Free Spanish Crash Course

For complete beginners only, taught by trainee teachers as part of our Teacher Training Progamme.

Classes will take place in-person at the Cervantes Institute at the end of Deansgate opp. Deansgate/Castlefield tram stop at 15:00-17:15 on the following days:-

Tue, Wed, Thurs 26th, 27th, 28th May

Tue, Wed, Thurs 2nd, 3rd, 4th June

Please note that enrolment is limited to 14 students and is handled on a first-come, first-served basis. Any additional applicants will be placed on a waiting list and contacted should a space become available.

Please note that this offer is for complete beginners only.

To register please follow this link here

Any questions, please email cenman@cervantes.es

Writer In residence at the Coffee House

I'm now 'Writer in Residence' at the Coffee House in Mill Gate Centre, Bury. I shall be there from 11.00 to 13.00 on the first, third and fifth Thursdays of the month.

This is an opportunity to discuss any writing project you my have and find out how to get a book published.

Gill James

Brain of Britain is recording in Manchester - free tickets

I'm from Lost in TV - we are an audience ticket company for TV and radio shows, and at the moment we are working on BBC Radio 4's Brain of Britain, which is recording in Manchester next month.

We'd love to invite members at Bury u3a to come along to the show, taking place at Manchester Recording Studios on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd May. Tickets are free and it's always a fun and interesting way to spend an afternoon.

You can book free tickets directly at the website below - please use the promo code u3a when you book, and we'll make sure we upgrade all requests to a Plus+ ticket, it's our equivalent of a Priority ticket and this reserves their entry (TV and radio shows are overbooked and usually a ticket doesn't guarantee entry).

Or you can pass on my email address or contact number for people to request their tickets directly with me

Jay at info@lostintv.com

- Link to website

The Canasta Group is starting on Monday the 1st of June

16 members expressed an interest in Canasta registration group, the group is now up and running and will be meeting at the Atheneum in Bury on the first Monday of each month from 9:30 to 12:30.

They have also been lucky enough to secure the help of two skilled Canasta teachers from Sale u3a who have kindly offered to come and help those new to the game.

The first meeting will be on Monday the 1st of June and there are still a few places available.

You can find more details on the Groups Page - Link to Group : Canasta

The Silhouette Band at The Met

The Silhouette Band will be performing at the Met on Friday afternoon 18th September at 2:00, tickets available now at The Met

An essentially 60's show full of toe tapping hits and notstalgia. The Silhouette Band captivate with their style and unique performance. - More details at The Met

Bleakholt Charity Shops

I volunteer at Bleakholt Charity Shop, Rawtenstall once a week for one morning.
We do struggle for shop volunteers which are situated at Bury, Ramsbottom, Rawtenstall and Bacup. In particular the last 2 locations.
We are a friendly bunch and there is ALWAYS something to do! Times are flexible, from just an odd hour to longer.
If it's something you think you would like to do I can provide contact details. Give it a go, it's so worth it! Thank you.

Become a volunteer at Fairfield Hospital

One of our members, Kate Haworth has been visiting a relative at Fairfield Hospital. She noticed that some patients have no visitors and has found out how to go about being a volunteer hospital visitor. The reply below is from the Manager of the Volunteer Team.

“We do operative a volunteer service and a few volunteers, on their 4-hour shift, are patient support volunteers around wards, doing activities, puzzles, games, giving out books, magazines, playing music in afternoons etc. However, as a large hospital we are always recruiting for these roles to keep up with the demand. If you have members of your organisation that want to come in and support us that would be wonderful, however they would have to register as a volunteer first to go through a recruitment process and a DBS check as they will be with vulnerable patients.”

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please go on to the website link - here

u3a Festival 26 booking now open!

u3a Festival is back – the biggest celebration of the curiosity, creativity and community spirit that makes u3a so special.

Join us for three days of hands-on workshops, musical performances, sports tournaments, fascinating talks and many more surprises.

Tickets are limited - let your members know so they can book now and avoid disappointment!

📅 1-3 July 2026
University of York
Tickets cost £18 for a day, or £50 for all three days

Book your festival ticket and accommodation on the u3a website - Link to the u3a website

North West Region u3a Summer School

Venue : Manchester Metropolitan University, M15 6GX

Dates : Tues 11th August – Friday 14th August

The 8 courses on offer are:-

- Archaeology Explorers (now full)
- Making sense of everyday Mathematics
- An introduction to Geology
- Photography - Beyond the Snapshot
- Art challenges - the history of colour
- The UK and USA Political Scenes
- Operatunity – opera appreciation
- Intermediary Ukulele

An Application form and further details are available online at the link below

- NW u3a Summer School

Holiday Group Trip to Northern Ireland

Tuesday 1st September 2026 x 4 nights (5 days)

Staying at La Mon Hotel & Country Club of County Down. The hotel has a lift, restaurant, bar and leisure club with swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna steam room and gym en suite bedrooms feature TV, hairdryer. Tea/coffee making facilities.

Proposed Itinerary:-

Day 1. Pick-up from home and transfer to coach, travel to Cairnryan for afternoon ferry to Belfast,
making suitable stops on the way. Arriving at La Mon Hotel in time for dinner.
Day 2. Hillsborough Castle & Ulster Folk Park
Day 3. Causeway Cast, Giant’s Causeway & Bushmills Distillery
Day 4. Titanic &Belfast.
Day 5 Homeward bound.

More details are in the attached pdf

Cost £699 per person sharing a twin or double room. £158 per person single room supplement

Book via Ellen Smith Coach Holidays
By Telephone 01706 648 126

The 32nd International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival

We have pleasure to advise you our main theatre programme and seat prices for our 32nd International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival at Buxton Opera House. Hopefully, this will be of interest for your members, also for a group visit with the benefit of group discount on tickets.

Dates from 1st - 15th August.

All the programme details are available in the link below.

Contact : Bernard Lockett, Telephone: 0777-6174895

- G&S website