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

Thursday – Groups

Updated July 2024

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Badminton (Indoor Fun and Games)

Played on marked courts in the main hall at Sandylands, Skipton. Clothing as for indoor sports with non-marking shoes. A reasonable level of fitness is required. Game details: we usually play doubles but also singles depending on numbers. 2 games played to 11 points with 2 points clear. Players rotate between courts.Rackets and shuttlecocks provided.Fees - £4 on a “pay per play” basis. Payable by bank transfer to the Group Leader 3/9/2026 to 26/8/2027 Surcharge - Nil

Floral Art (Creative Arts and Crafts)

Start date Sept 10 -July 8th(on second and fourth Thursday of month) (except Dec 3rd) This group is aimed at people who enjoy flowers and creative thinking. With a different theme each session, and including development of technical skills, it provides an opportunity to interpret titles in individual ways. There is no right or wrong, just your own take on flowers, foliage and mechanics. A supportive and friendly group shares ideas, materials and conversation. We finish with discussion of our ideas and the pleasure of admiring each other’s arrangements and learning from each other, before some planning for our next session Sept 10 - July 8 (2nd & 4th Thursday, except December) Dec 3 Venue surcharge £10.00 (Sept & Jan)

History Extra (People and Places)

An extra History course. Five weekly talks on various things historical. - informative, stimulating, and thought-provoking. From the wonders of early collectors and their eccentricities, via the Frankish empire of the 8th century, to the bosses of the Iron Curtain countries. This course is intended as a priority to enrol those members who were not able to attend the ongoing History Happens course, and will repeat talks give on previous u3a courses. Surcharge £5.00

History Happens (People and Places)

A series of lively talks, on all things historical, with a variety of speakers. Fortnightly, from October to March, specifically designed for our members who enjoy hearing about historical topics that cover unfamiliar ground . . . that take them to unexplored realms . . . that open up new vistas. On a broad range of topics - ancient to modern. From social and cultural history to people, events and politics - such as the story of Rapanui (Easter Island), the peace that followed World War One, archaeology in Uganda, plus geology, garden history and much more. Plenty to entertain and stimulate. Start date Oct 1st every fortnight to Dec 10th 2027 Jan 7th every fortnight to March 18th

Politics Discussion Group (People and Places)

Weekky. Start date Sept 24 th to Dec 3rd ( except ( Oct 29th) 2027 Start date Jan 7 th to March 18 th ( except Feb 11th) The Politics Discussion Group meets weekly to discuss current political events. We also consider the background to political decisions, and the processes of government (in the UK and elsewhere). Group members will bring to bear their wide-ranging experience(s), reading and viewing to try to get a better understanding of what’s going on and where it might lead. Occasionally, a member of the group may offer a more formal input to inform and focus our discussions. The group is not intended to be a forum for political knockabout from entrenched positions, (although members will clearly have, and express, their own views), but rather an educational experience from which we emerge having learned something new or question Venue surcharge £10 per 10 sessions

Walk to Lunch 25-26 (Out and About)

We offer morning walks of 4 to 5 miles, every fortnight, followed by a pub/café lunch. Please note that a regular commitment to walks is required and pre-booking for walks/lunches is essential. Members must be fit to walk at a good pace and able to manage hills and stiles. Meeting points and pub menus are circulated by email a week before each walk. You’ll need boots, waterproofs, email access and (sometimes) a sense of adventure !! 9/10/2025 to 24/9/2026 Surcharge £0.00

Walking Group 25-26 (Out and About)

2/9/2025 to 1/9/2026 We meet every Tuesday and Thursday weekly for walks in the Yorkshire Dales, Moors and Lake District, between 6 to 13 miles, either easy, moderate or strenuous in grade. Full details in the the group's programme are published for the Winter, Spring and Summer walks. You will receive a copy as a member Surcharge £0.00

Weimar Republic (People and Places)

2026 Thursday every fortnight. Oct 8 th and 22nd, Nov 5th and 19th, and Dec 3rd The Weimar Republic is the name given to the German government between the country’s defeat in 1918 and the beginning of Nazi Germany in 1933. This complex period is characterised by not only political turmoil and economic hardship, but also by new social freedoms and remarkable developments in architecture, art and cinema. The era sets the stage for the unlikely rise to power of Adolf Hitler, thus bringing calamity to Germany, Europe and the world. Try to attend all five talks. Try to attend all five talks. Venue Surcharge £5 per 5 sessions