Building Connections: Kent u3a Network’s Journey and Impact

Rob from the Kent Network talks about how the network first began in the 1990s and how it benefits u3as in the county.  

From the River Medway in the north to the English Channel and those well-known White Cliffs in the south, Kent is one of Britain’s largest counties. With a population of 1.8 million it is also one of the warmest and is famous as the Garden of England, known once for its hops but now for its wine and apples.

With over 25% of the population aged 60 and over, it’s no wonder that the u3a movement started as early as 1984 in the county and now there are 33 u3as, with over 1500 interest groups.

Why have a Network?

Kent is just one out of 9 counties in the u3a South East Region and it soon became apparent that a more local organisation was needed to fill the gap. The Kent Network of u3as was founded in 1995. Initially it had no elected officers but was organised on the basis of a rotating Chairman and Secretary, who volunteered for the task. Today it has a complete set of elected officers from around the county who meet regularly as a committee and in a plenary session with representatives from all the u3as.

Kent Network is actively supported by our South East Region Trustee, Susie Berry and we have great help from Sue Russell, Chair of Network Link and from the Third Age Trust team including Nelly Mair, Liz Drury and Alison May.

Networks are great! From the beginning the Network delivered many services to its members including the three Study days per year, all over the county, on subjects as diverse as Architecture, WWI and Jazz., but soon expanded to offer advice, spread information, share resources and promote the movement.

Turnover of u3a officers and training of newly elected officers is a constant task. Networks provide an excellent means for making this much easier. Not all u3as are the same! But it is amazing how often they have the same challenges.

This year the Network is supporting the creation of a new u3a by providing the interim chair, technical advice on setting up a website and a Facebook site and providing a cash grant.

Shared activities include the annual Science Seminar organised by the Sevenoaks u3a and the Role of Women Study Day at Tonbridge.

Our next ambitious project is we are seeking funding from the Trust to support us to run a stall at the Kent County Show and recruit some of its 70,000 attendees into one of the Kent u3as.

Great Communications!

We have always encouraged members and officers of the Kent u3as to help each other at meetings, swap advice and share resources but now we have three new tools to catalyse this every day:

• A WhatsApp group for all the Chairs and Vice Chairs to chat informally and confidentially
• A Kent Network website for all officers and committee members and which contains News, Events, How to Run a u3a and How to Join a u3a. This not only has the pick of information from the Trust, the Region and Network Link, but also local events and reports of past events. Member are invited to comment and submit their own material
• A Kent Network Facebook group designed not only to meet the needs of the Kent u3a members but also bring the u3a movement to the attention of a wider variety of Kent residents , especially people who may be using social media as their main source of information.

Is your u3a a member of a local network? If not, why not consider inviting local u3as to set one up? No formality is needed, there are no rules from the Third Age Trust and you may find that the benefits are greater than you expected. There is more information on the Third Age Trust website.