Aroundtown Magazine Winter 2022 edition

FAMILY
“
There are also some
sports that are played
at a slower pace, such
as walking football and
cricket, which encourage
people of all abilities to
exercise more.
”
interest in cosmology. You can play board games
such as dominoes or whist, join the crafty chat
or knit and natter clubs, or even meet fellow
food lovers with the posh puds or wine
appreciation groups.
Sport and exercise play a large part of the
Barnsley u3a agenda. Members can join a range
of team games such as badminton, crown green
bowling, cycling, table tennis, ten-pin bowling,
snooker and even hula hooping. There are also
some sports that are played at a slower pace,
such as walking football and cricket, which
encourage people of all abilities to exercise
more. Barnsley also has eight walking groups
which meet up throughout the week and visit new
places around the town.
As well as the interest groups, Barnsley u3a
also has excellent links with the community
via Age UK and Experience Barnsley. They are
involved in the Eldon Street Heritage Action Zone
and some members volunteered as marshals at
the Bright Nights winter trail in the town.
As part of their 25th anniversary, they were
invited to take a new cabinet in the Experience
Barnsley Museum at the town hall which was
unveiled in December. All items have been
donated by members of the family history
group and include things like a hairdryer, record
player, Whitby jet jewellery, and a beautiful black
lace shawl. The items will be on display at the
museum until early summer.
For more information about the
Barnsley & District u3a and the full
schedule of interest groups, visit
www.barnsley-u3a.org.uk
or call 07512 206285
Rotherham u3a
The Rotherham branch of u3a began
in 1994 and today is made up of
around 500 members who meet
weekly, fortnightly, or monthly around
Rotherham for their different activities.
Annual membership is £33 which covers a
period of 30 weeks of the year. This falls pro-rata
to £22 for new members joining in January,
and £11 after Easter, until the classes break for
summer. For this, members can join as many
groups as they like, provided there are spaces
available, with no additional charges.
“
Performing arts groups
are always popular, with
a choir, country dancing,
longsword rapper
dancing, opera and play
reading.
”
Like Barnsley, Rotherham has a varied
programme of interest groups covering
everything from arts and card making to
gardening and grow your own. Performing arts
groups are always popular, with a choir, country
dancing, longsword rapper dancing, opera and
play reading. A ukulele group was launched last
October with a mix of experienced players and
absolute beginners and is now a growing and
thriving band.
Following the success of the walking cricket
group which was formed last spring, there are
plans to introduce walking football and netball
groups in Rotherham this year. They are also
looking for leaders to create new beginners
French and Spanish groups.
This year, the Rotherham u3a is keen to build
on the diversity of their members and is working
with Voluntary Action Rotherham to extend their
reach into minority groups such as the Eastern
European and Asian communities.
They are also in contact with the University
of Sheffield about a project to identify local
properties, sites or buildings of interest that
aren’t currently on a heritage listing and are at
risk of being demolished. With the help of Sarah
Cattell, project officer at the South Yorkshire Local
Heritage List, members are nominating buildings
across the four regions of South Yorkshire to add
to the new list.
For more information about the
Rotherham u3a and the full schedule
of interest groups, visit
u3asites.org.uk/rotherham
or contact the membership secretary
on 01709 374 841
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