Providing opportunities for people who are retired from full-time employment in Skipton and neighbouring areas

Wednesday – Groups

Updated July 2024

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Adaptive Tennis (0)

Group Leader - Anne MacDonald Weekly Wednesday - 1.00 - 3.00 pm 5/5/27 - 10/7/27. 10 sessions in total Skipton Tennis Club Adaptive Tennis is suitable for anyone but especially members who have mobility issues, or lack full muscle strength. It is played on a shorter court with a lighter ball. The serving technique can be flexible. All equipment is provided. Venue surcharge - £10

Aerobic Fitness Training (1)

Group Leader - John Dixon Weekly Wednesday 2.00 - 3.00 pm Autumn 7/10/26 - 9/12/26. Spring 6/1/27 - 10/3/27. Sandylands Gym The course is aimed at improving overall body fitness levels. Activities include some upper body strength training, as well as the generally accepted aerobic workouts, resistance training, incorporating light weights and use of gym equipment. Numbers are limited so members should be prepared to do press-ups, squats, lunges and be able to sustain some high intensity aerobic exercise (HIIT). Suitable clothing essential. Please bring water and check with your doctor that HIIT is OK for you, as heart rates will be elevated. Venue Surcharge - £10 autumn and spring.

Book Group - Non-fiction (1)

Group Leader - John Hoole Monthly Wednesday 6.45 - 7.45 pm 7/10/2026 to 7/7/2027 Various venues The only requirement for this group is to have read the book! Meeting on the first Wednesday of the month. Members can choose books in advance from a list provided by Skipton Library which will be emailed before the first meeting. Everyone is responsible for collecting from and returning their book to the library by the due date. There is no requirement to be a member of the library. The venue may vary, using local pubs to meet. Ideally, everyone should be happy to be a member of a WhatsApp group which will be used for reminders and recommendations about books and authors - no pictures of pets, holidays or grandchildren! Venue surcharge £0.

Crafting for Christmas (1)

Group Leader - Wendy Brown Fortnightly Wednesday 2.00 - 4.00 pm 30/9/26 - 9/12/26 Draughton Village Hall We will make a variety of Christmas decorations, cards and presents, primarily using fabric and ribbons. Each session we will work together to make a different item, some of which we should be able to finish during the session and some of which you will need to finish at home. Basic sewing skills required. There will be an additional charge of £20 for materials. Venue surcharge £5. Podcast - copy and paste this link into your browser address field: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7pWTUujyl3HaE8jr3kgTAP?si=72701b9a50924833

Craven u3a Orchestra (1)

Group Leader - Sue Stidworthy Weekly Wednesday 2.00 - 4.00 pm 23/09/26 - 9/12/26 (no session 28/10/26) and 6/1/27 - 17/3/27 (no session 10/02/27). Embsay Village Hall The orchestra welcomes instrumental players of all abilities. We have varying levels of skill but all share an enthusiasm for making music together. We have a wide repertoire ranging from Handel’s Water Music to Morricone’s film music. The rehearsals are always an enjoyable and rewarding way of spending an afternoon. Venue surcharge £5 autumn and spring. Podcast - copy and paste the following link into your web browser address: https://open.spotify.com/episode/18kSyNNvpebWrw0C3Mymke?si=821971406e42456c

Croquet (1)

Group Leader - Graham Read Weekly Wednesday 1.30 - 3.30 pm 5/5/27 - 29/9/27. Pendle and Craven Croquet Club The group provides friendly, social competition playing ‘golf Croquet’ from the beginning of May to the end of September (weather permitting). The rules are very straightforward . It is suitable for all members. All equipment is provided. Flat soled shoes should be worn. There will be a weekly charge of £2.50. Venue surcharge £10.

Fabrics,Threads and Yarns (1)

Group Leader - Anne Reay Weekly Wednesday 10.00 am - 12.00 30/9/26 - 9/12/26 (no session 28/10/26) and 6/1/27 - 17/3/27 (no session 27/2/27). Skipton Sports Community Hub Working with fabrics and threads is a wonderfully extensive skill that can be applied to small and large, simple and complicated projects. Items to use daily or pieces to give as presents. The Group embraces all aspects of working with fabrics and threads. Everyone can learn to sew or knit, you just require a vision of the finished project and the determination to complete it. If you enjoy sewing or knitting or want to learn to then come along and join our group. We are interested in making all things patchwork from placemats to sophisticated quilts and all the other ways of using this versatile skill. Bring your own work, or a basic sewing kit and some fabric if you want to learn something new. I have ideas for simple starter projects. Everyone welcome, from experienced quilters/dressmakers/knitters to complete novices. We can all share with each other what we know and ask for help with what we don’t know. Venue surcharge - £10 autumn and spring.

