A community organisation in the Moorlands is looking forward to making a complete comeback – once Government restrictions allow.

Like many community initiatives across the nation, the Leek U3A has not held any face-to-face activities for more than a year due to the ongoing pandemic.

However, some groups have still managed to keep in contact with members online, and the groups which have had to be put on hold are now putting plans in place to make a comeback.

The U3A is generally for people not in full time employment and is primarily for educational, creative, leisure and sporting/keep fit purposes. It is a registered charity and is a not for profit organisation run be unpaid volunteers.

Established in 1995, Leek U3A now has over 1,000 members with more than 80 different classes or groups ranging from Badminton to Bridge, Creative Writing to Crochet, Family History to Folk Dancing plus many more besides.

A U3A spokesman said: "All our activities have a social dimension which can be particularly relevant to single person households – the U3A motto is Learn, Laugh and Live.

"We mainly operate from Norton House and the Watson Centre in South Bank Street plus various other venues in Leek including Brough Park Leisure Centre.

"Some of our U3A groups have continued throughout lockdown virtually, and some have restarted already.

"But we expect all groups will be back up to speed by the end of June but some groups usually shut during summer anyway so they may wait until September."

The spokesman added: "We know that the pandemic lockdowns have been tough for many and we would like to do our bit in helping people get back out of their homes and socialising again, when restrictions allow."

To raises awareness of the U3A, a national U3A Day is taking place today (Wednesday, June 2), and the Leek branch is taking part by hosting an information stall at the town's market.

The spokesman said: "We will be on a stall in the marketplace all day. We will have details of the groups that we run and we will be happy to talk about U3A to anyone that comes along."

Annual membership for the Leek U3A is normally £15 but the committee reduced this last year for renewals because it was their 25th anniversary year, and they have also reduced new members fees, as well as renewals, this year, due to Covid-19.

The Leek U3A session charges are normally £1. Non-members can attend a taster session for free but are advised to check availability of spaces with the leader as some groups can be full up.

For further information, call 07973 416194 or click here.

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