## South Lakes u3a AGM 2025 Chair’s report. It’s the middle of April – hedgerows bursting with daffodils, blossom and nesting birds; all nurtured by a wonderful clear blue sky. Rain is on the menu again, keeping farmers happy, alas not sun-lovers. But rain will never dampen our enthusiasm which keeps the sunshining in our u3a. Now that I have completed one year as chair, I look forward to the warmth from our members over this next year. After celebrating our thirtieth anniversary since becoming a registered charity last year, we are still going strong. Membership is growing month-onmonth, to 1,400. We achieved this through our innovative and dedicated group coordinators who collectively provided around 21,800 individual experiences for our members over the year. With our committee, who utilised their diverse range of skills and knowledge to uphold our constitution. And from our network of other volunteers who work tirelessly in the background. Without these volunteers, SLu3a would not survive. Added to this, were the increases in subscription fees, voted in favour by our members at last year’s AGM, to £15.00 plus £2.00 meeting fees, means that we are financially viable. We are all aware that communication is paramount in every organisation. This year we have increased the number of volunteers who reach out to our members and help promote our u3a across the south lakes area. They have provided new leaflets, posters, our Annual Handbook and liaise with other organisations by attending meetings and giving talks. Volunteers also distribute information to our members who do not have email addresses. This helps to keeps everyone in the loop and informs our external stakeholders. Our new website, designed and managed by our webmaster, is now up and running. When people access this, they will find it easy to navigate and gain the information they need. This is because it is dynamic, eye catching and user friendly, with news added as it occurs. Thanks to our webmaster, we now have a Facebook page. Here, our webmaster can download information, photographs and the activities we provide, for inclusion on our Facebook page. During the year we have updated many documents including the coordinates’ guidelines, job descriptions for committee members, and our Safeguarding policy. Other policies are currently being reviewed. We also provided first aid workshops for members. In December I celebrated my eightieth birthday, Down Under with my extended family. When leaving Sydney, the temperature was 35 degrees, England; minus 6 degrees. A shock to the system, and a shock to accept that I’m in my _fifth age (1)_ , as many of us are. We need new people to steer our u3a in the right direction. 1 Volunteering and helping is the key to our success. This occurs when members ask, ‘ _what can I do for the u3a._ ’ (2) A culture built on sharing skills, knowledge and experience makes our journey smooth, enjoyable and enhances our social wellbeing. With enthusiasm, and perhaps a little luck around the corner, we can reach our future goals. Around eleven percent of our members’ volunteer. However, we do not have a magic wand that attracts volunteers. Instead, we were assertive, we developed succession plans, and we asked for help. We value all our volunteers, so when someone new comes forward we nurture and support them into roles they are more than capable of fulfilling but may be a little apprehensive in doing. We are never complacent, so to lighten the work of others, we still need more volunteers. Volunteers to fill vacancies on the committee, to help run/support our groups, to keep us refreshed at meetings and to help whenever possible. I realise that we all have commitments, and that health issues and circumstances affect our life and time balance. Whatever the circumstances, it’s great to see our members attending interest and activity groups, general meetings and open mornings, sometimes in poor weather. Their presence is vital in keeping these events active, enabling all of us to ‘ _learn, laugh and live_ .’ Thank you to everyone who supported our u3a during the last year. To all who help at meetings, provide refreshments, stack chairs and clear away tables. To members who attend meetings and activity and interest groups, all of whom help to positively steer our organisation, and makes these groups viable. Finally, to our coordinators and committee, who mutually support each other, who volunteer in other roles and keep our ship moving forward. Kind regards Samantha Ridgway, BA. - 1) _W Shakespeare; As You Like It_ . - 2) Part of J.F. 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