| Registered Charity No.1192380 |
Meeting Details
- Date: Wednesday 11th February 2026
- Time: 09:30 to 11:00am
- Venue: Withnell Fold Sports and Social Club
- Present: Ann Furlong (Chair); Bronwen Hastings (Acting Secretary); Paul Brooking (Treasurer); Kay Aldred (Accessibility Officer); Geoff Tittensor (Membership Secretary); Lynn Worden (Publicity Officer); Lynn Robinson (Speaker Secretary); Steve Perry
- Apologies: Graham Green; Clive Bass (Web Editor); Mike Smith;
Agenda
- 1. Welcome and Opening Remarks
- 2. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
- 3. Review of action items from previous meeting
- 4. Reports and Updates
- 5. Any Other Business
- 6. Date of Next Meeting
- 7. Actions to be taken and by whom
1. Welcome and Opening Remarks
The chairperson called the meeting to order and introduced two “observers” who may / may not wish to join the committee.
2. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes
The minutes from the previous meeting, held on Wednesday 26th November were reviewed. Attendees were asked if there were any corrections or additions. After a brief discussion, the minutes were approved unanimously as an accurate record.
3. Review of Action Items from Previous Meeting
- Digital Skills Update
Next meeting will be 26th February 2026. No issues.
- Brinscall Baths Update
Opening times:
Sundays 10am – Noon for public sessions. The first Sunday 64 people attended.
In February & March opening times will be 7am – 9am and Noon to 1pm for the general public and if well attended will roll out from Monday to Saturday.
LW will include in the newsletter.
- “Shared Drive” sessions for Group Conveners
Those that were having issues have been addressed and sorted. Just one outstanding and will be addressed in the near future.
- Risk Assessments
Agreed this is all sorted especially with the work PB has recently done in respect of this and no further action is required.
- List of past Speakers
LR has an issue with the calendar on the website. It is coming out at the bottom of the page and she would rather it was either at the top or in between the list / information on upcoming and past speakers. GT will look into this to see if it can be changed.
- Truncated Minutes
BH to file minutes in the correct folder so GT can find them and publish on the website.
- Speakers broken microphone
PB looked into the issue of the broken microphone. Gives a lot of feedback. Suggested looking into buying a small portable sound system.
- Group Conveners “Thankyou” Event
Suggested Afternoon Tea for 20+ conveners. Venue suggestions were at the Club House but fitting it in between POM and Shakespeare Groups on a Friday or, The Village Tea Rooms. AF and MB to visit the Tea Rooms to ascertain costs and availability.
- Music Licence Update
Decided all was covered by both the Club House and U3a’s music licences.
- Metal Music Stand update
KA looked into a few options. However, it has been decided that the old ones will suffice for now.
- POM sessions for the calender
All sorted.
- Review of Christmas Quiz
General concencus was that it was a good event. Also, that not holding a Speaker Event in December to make way for this quiz should be carried on.
- Review of Carols around the Village
The event didn’t go well due to not many people attending for various reasons but mostly because it was a school night. Will re-think closer to the next event.
4. Reports and Updates
- Treasurer’s Report
All good. However, it has been noted that recently some U3a’s have been refused Gift Aid by HMRC as on their websites they are referencing “teaching” and not “learning” and as a membership fee is being paid then a service is being received therefore Gift Aid is not allowable. As opposed to “learning” in which case the membership fee is classed as a donation. PB has checked the website and all references are to “learning”.
- Membership Update
There are 267 members.
Digital membership cards to be discussed in September.
- Speaker Update
LR suggested not having a speaker in January for various reasons. General agreement going forward was to not have a Speaker in December (Christmas Quiz) or January or whenever the summer event takes place.
Contingency plan for speaker no-show. It was generally agreed that as far as contacting people by email, Whatsapp Groups etc. and somebody being at the Club House to inform any people who do show up of the cancellation that not a lot else can be done in respect of a speaker being unable to come.
- Groups report
Walking Football
Ten people have shown an interest in the Walking Football in response to the newsletter item.
Maybe do a couple of sessions to see how it goes. Discuss MS when he returns.
Shakespeare Group
All ready to go. First session in April.
Singing Group
Started 3 weeks ago. 25 people showed an interest. 17 ish have shown up.
Pickleball / Badminton
Issue with booking the courts. To discuss with MS when he returns.
- Policies
All have been standardised to relate to WPV U3a.
- Group Convener Documents
All been amended and going on the website.
- New Members Social Event
Had 38 new members since September.
Suggest April / May time at the Club in the evening with the bar open.
- New Signs
U3a signs on gates etc need replacing at a cost of £50-£60. Agreed to replace.
- Laptop for use by a Speaker
For Speakers who don’t bring a laptop LR suggested that she would provide her personal laptop or, should a laptop be purchased. It was decided that as most speakers bring their own laptops it was unnecessary for LR to bring hers or, for the U3a to purchase one. A HMDI cable is being left at the club.
- DVD Player for Shakespeare Group
The Group convener would like to play a DVD for the group to discuss. It was agreed that a DVD player would be purchased.
- Microphone for better remote access
PB will borrow a microphone to see if it works with a view to purchasing one.
- Icy Conditions
A complaint was received re the path not being gritted. This was resolved by pointing out that this would be done by volunteers and not always available.
- Boxing Day Event
It has been noted from a group that some people may have nowhere to go on Boxing Day. To be discussed nearer the time and maybe the group could organise something.
- Emails sent from U3a Central re Volunteers, Workshops, U3a Fesitval & Summer Schools
All the emails are published on the U3a website (not WPV).
A North West Newsletter is received by AF and she will send to LW to put a link in the newsletter as the North West one will be more relevant to us.
- AGM Date and Sub committee
Wednesday 13th May 10:00am. AF & BH sub committee.
- Ceilidh
Suggested to do a “practice” Ceilidh limiting numbers to 30ish. 6th March. Putting it out to the Social Group first on a first come first served basis. To include partners. This one to be in the Club House. PB will do the bar. No cost. No food.
5. Any Other Business
- Keys to Club House
A Group Convener has requested to have a key to the Club House.
The Sports & Social Club has a form to complete which asks if the person requesting the key is a member of the Sports & Social Club and if not why are they requesting a key. U3a would pay the £20 for the U3a member to become a social member of the Sports & Social Club.
- Groups Convener
MB would like to step down from this role and a general shout out to anyone who would like to take it up to speak to MB.
- T&C’s between Sports & Social Club and U3a
No agreement is currently in place. Sports & Social Club will provide T&C’s for U3a to sign.
- New Committee members
Two guest committee members who attended both November’s and today’s committee meetings have been co-opted onto the committee pending election at the AGM. GT will put them on Beacon and AF will invite them into the Whatsapp group.
6. Date of Next Meeting
Wednesday 25th March 2026 at 9.30am at Withnell Sports and Social Club.
7. Actions to be taken and by whom
LW – To include in Newsletter – Opening times re Brinscall Swimming Baths
GT – change calendar re Speakers events on website.
PB – Costs re portable sound system
AF / MB – Look into costs / availability of Village Tea Rooms for Group Conveners Thankyou.