Below you will find a list of the latest news items from the Executive Committee and our groups. Click on any of the links in the list to jump straight to the item or scroll down the page to see all the information
Join us to play Canasta - new group starting in February 2026
Rummikub Group - new group starting 11th November 2025
Technical support 'Surgery' - help with using your portable tech eg smartphone, tablet etc
Italian Improvers Group - Fluent Italian Speakers invited for a chat
Cinema Group - like going to the cinema? come and join us
Salsa Practice - anyone interested?
Join us to play CANASTA
We are starting a CANASTA Group 2
Canasta is a very versatile and fun card game, it may seem intimidating to learn, but don't worry - instruction can be given as you play.
The group will be suitable for beginners or those who know how to play.
When: On Wednesday afternoons, fortnightly, 2.30 - 4.30pm, beginning 4th February 2026.
The venue is The Railway Pub, Kings Street, Belper.
To register your interest in joining the group please visit our page here
New Group - Rummikub
Rummikub is an easy, fun and relaxed game of numbers, similar to the card game Rummy.
Each game can be played by 2 to 4 players.
The objective is to be the 1st player to empty their rack of tiles. Whilst it's always fun to win, this is not intended to be an overly competitive group.
This new group will start on Tuesday 11th november 2025 and will meet every 2nd Tuesday of the month from 3pm at The Railway on King St Belper.
To register your interest in joining the group please visit our page here
Tech Support 'Surgeries' being offered
Need help with your mobile IT?
There have been a number of enquiries from Belper u3a members about help with their IT kit. This ranges from “How do I ?” to “Why has this stopped working?” or “My phone / tablet has received an upgrade and now I can’t find anything”.
In response to this, a few of our more IT literate members have agreed to hold IT surgeries to provide help to those suffering with frustrations around this area.
The surgeries will be held at Strutts in Belper and u3a members will be able to book an appointment, where hopefully we will be able to resolve any issues.
The booking form - click here - will ask a few relevant questions so that we can match you with someone who should be able to help.
Unfortunately we cannot provide home visits so assistance will be limited to mobile IT (Phones / Tablets / Laptops) which you can bring along to your appointment.
Can you help us help others?
If you have a good working knowledge of Apple / IOS, Android or Windows and would like to join our group to help others please contact Technical Support Team Leader
Help Wanted for Italian Improvers Group
The Improvers Italian Group have progressed from being Beginners in 2021 and are now able to hold simple conversations. We would really welcome an occasional session with a fluent Italian speaker or even an Italian person. We wonder if anyone might be available. They would get a warm welcome! Please contact me by clicking here - Italian - Improvers Co-ordinator
Another question is whether anyone knows of good course books for Intermediate level learning. We are using the Contatti books which are not always easy to navigate.
Cinema Group
The Cinema Group continues to grow, but we are still very happy to welcome new members! We have seen more than half a dozen films at the Ritz in Belper, since we began in September. These have varied widely, from Gladiator 2 to Paddington in Peru, and all kinds in between. We like to follow the film with a chat over a drink as well. There’s no commitment to see any film in particular so if you would like to join, please use the website and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Future planned films for February include ‘Here’, ‘Bridget Jones Mad About The Boy’ and the Bob Dylan biopic, ‘A Complete Unknown’.
For more details and to contact us please go to the Cinema Group page
Salsa Practice - any interest?
Do others have (or want) at least a toe in the water of Salsa dance but struggle for practice sessions? I’m certainly in that situation. If there are a few of us we could probably help a few others start from scratch. Maybe there’s a retired Salsa teacher amongst us itching to get more people into Salsa!
For me I love the rhythms and warmth of the dance but I’m finding it hard to consolidate and build on what I get from weekly lessons. At my lessons in Wirksworth they arrange a dancing partner for people who attend on their own (whether they be on their own, or have a non-dancing “other half”).
Our practice sessions could be a room hired at e.g. Strutts with use of u3a portable music system (unless someone has a large enough space at home). How often? How long? All up for discussion – weekly or fortnightly, 1 or 2 hours?
Do please get in touch if you have an interest in this or can offer assistance by clicking here- Salsa Practice Organiser
