Welcome to Surrey u3a Network
The Membership of Surrey Network is open to all u3as in Surrey and its and surrounding area. We welcome all new members including members of other networks.
Apart from regular meetings, our main activities are providing a study day programme of eight events each year at the Menuhin Hall, running workshops on topics of current interest to u3a committees, group leaders and members, running occasional one-off events, such as the Richard lll Lecture or exhibitions of u3a activities at the Denbies Wine Estate conference facilities, and supporting the activities of the South East u3a Forum.
The South East Forum is currently focusing on the summer school that has been run at the University of Chichester since 2005..
The Surrey u3a Network had its origins in meetings of Surrey u3as going back at least to 1996 in which activities, experiences and ideas were discussed at six-monthly intervals. The original name of Central Surrey Region was changed to the current name in 2009 as the Third Age Trust changed from its own definition of Areas and instead adopted Government Regions for electing its Trustees.
We adopted a constitution, which was based on the model u3a constitution for England and Wales, in 2009. In 2020 we adopted the new model constitution for Networks and affiliated to The Third Age Trust and became Registered Charity Surrey u3a Network Number 1203248 in May 2023.
The objects of the Surrey Network are the same as those of its constituent u3as, with an additional focus on collaborative efforts between them. They are to advance the education of the public, particularly of older people no longer in full-time gainful employment, in Surrey and its surrounding locality, through the collaborative efforts of the constituent u3as and the Committee and to provide facilities for leisure time and recreational activities so as to improve the conditions of life for the above persons in the interests of their social welfare.
Mike Brigden,
Chairman Surrey Network
Celebrating 150 Study Days
We celebrated our 150th Study Day with a fascinating presentation on WS Lowry by Maria Chester, and a wonderful recital by some of the students at the Yehudi Menuhin School. About 120 members were treated to a really interesting and amusing set of talks. The superb recital was an added bonus.
We also enjoyed a very beautiful cake, courtesy of Guildford u3a, and the cake was ceremoniously cut by our former Chair - Caroline Sawers, and Pam Jones from u3a South East Region, assisted by our speaker at the study day - Maria Chester, and Ian Funnell. Two members of the Network Committee - Denise Dobbs and Ian Eversden were in attendance.
