Banbridge's new U3A group holds its monthly meeting

Guest Speaker was Rose Marie Bradley, NI Regional Trustee for the organisation.

This new branch formed recently in Banbridge is for semi-retired or retired persons to live laugh and learn.

The guest speaker emphasised the fact that U3A was the largest community organisation in the UK (360,000+members in NI).

The live laugh and learn activities of each branch are organised by the setting up of self-financing interest groups supervised by the local branch committee.

Most established branches have up to 50+ activities.

At the recently formed local branch it was reported at meeting to have already formed nine interest groups.

A walking group meets weekly and it is very popular with an increasingly large membership programme already arranged until the end of May 2016.

Computer introduction groups already have 28 Members.

Local and regional history groups have visited buildings and sites of regional historic interest.

Family history groups have 15 Members to date and Irish Language is a very popular group.

A creative writing group recently formed which would welcome more members.

Holiday language appreciation French and Spanish group and Theatre Group just formed at last Tuesdays Meeting.

Membership of this branch is expected to continue to grow with more and more interest groups formed.

The Expectation expressed at the meeting was that Banbridge U3A are likely to achieve a growing membership in hundreds making it probably, as in in other local NI Towns and Cities, the largest Social Community organisation for semi-retired and retired people in the local area.

Information on local U3A can be obtained at local libraries. A monthly newsletter will also be circulated.

The meeting informed of the setting up of a Facebook page and as soon as possible a website.

Monthly General meeting is at 2.30pm in the Old Town Hall on second Tuesday of each month. Please come along