September 2025:

At the meeting in September 2025 the following ideas were discussed:

Ideas for Recruiting New Group Leaders

• With support from the Coordinator, encourage members to take it one month at a time, taking turns to plan a meeting/visit
• Share aspects of the role - emailing members, booking room, refreshments, finance etc
• Just have one coordinator to deal with admin but otherwise members are expected to take turns
• Encourage announcements and presence at the monthly meeting
• Some groups may like to make a presentation about what the group does. These last two can demystify what a GL actually does.
• Produced a checklist to help new GLs with the process of setting up a new group. 

Managing Difficult Participants

• Advise leaders to consult the coordinator for support and practical suggestions.
• Address issues promptly and gather perspectives from all involved before acting.
• Act early if members express intent to leave, aiming to resolve conflicts and retain engagement.

Engaging Former Committee Members

To retain the experience and enthusiasm of outgoing committee members, it was suggested that they could be invited to help start duplicate groups when existing ones reach capacity.

Next Meeting

Please note the next meeting will take place on Wednesday at 4:15 pm, 18th March 2026. (The date has changed due to the East Midland regional event taking place on the 11th March 2026

April 2025

Here’s a quick round-up from our Groups’ Coordinators meeting held on Monday 28th April. Thanks to all who attended—and to those who sent apologies.

Attendees

Representatives joined from various local U3As, including Warsop, Mapperley, Newark, Beeston, Mansfield, Southwell, Burton Joyce, and Ravenshead.

Sharing Ideas & Good Practice

• Beeston U3A gave insights into their impressive setup: with over 1100 members and 100+ interest groups, they have four Group Coordinators. Each manages a quarter of the groups by category (e.g. sports, languages) and plays a key role in launching and supporting new activities.
• Calligraphy is gaining traction! Beeston and Mansfield run groups already, and Southwell expressed interest in a short introductory course. Know someone who might lead it? Let us know!
• A new Spanish Group may be starting in Newark, with inspiration drawn from existing groups in Beeston and Burton Joyce.
• Southwell’s Short Courses Programme was highlighted. It’s run by a small committee team with a pre-agreed budget, making all courses free to members—brilliant for reducing admin! The format has been successful for 2–3 years, covering topics like:
  • First Aid (via Red Cross or St John)
  • Fire Safety (fire service-led)
  • Financial Advice & Future Planning
    More ideas and potential repeats are welcomed.

Upcoming Events & Dates

• Notts Network Event: Tailored to Group Coordinators. A poster is available—please check if you haven’t seen it! Can't attend? The national Interest Groups Matter workshop might be a great alternative—details on the U3A national site.
• Next Zoom Meeting: Set for Tuesday 2nd September at 4:15pm. Add it to your diaries!

Final Notes

The meeting wrapped up at 4:50pm, and we didn’t need the backup Zoom link. If you have questions or want to follow up on anything discussed, feel free to contact me.

Looking forward to seeing many of you on June 23rd!

Warm wishes,
J.H.
Groups’ Coordinators PSG organiser

NOTE: This report was created by AI from supplied minutes, TM