Southport u3a help their local community, one action at a time

Chris from Southport u3a talks about their most recent interest group - 'Just One Thing', which encourages u3a members to get involved in small projects within their local area.

In honour of the great Michael Mosley, Southport u3a have set up a ‘Just One Thing Group’. This is not Just One Thing to help ourselves but Just One Thing to help our local town and community so the u3a can make a difference.

We are asking our members to give up half a day, here and there to work on a series of worthwhile projects, sharing their skills and time to the greater good of the town.

I was not sure if people would be interested so I put a box for names at the last meeting, did a shout out and in came the volunteers.

In July we helped restore our beautiful Grade 11 listed bandstand on Victoria Park. Built in 1890 the bandstand is an iconic feature of our largest park. As well as hosting brass band performances, it is a great place for a picnics and wedding photos. The bandstand was a school for frail children from the 1920s up until after the Second World War and has special memories for many.

It was looking very sad. Our team spent two mornings repainting the silver balustrades and red Lancaster roses and what a difference it made. A very big thank you to u3a members Anne, Chris, Lynne and Paul who painted, met dog walkers, ate cake and gave something back to Southport. We all had a great time and people walking their dogs came to see what we were doing, thanked us and we talked about u3a. It was great publicity for u3a and I had high viz jackets printed so they knew who we were.

There are lots of jobs around the town that many u3a members already do working in the town’s gardens, litter collecting, helping in charity shops and many, many more good works throughout the town. We know the Council can’t/won’t do all the jobs we need doing so let’s not complain - do ‘Just One Thing’

From September, Southport u3a are planning a series of voluntary jobs across our town, reaching out to our Council. In line with the ‘Fit for the Future Aims’, our u3a will become part of the larger community, showcasing that retired people make things happen too.