Here is the latest u3a news. Just scroll on down or use the table of contents (just click on the item you want to read and that will take you to just below where the item is). For other news items, some great offers, non-u3a news and further information and advertisements please take a look at our new News Extra section

Our next Monthly Meeting - Thursday 18 June

Our next Monthly Meeting is on Thursday 18 June when is Nick Clayburn will be talking to us about "Air Traffic Control". This will be held at Holy Trinity Church, Exmouth at 10.30 am.

The schedule for our Monthly Meetings for the first few months of 2026 is in our Monthly Meetings section - Monthly Meetings. Owing to the fact that The Ocean is having refurbishments done, the venue and dates of the first seven meetings in 2026 have been altered. The meetings in June and July will be in Holy Trinity Church a week later than originally planned, so the June meeting is on Thursday 18 June (see above). The committee apologises for any inconvenience caused but hopes you will be able to come along to these meetings as usual.

Our AGM - Thursday 21 May

Our AGM was held this year at Holy Trinity Church, Exmouth on 21st May. An email was sent to all members on 13 April attaching the advance notifications about this. A further email was sent to all members on 12 May with all the other papers for the AGM.  All of these papers are also in the Members-only view of the Documentation part of the About section on this website. The officers and members of the committee who were elected to the new committee are shown in the About section.

Our latest u3a Newsletter

Our latest u3a Newsletter (the May/June edition) was published on 29 April 2026. The public edition is in the Newsletter section. The members' edition was sent direct to members and is also in the members-only view of the Newsletter section on this website - members need to be logged in to see this.

Our latest u3a Groups List and latest Group news

Our latest u3a Groups List was sent direct to members on 30 April 2026 and members can also see this by logging in and clicking on the Groups List in the members view of the Newsletter section on this website. We try to ensure that any changes shown in it are reflected in the Groups list shown in the Groups section of this website. If Group Organisers need to change or update anything, please let us know via the Groups link in the Contact Us section. Recent news about groups is in the latest edition (May/June) of our newsletter - Newsletter

Our Social Outings

Our next trip is on Wednesday 24 June when there is a trip to The Lost Gardens of Heligan (now sold out - waiting list only). The trip after is on Tuesday 14 July to Totnes and Buckfast Abbey. This is also now sold out (waiting list only). Further details of our social outings are in our Social Events section.

New members meetings

There will no June meeting and the next meeting date is on Wednesday 15 July in the area behind the bar of The Imperial Hotel, Exmouth. We will start at 10.00 and we are usually finished by 11.00 to 11.15. Parking is free if you input your car registration into the tablet at reception.

I look forward to meeting new members who wish to find our more about the groups, social hubs and trips that our volunteers offer in addition to the popular monthly meeting. 

Pippa Gibbs, New Members Co-ordinator

Our digital world - free technology support from AbilityNet

Several of the recent free Zoom sessions offered as part of the national u3a’s online learning events (see below) related to the important topics of online safety and digital voice which are issues members have raised in the past. The free resources on the AbilityNet website may be of interest to members - see https://abilitynet.org.uk/. Also there are a number of very useful videos on its YouTube channel - see https://www.youtube.com/@abilitynet/playlists

In addition, in partnership with BT Group, AbilityNet offers a free initiative to support people aged 55+ in Devon with digital skills covering everything from using smartphones and laptops to staying safe online and accessing essential services. They do this through free group and individual training sessions that offer practical support. If you are interested in this, please contact Neil Winter, Digital Skills Trainer, AbilityNet, telephone 0118 234 6746, or email neil.winter@abilitynet.org.uk

Online learning events

Did you know that there are plenty of free nationally-organised learning sessions which all u3a members can attend? Recent and forthcoming topics include:

• SAVE Buildings at Risk: empowering communities
• Exploring world faiths: faith and the media
• Laughter yoga
• Suffering and hope in Tolstoy's Anna Karenina
• The legacy of Edinburgh's Victorian swimming baths
• Mindfulness and meditation series
• Drones, huh? What are they good for?
• Flight Inspirations: the advent of the heavy bomber
• Learn bridge online with u3a
• An ABC of Victorian painting

For more details of these and many other events and to register for each event, please go to the national u3a learning events website - https://www.u3a.org.uk/events/educational-events

Latest news from the u3a nationally and u3a Matters magazine

You can read the latest news from the u3a nationally at The Third Age Trust's news page. The latest edition of its podcast is available at National u3a radio podcast. In addition you can sign up for the u3a National Newsletter for Friends of u3a at Sign-up for u3a national newsletter

u3a matters is the magazine of the national u3a published five times a year and posted direct to members’ homes. It features stories about members and u3a activities, plus celebrity interviews and features on technology, recipes, travel, competitions, and a lively and popular letters section. u3a matters is available to any u3a member. If you have not received your copy and wish to do so, please contact Membership so that your contact details can be added to the u3a matters database.

Here is the link to the latest edition of u3a matters magazine - https://www.u3a.org.uk/news/u3a-matters. This is shortened version of the hard copy magazine.

Our latest u3a documents

The minutes of the u3a committee meetings held up until the most recent meeting have been published, together with the AGM papers and various updated policy and associated documents. They are in the Documentation section on this website for members to see, and members need to be logged in to read these.