The Hampshire South Central U3A Network currently has 17 groups (plus associated U3As in Jersey and Guernsey) containing over 5,300 members. Its primary objective is to be a forum for exchange of news, information, new ideas and best practice between the U3As within the network. To achieve this it:
- Offers training workshops for specific U3A topics and committee roles.
- Organises network study/interest days for members of the network’s U3As.
- Encourages shared learning projects.
- Encourages links between interest groups of individual member U3As for sharing information, skills and experience.
- Provides the opportunity to advertise to adjacent U3As vacancies within their activity groups which are struggling to make numbers and also for special events, excursions etc. which have spare spaces.
- Raises awareness of U3A in the local community.
It has already held a series of meetings for U3A chairmen, group liaison officers and membership secretaries. Further forums are planned for treasurers and speaker secretaries. It has also staged a very successful Biomedical Science Study Day at the University of Portsmouth.