Geography Forum (1)

Group Leader - Jonathan Hauxwell Weekly Wednesday 10.00 am - 12.00 7/10/26 - 9/12/26 (except 28/10/26) and 6/1/27 - 17/3/27 (except 17/2/27). St Stephen's Church Hall, Skipton Talks, mainly by members of the Forum, on Geography, History, People and Places. Venue surcharge - £5 autumn and spring. Podcast - copy and paste the following link into your web browser address: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2uIifYh5pmBdNIqYBLGybU?si=a83acc6c041d4ba4

Italian Improvers (1)

Group Leader - Sylva Vorstman Weekly Wednesday 2.00 - 4.00 pm 7/10/26 - 16/12/26 (except 4/11/26) and 13/1/27 - 24/3/27 (except 17/2/27). Quaker Meeting House This year's course will build on last year's vocabulary, covering a few more topic areas and revising last year's work. The emphasis will be on how the language is structured, covering very basic grammar: definite and indefinite article, gender, adjectives, how to form singular and plural nouns and adjectives; also verbs, basic present tense, the most used past tense, and the future. At the end you should be more comfortable with a basic level of fluency and be able to make up your own language and construct your own sentences. You do not need knowledge of English grammar to do this. Venue surcharge - £5 autumn and £10 spring.

Modern Art and Architecture (1)

Group Leader - Ian Adams Weekly Wednesday 10.15 am - 12.15 pm 30/9/26 - 9/12/26 (no session 28/10/26). Embsay Village Hall Side Room Art, Architecture and Design in the 19th and 20th centuries - concentrating on developments in Britain in the 19th century and the wider western world in the 20th century. Venue surcharge - £10. Podcast - copy and paste the following link into your web browser address: https://open.spotify.com/episode/7BgKWGzWa5NWkOW0R6vOPv?si=dc22d40d0bef4100

Padel Tennis (1)

Group Leader - Roland Styles Weekly Wednesday 1.00 - 3pm 2/9/26 - 4/11/26 and 15/4/27 - 16/6/27 Skipton Tennis Club Two covered courts + one outside court(subject to availability). All equipment is provided. Two groups of 8 playing for one hour each week. There will be a coach at the first session to explain the rules. Wear tennis shoes with flat soles please. No trainers or running shoes. There is a club house to socialise in whilst waiting to play. Craven u3a has negotiated two sessions of one hour, for the 10 week block.. Two courts. Venue surcharge - £30 per 5 sessions ( £6 per session) over autumn and summer.

Singing Madrigals (1)

Group Leader - Chris Skidmore Weekly Wednesday 10.30 am - 12.30 p, 7/10/26 - 9/12/26 and 13/1/27 - 17/3/27 St Andrew's Church Primary Room In this course we shall get together to sing examples of English madrigals and other simple part songs. Singing in parts is a group activity where we support each other and is good for both body and mind. Enthusiasm and a willingness to try will be more important than musical experience, although some knowledge of musical notation will help. Venue surcharge - £10 autumn and spring.

Spanish Intermediate/Advanced (1)

Group Leader - Phil Lawler Fortnightly Wednesday 7.00 - 8.30 pm 7/10/26, 21/10/26, 4/11/26, 18/11/26 and 2/12/26 St Stephen's Church Hall An opportunity for those who already have a good level of spoken Spanish to improve their knowledge and ability. We will use some videos and newspaper articles to learn useful Spanish colloquial expressions. The emphasis will be on spoken Spanish although some reading may be required to facilitate it. The course is not suitable for beginners. Venue surcharge - £10.

Stories of Scientists (1)

Group Leader - Mick Richings Weekly Wednesday 2.00 - 4.00 pm 13/01/2027 - 24/03/2027 (except 17/03/27) Skipton Sports Community Hub Stories of Scientists: their background and discoveries. Venue Surcharge - £10.

Stretching /Movement (1)

Group Leader - Sandra Dixon Weekly Wednesday 10.00 - 11.00 am 7/10/26 - 16/12/26 (except 14/10/26) and 6/1/27 - 10/3/27 St Andrew's Church Hall Chair exercise to improve posture, balance and flexibility. Seated exercise, with some standing positions using the chair as an aid. Please wear comfortable clothing and light soft shoes. Bring a bottle of water. Venue surcharge - £5 autumn and £10 spring.

Victorians (1)

Group Leader - Vera Brearey Weekly Wednesday 2.00 - 4.00 pm 7/10/26 - 16/12/26 (no session 11/11/26) Swadford Centre Ten speakers, ten topics. Everything from Queen Victoria to the songs of the streets, and from John Ruskin to work and play in Victorian Skipton. There will be a £3 (for the term) contribution to the costs of guest speakers. Venue surcharge - £5.

Z Croquet (1)

Group Leader - Graham Read Weekly Wednesday 1.30 - 3.30 pm 5/5/27 - 29/9/27. Pendle and Craven Croquet Club The group provides friendly, social competition playing ‘golf Croquet’ from the beginning of May to the end of September (weather permitting). The rules are very straightforward . It is suitable for all members. All equipment is provided. Flat soled shoes should be worn. There will be a weekly charge of £2.50. Venue surcharge £10.