Welcome to Farnham u3a – we hope you will find it friendly, interesting and fun. Here is a message from our chairman.

Below are answers to some of the questions you may have:

What is Open Morning?

The open morning is held in July at Farnham Maltings
Come along and learn more about groups that interest you, meet the group leaders.
There is a lot more information about many of the groups on the Group section of this website.

How many groups can I join?

You can join as many groups as you want if the groups have spaces. If no space is available, you can ask to go on a waiting list. A list of groups with vacancies is available here.

Your membership fee will cover you for most groups, although a few have additional fees (see Extra Charges below).

Do check for any timetable clashes before you register for groups. A quick check can be made using the summary drop-down menu on the events calendar page.

If you stop attending a group, please inform the contact person for that group so that the place can be offered to someone else.

How do I register for groups?

Just email the person shown as the contact for that group to find out whether a place is available. Most groups have continuing members so new places may be limited.

You may register for groups from the day after the Open Morning.

If no place is available, ask to go on a waiting list. Tip: keep in regular contact to eventually gain a place!

Please note that a place is not secured until you have confirmation and the group leader has confirmed that you are a valid member.

Membership Cards

You will receive your membership card as an attachment to a confirmation email sent by Beacon either when you join Farnham u3a or when you renew your membership. You can print this off or download it to your phone. Your group leaders will know that you are a valid member so for most u3a purposes you will not need a membership card.

Are there any extra charges?

Some groups provide printed handouts/ materials/ external speakers and charge to recover these costs.
Members must pay tickets and transport costs for the Concert and Theatre club outings.
Wine groups charge to cover costs as stated in the Online Programme.
The seasonal event, held in December, is ticketed and a small charge is made to pay for refreshments and to help raise funds for any external speakers.
Some exercise groups are fee-paying as they have an external professional tutor to ensure that the members are taught safely. Check the Online Programme for more details.
Any additional fees for groups are stated in the Online Programme.

Where are group meetings held?

Most of our indoor classes are once again held in the Maltings. Occasionally to meet the demand we use other venues in Farnham. Some Sports and well-being groups meet externally. Here is a list of the Venues for Farnham u3a.

How do I know which room my group will be in?

Room allocations for those group meetings held at the Maltings are posted daily on the notice board opposite the Maltings Reception Desk.
When you arrive for a class, check the room allocation noticeboard as these do occasionally change at short notice.
A few classes are held outside the Maltings and are indicated in the Online Programme.

Do groups have breaks?

We encourage groups to have breaks where possible so members can socialise.
Some groups offer tea or coffee during the break ordered from the Maltings and you will need to pay for this before each session starts. Alternatively, you can buy a drink in the Maltings café and either drink it there or ask for a takeaway cup to take back to the room. Please note: members are not permitted to bring their own refreshments.

Who do I contact if I change any of my contact details?

The easiest way is to click on Update Member Information

If you have already set up a password all you need to do is enter your email address and password.
If you haven’t set up a password When you click on the Update Member Information button you will reach a screen which asks you for a password. Ignore this and click on Register for a membership account. If you have entered your details incorrectly, the screen will clear and you will not be able to progress. (Common problems include not being aware that information entered is case sensitive and allowing auto-fill to fill in your details which can result in unseen spaces being added.)
Follow the instructions to set up your password. Note this includes responding to a separate email from Beacon to confirm your email address and password.
For those without email, post your details (including your membership number) in an envelope marked Membership Secretary in the u3a pigeonhole behind the Maltings Reception Desk.
Please also inform leaders of your regular groups of changes to your phone or email addresses.
If you have any problems, please contact the Membership Secretary at members@u3akeith.tonyjohnson.org.

Are there any events for new members?

Yes, we hold an informal New Members’ Reception at the Maltings, normally in the first term, to introduce new members to some of the group leaders and committee. It’s a good opportunity to meet fellow new members and to ask any questions. You should get a personal invitation to this event.

How do I find out what is going on?

The best way is through our regular eNews. This is available online via a link, emailed to every member for each edition. If you have any problems downloading eNews contact comms@u3akeith.tonyjohnson.org.
The printed programme has details of groups and meetings but is subject to change as it is printed in advance of the academic year. For up-to-date information on groups and dates, please check the Online Programme.
Check the u3a noticeboard in the corridor of the Maltings café for new or imminent events.

How do I get to know people?

It can be daunting joining new groups and going to large group meetings in the Barley Room. We all felt this when we first joined! If you turn to the person next to you and ask a few questions such as how long they’ve been a member and what groups they are members of, before you know it you’ll be making new friends and feeling settled. Another good way to get to know people is to invite members to join you in the café after a group meeting.

Without volunteers, the u3a would not exist

Our members are our greatest asset. The u3a ethos is education by the members for the members, we all have knowledge, skills and life experience that we can share, so do think about how you can get involved. Live, learn, laugh. We are always on the lookout for ideas for new groups and, equally importantly, for members to help run them. Also, the Farnham u3a committee are all volunteers and from time to time there are vacancies.

Can I add the meetings to my (electronic) calendar?

Group meetings and the monthly and theme meetings can be added to the calendar on your PC, Mac or phone. This makes it easier to remember when your favourite groups and other meetings are taking place. Be aware that you will need to take care to filter just the meetings you are interested in before adding them to your computer (otherwise you could get all the meetings!). This document shows you how to add the meetings that you want. Note that if you want to add meetings for more than one group you will need to repeat the steps for each group.

OPEN MEETINGS AND SOCIAL EVENTS

The open meetings below provide a great opportunity to meet members from other groups and to listen to a variety of talks on topics by our members and invited external speakers.

You can find details of all the meetings in the printed programme. Although this is correct at the time of printing there are sometimes unavoidable changes so to get up-to-date information it is best to check, the online Programme, on our website, on our noticeboard, or in the monthly eNews.

Annual Theme

Farnham u3a was the first in the UK to run an Annual Theme. As the name suggests, there is a different theme each year. This is chosen by the Theme Team who organise a programme of talks open to all members, held monthly in the Barley Room. All u3a members are welcome and you can just turn up, space permitting, except for the ticketed seasonal event at Christmas. To attend this, you will need to book in advance, it includes refreshments, and there is a charge to help cover the costs of meetings.
Scheduled dates and topics can be seen here: link to Theme meetings.
Occasionally trips relating to the Theme are organized, and any additional costs will be notified.

Monthly Meetings

Monthly Meetings are usually held on a Monday afternoon in the Barley Room and on Zoom, and are open to all members, space permitting. Details of the topics can be seen here: link to Monthly meetings

Open Group Meetings

Some groups organise an Open Meeting relating to the Theme topic. Details of Open Meetings will be included in eNews.
All members are welcome to attend these open meetings but group secretaries should be contacted in advance to ensure that a place is available.

Quizzes

Quizzes are held throughout the year. All members are welcome whether you come as a team or as an individual to join a team on the night. Details will be found on the noticeboard, in eNews or in the Events Calendar

Cuppa-and-a-chat

A pop-in session is held monthly in the Maltings Café where you can meet other members and our Membership Engagement secretary, exchange ideas, find out more about what is happening in Farnham u3a or simply be sociable. Dates will be on the notice board, in eNews and in the Events Calendar.

New Member’s FAQs