Open-to-All Events and Meetings FAQ

Petersfield u3a organises various open-to-all events, including four monthly meetings covering General Interests, Arts and Heritage, Science and Technology, and Health Matters. These are also combined with trips, study visits, and occasionally overnight residential breaks. These are open to all members (subject to space availability) and are either organised by the Management Committee or one of the specific interest groups.

General Interest Open Meeting

The General Interest Open Meeting is held on the second Monday every month between 2.30 and 4.00 p.m. (except for August and December) in the extended large hall at the Petersfield Community Centre. It is open to all members and those considering joining.

With a different speaker presenting each time, the topics are varied and are intended to be of general and broad interest to all members. The speaker's presentation usually lasts approximately an hour, with questions and discussions from the audience.

The meetings conclude with tea / coffee and biscuits whilst members enjoy a social chat with the speaker, committee members, fellow members and friends.

There is always the opportunity to inform members present on future u3a events and important notices and updates; the Host is on hand to help with this. Some group convenors will also be present to discuss this with interested new members. The Welcome Group will also mingle to welcome new members and introduce them to longer-standing members.

Health Matters Open Meeting

The Health Matters Open Meeting is open to all members and is held at the Petersfield Community Centre on the third Tuesday of each month at 2:00 p.m.

The meetings can take various formats but frequently involve talks by health professionals in current practice and others from academic/research backgrounds. The talks are supported by question and discussion sessions, which further explore the topic. Topics can include all aspects of health, but the focus is on recent developments in the field and on looking to possible future developments.

Arts and Heritage Open Meeting

The Arts and Heritage Open Meeting is open to all members on the third Wednesday of every month between 2.30 and 4.00 p.m. at the Petersfield Community Centre. Each meeting has a different speaker who is well-qualified in a subject related to the arts or a heritage topic. The Arts & Heritage group occasionally arranges visits to local sites or exhibitions of interest. See the What`s On page for future trips; pre-booking is essential.

Science and Technology Open Meeting

The Science and Technology Open Meeting is open to all members and is held on the fourth Tuesday of every month from 2.00 to 3.30 p.m. at the Petersfield Community Centre. We invite speakers on a range of scientific, innovative, and technological subjects to give a talk, followed by questions, discussion, and debate.

Last Updated on 18th April 2025