Causeway u3a
Virtual Café
One of the aspects of u3a life that is missing these days of lockdown and restrictions, is casual social interaction. We all enjoy meeting old friends and making new friends and we normally do this at the start or end of activities meetings or during the coffee breaks. Technology, mainly Zoom, has helped many of us maintain our links with friends through various activity groups, but these normally do not allow time for informal chat. In this new initiative "Drop in for a Chat" tried to capture the social experience of u3a and allow free time for just chatting. Members sat at virtual tables in groups of around 4-6 people – either groups of friends or just random members. It was like a café with tables you can join and move around, and come and go as you please.
The "café" was open between 11am and 12.30pm and members dropped in and out anytime they wished during opening hours. We took a survey of the participants and the overall response was positive, so we will be setting up a schedule of meetings, taking into account the preferences that members have given.
The virtual tables will have names so you can arrange to meet a friend or friends at a certain table, or you can just come along and join any table.
We will publish the calendar on this site and we send the Zoom link the day before to members who have consented to receive emails about these meetings.
Let's make an effort to stay connected – research has shown that people with good social networks stay healthier and live longer than those in isolation!
We look forward to meeting you in the café!