This page has news about Cottingham u3a together with local information and websites which members might find useful and interesting.
Membership Fees
From 1st April 2026 we will be introducing new categories of membership. This is to accommodate the introduction of a £4.00 fee for the u3a Matters Magazine. This will only apply to those members who have signed up to receive this magazine. There is no increase in charges for the remaining categories.
Categories of Membership:
- Individual 1 Basic Membership (includes emailed bi-monthly newsletter) £12.00
- Individual 2 Basic Membership + Printed and posted bi-monthly newsletter. £20.00
- Individual 3 Basic Membership + u3a Matters magazine £16.00
- Individual 4 Basic Membership + Printed newsletter & u3a Matters Mag £24.00
- Associate Membership - For new members who belong to another u3a £ 8.00
New Members Meeting
We had a very successful New Members meeting this morning. Approximately 30 new members attended together with a number of our Group Conveners. 3 new members joined using our new online joining system and a few members took the opportunity to renew their memberships, again using our new online system.
New Groups
We are hoping to start two new groups very shortly - Talk Italian and Backgammon. If you would be interested in joining either of these groups please contact the Group Coordinator on the link below:
IMPORTANT UPDATE ON MEMBERSHIP PAYMENTS
As you may know, Cottingham u3a banks with Lloyds. Recently, our account was converted to a charity account, which now incurs charges. The most significant of these is a 50p fee for every cheque deposited.
To manage costs responsibly, 2026 will be the final year we accept cheques for membership renewals. Cheques will only be accepted until 30 June 2026.
From July 2026 onwards, membership payments can be made in one of three ways:
- Cash
- Online bank transfer (details are provided on the renewal form)
- Debit or credit card at the monthly meeting or online.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we make this change to keep our finances sustainable.
MAKE YOUR MEMBERSHIP GO FURTHER WITH GIFT AID
Did you know your Cottingham u3a membership can be worth even more – at no extra cost to you?
Through the Gift Aid scheme, charities like ours can claim an additional 25p from HMRC for every £1 you pay, provided you are a UK taxpayer paying the basic rate of tax.
That means on a £12 membership fee, Cottingham u3a can receive an extra £3 – simply because you ticked the Gift Aid box. Last year, thanks to members who opted in, we were able to claim over £400. That’s money directly supporting our activities, events, and community.
By choosing Gift Aid, you’re helping Cottingham u3a do more with every pound. It’s quick, easy, and costs you nothing.
Please tick the Gift Aid box on your new membership form, or let the Membership Secretary know if you’d like to update your current details.
Together, we can make every membership count even more.
Karen Hawtree
Cottingham u3a treasurer
Monthly Meetings - 2026
For dates of this year's Monthly Meetings and for information about all the speakers, please click on Monthly Meetings on the tab above.
Christmas Social 2025
This year over 80 members enjoyed a very enjoyable afternoon at our Christmas Social. The Darby & Joan Hall and all the tables had been beautifully decorated. Each table had platters of cakes and mince pies together with a selection of nuts, nibbles and sweets.
Entertainment was provided by local magician Dan Voakes from Welton. He performed a few tricks for the whole audience and then did some close up magic tricks for each table. Everybody was left wondering how it was done.
There were two table top quizzes for members to test their knowledge of Christmas song lyrics and Christmas related anagrams.
Cottingham u3a makes National News.
The following article appears in the Winter 2025 edition of u3a Matters magazine.
AGM - 2025
Cottingham u3a held its 25th AGM on Thursday 11th September. 85 members were present at the meeting, which again was an excellent attendance for an AGM. A new Executive Committee was appointed and thanks were given to those members who were leaving the committee. Fortunately all the roles on the committee have now been filled, the main ones being:
- Chair: Lesley Tempest
- Vice Chair: Joan Lehain
- Secretary: Pam Jackson
- Treasurer: Karen Hawtree
- Membership Sec: Karen Baker
Those members present voted unanimously to accept the proposal to amend the Cottingham u3a Constitution to allow the roles of the secretary and treasurer to be held for up to 5 years without an interval in service. This was previously 3 years.
To end the meeting this year, being the 25th Anniversary of Cottingham u3a, the members present were served with a glass of wine or juice together with a delicious cupcake in a presentation box.
The full Executive Committee is now as follows:
- Lesley Tempest
- Joan Lehain
- Pam Jackson
- Karen Hawtree
- Karen Baker
- Pat Collard
- Peter Glover
- Jackie McAndrew
- Jill Robson
- Trish Phillips-Clarke
Non-committee roles
- Pat Windle - Newsletter Editor
- Paul Tempest - Beacon Administrator
- David Groom - Website Editor
u3a Friends
u3a Friends is an exciting new initiative to bring together stories and interests from across the u3a movement; to use our collective voice to change lives and to share exclusive member offers with our exclusive Friends Extra benefits programme. All of these come together under the banner of u3a Friends. Signing up to the newsletter means you are up to date and in touch with all that's happening across the movement as it happens. To progress this further, and for more information, please click on the link below and the web page click on Menu in the top right of the page. This will bring up a menu list on the left hand side. Scroll down and then click on u3a Friends :
New Mobile Phone Number
I am pleased to let you know that Cottingham u3a now has a mobile phone number that members can use to contact any Committee Member or Group Convenor. The phone will be held and answered by a Committee Member who will then pass on any queries to the relevant person/group concerned to ensure the query is dealt with.
The phone number is: 07586 532964
Please note that this number is for Calls and Text Messages(SMS) only.
NB (The phone cannot receive or send WhatsApp calls/messages)
24 hour Legal Advisory Service.
The free legal telephone advice service from ARC Legal Assistance has been cancelled as this has not proved to be financially viable.
In future, please contact National Office direct for legal advice and they will deal with any enquiries on a ‘case by case’ basis.
Telephone 020 8466 6139 and Quote U3A Legal Helpline.
This free telephone advice service is available to all U3A members; there is no limit to the number of calls you can make and advice will be given on all aspects of law. If you are asked for an insurance number, tell them that you do not have one.
Click on Citizens Advice to go to their website, where you can obtain helpful information or be pointed to the nearest location for advice.
Advice on avoiding Scams
Being aware of different possible scams is the best way to avoid them. Click on any (or each) of the following for advice.
| takefive-stopfraud | - Awareness campaign by FFA UK, its members, and partners Cifas & City of London Police |
| AgeUK Avoiding scams | - similar guide from Age UK. |
| Postal & Phone Scams | - article from Cottingham U3A Newsletter (Sept 2016) |
Mobile Phone Emergency Contact
Have you thought of adding ICE (In case of emergency) next to the mobile phone number of your next of kin or contact person? This would inform the Emergency Services of who to contact in case of emergency. It would also be helpful for Group Leaders.
The Third Age Trust
The Trust holds several summer schools, workshops and conferences annually although these tend to be held in the south. To see if there is anything that appeals to you, check out their website by clicking on the U3A heading above.
This gives details of selected National Theatre plays which are filmed and broadcast live. Cineworld at Kingswood shows these excellent broadcasts which include extras such as the background to the play or interviews with the author.
East Riding library catalogue - & - Hull library catalogue
Find out which books are available. No need to log on.