Important - In the event that you have to cancel one of your meetings will you please let the Venues Secretary (venues@fleetu3a.org.uk) know asap as they may then be able to avoid us paying for the venue on that occasion.

We are starting on the process to produce the 2025-2026 Programme for Fleet U3A.  Although September seems a long way away the Programme is printed in May so it's ready for sending out by the Membership Secretary when members start renewing their membership from 1 June 2025.   

The collection of group dates and details starts now and the Programme is compiled, checked and formatted ready for our Programme Checking Day at the United Reformed Church on Thursday 27 March 2025, not the date in this year's 2024-2025 Programme.   Please put this date in your diary/calendar.

Can you please complete the booking form (pdf or word) and return as soon as you can so that your group can be included in the Programme for 2025-2026.  

If you are no longer the GL, or will not be the GL in the 2025-2026 academic year, can you please advise the new GL of the 2025/26 programme and email programme@fleetu3a.org.uk with the name of the new GL.

You will see the lower part of the form has a list of key dates of pre-booked U3A meetings you should consider when compiling your group meeting dates, plus there are the Fleet U3A Monthly Meetings which occur on the morning of the 3rd Wednesday of every term month, except December.

This year the form also asks about the current number of group members, the maximum number of members you consider you/your venue can accommodate, plus whether you have a waiting list and if so the number of people on that list.  This extra information is to give our U3A a better idea of where there are group vacancies and where there is a potential for additional  groups to cater for the demand.

Also attached is a School Terms and Holidays/Bank Holidays Calendar, this you will need when checking the dates on which your group can meet.

We look forward to receiving your completed forms.  If you have any queries about the form or the process then please do not hesitate to contact Alan Jones by email:    programme@fleetu3a.org.uk

All payment methods and any mix thereof continue to be accepted to suit the circumstances or preferences of the Group Leader and/or individual Group Members.  However, if all options are equally convenient to Individuals or Group Leaders then the Treasurer's preference list is as shown below.

- Cheques should continue to be made out to payee   Fleet & District U3A

- Form A is updated to have a CAF account name of  Fleet & District U3A.  If your own bank doesn't accept the Ampersand (&) try "and"      instead, or try just Fleet U3A

1.  Updated GL Forms A& B and processes that apply from 1 January 2025 onwards

This section is written in conjunction with Neil Morley, Treasurer.

All three methods of payment below are accepted. Please note that Group Leaders and Group members can use any of these three methods of payment or a mixture thereof to suit their own circumstances or preference.  Where there is no particular preference from GLs or Individuals then the Treasurer's preference order is:

1. Cash

2. Bank Transfer with reference Group Identifier-member name  (e.g. ART12-AlanJones)

3. Cheques made out to the payee Fleet & District U3A

From 1 January 2025 only the CAF Bank will be used for Bank Transfers, use of HSBC is discontinued.  Please note that CAF Bank do not have the Confirmation of Payee (CoP)  name checking service that checks the name of the account holder you intend to pay and their account details.   If you or any of your members are not happy with this, then we advise use of Cash or Cheque.

The format of the Payer reference on Bank Transfers must be as below for the Treasurer to find the transaction in the bank statements and credit the individual member or any GL bulk payments.  Please inform all your members of the required format shown below:

Group Reference-Member name  e.g.,   ART12-AlanJones

(The Group Reference is in brackets alongside each Group Name in the Programme e.g. ART12,   Member Name should be as full as your own bank reference character limit allows)

CAF Bank Details     Name -  Fleet & District U3A   Sort Code - 40-52-40    Account No - 00006405

If your own bank doesn't accept the Ampersand (&) try    and       instead, or try just  Fleet U3A

Cheques must be made out to payee -   Fleet & District U3A   - our formal Charity name as registered with the Charity Commission

1.   Form B must be completed and sent to the Treasurer when you believe all your group members have paid by Cash, Bank Transfer or Cheque.

2.   Form A must be completed and sent to the Treasurer near the start of each term, when you believe all your group members have paid by Cash, Bank Transfer or Cheque and the payment method for each member noted in the last column on the form. 

3.   At the end of each term Form A must be updated as necessary and sent to the Treasurer again as a record of member attendance and include any member additions during the term.

Even if your group does not use a paid venue it is recommended from a U3A Insurance standpoint to keep a register of attendees at each meeting, Form A can be used for this purpose.  The larger groups might decide to use a different method of recording attendance as necessary.

The latest updated versions of Forms A and B are available below