mistakes is good as that's how we learn. We will have differing topics of conversation in each session, with the chance to study vocabulary/tenses & do some listening beforehand. I, your course leader, am not a native speaker but i have taught ESOL and I know we can help each other to improve and gain confidence. If you're not sure of your level, please contact me and we can check it.

First and third Tuesdays of the month from 1.30pm.

Angela Wilshin - Group Leader

Join via Beacon

Picture quiz

1. How old was Elvis when this picture was taken in June 1958.

2. What are the coloured lights on this building celebrating in the month of June?

UK Ministry of Defence, OGL 3, via Wikimedia Commons

3. This picture of the Goddess Juno was discovered in which world famous site close to the Italian volcano Vesuvius ?

4. Which June zodiac sign is depicted in this picture?

5. What are these two Julia butterflies drinking?

amalavida.tv, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Answers are at the end

Great group leaders

I would like to nominate Brenda as a great psychology group leader and say a huge thank you to her.

Brenda is a brilliant presenter — knowledgeable, organised, approachable, and genuinely inspiring. Every session feels like an adventure into the incredible and diverse world of psychology, and I always come away having learnt something new.

What makes the group especially enjoyable is Brenda’s ability to bring out the best in everyone. She creates such a welcoming and engaging atmosphere that encourages discussion, reflection, and curiosity. It is a privilege to be part of such a fantastic group led by our exceptional leader Brenda

Mary Ann, group member ⭐️🌟⭐️

I'd like to nominate Roger who leads the Canva courses.

All the time and effort he has put in to make Canva accessible and understandable to the groups is truly commendable, as is his patience in answering all our questions. We are shown examples of all the ways we can use Canva, and also exercises to practise in our own time. It's like having a book, a YouTube video and a personal tutor all in one!

Regards - Val - group member ⭐️🌟⭐️

I am pleased to comment on Gordon, who runs TWO IGO groups that I subscribe to.

The first is Fusion Tai Qi Gong on Wednesdays at 10.30.

Gordon has been an amazing tutor, and the support he has also provided via Padlets and online articles is just immense. His teaching is awesome and the empathy he extends to every member is a joy. I cannot thank him and u3a enough.

Secondly, he then follows that fortnightly with Apple Devices IGO which is proving to be a learning curve for us all. Even when he is confronted by some highly talkative members, his diplomatic skills and calm reaction are also great. Again, his humility and willingness to share is awesome. u3a IGO Members are so privileged to have access to such a professional, kind and considerate person. Thank you, Gordon.

David - group member ⭐️🌟⭐️

Latin tutor Robert, is great. He is very patient but also very knowledgeable and interesting. I would recommend his classes to everyone.
Debbie, group member ⭐️🌟⭐️

Existing group - Neville Shute books

After having a mad moment I volunteered to set up and run the Nevil Shute Books group. At the moment we are quite a small group with only 12 members and we read at least one book each month.

For the first meeting we looked at the first book Nevil Shute published in 1926 - Marazan. We thought the book was of its time and there were some terms and terminology within the book that came across as quite dated - his conversations about women for example and the idea that if he wanted to fly anywhere he would just get in a plane and go - we didn't think it was as easy at that today! Several of us thought it was a bit "boys own" style but after discussion agreed that may just reflect a style of writing that was quite popular at the time - there was a conversation around the similarity in style to 39 steps and other John Buchan books. We are interested in exploring how his writing develops in later books and how the events of the 20th Century affected and influenced his writing and characters.

If you are interested in Nevil Shute books - or just interested in investigating an author you may not know much about then please join our friendly group. We meet on the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 2pmand for the next meeting we will be looking at So Disdained which is the second book that was published. If we have time and enough people have been able to read them we will also look at Stephen Morris and Pilotage which are actually the first books he wrote but weren't published until after his death.

Jane McKenzie

Join via Beacon

Existing group - English: the first 4000 years

Our group "English: the first 4,000 years" studied how three keywords from three Semitic languages have entered English. Loanwords are nearly always transliterated rather than translated, so that the meaning is lost.

An important example is "shahid", which meant "witness" to the original Aramaic-speaking Christians, either "saw a crime" or as "declared their faith". This was translated into Greek as "martyros", but some Christians became Arabic-speaking Muslims after 632 CE. The Greek was then transliterated into Welsh as "merthyr" ( e.g. Tydfil) and English as "martyr".

We complied a glossary, "from Adam to Armageddon", which allows a single narrative to be written about the three religions. Do IGO members think that dialogue between the three Semitic-speaking languages would reduce conflict?

Ed Conduit

Join via Beacon

Tell us about your great group leader

We know, at Interest Groups Online, how vital our Group Leaders are, but we’d love to hear about them from you!

• Is your group leader amazing?
• How have they helped you to enjoy your group?

Please write a few lines about how they have made your time in the group really worthwhile and email interestgroupsonline@u3a.org.uk – help us celebrate our hard-working Group Leaders.

The u3a Essay Competition 2026

The u3a Essay Competition 2026 is here and the theme is The Most Incredible Journey. In 1,000 words or fewer, members are invited to share the story of a real, non-autobiographical journey. This might be a famous expedition, a scientific or medical breakthrough, a historical voyage that changed lives, or a cultural, intellectual or spiritual journey. The emphasis is on telling a true story in an engaging and accessible way. What remarkable journey will you uncover and share?

Submit your essay by Friday 31 July at 12 noon for the chance to win prize books kindly donated by HX Expeditions.

Picture quiz answers

1. 23
2. PRIDE month
3. Pompeii
4. Cancer
5. The tears from the tortoises ( lachryphagy )

Back to Interest Groups Online Noticeboard

u3a.org.uk/what-we-do/learning…