Group Leaders Handbook 2004 - Section 1 - Introduction

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SECTION 1 - INTRODUCTION

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to give guidance to those u3a members who decide to ‘lead’ or help organise a group, known at the u3a national level as an interest group.  On behalf of the entire membership thank you for your contribution.

Is this a rule book?

Some of it is.  Anything written in bold like this is a rule that must be followed.  As a registered charity, we must adhere to certain requirements stipulated by charity law. The rest of the content provides guidance based on generally accepted good practice.

Everyone who is part of Hertford & District u3a wants to make it work and if things go wrong the Executive Committee, listed here, and the Third Age Trust are there to help.

Who Does What?

  • Group Leaders / Organisers

As a group leader or organiser, how you run the group is for you and your group to decide, providing you follow the rules. 

  • The Executive Committee – Email individual members
    The Executive Committee are the trustees of the u3a charity and have a chair, vice chair, secretary, treasurer plus other roles.
  • Groups Co-ordinator

This member of the Executive Committee is there to help the Group Leaders / Organisers keep everything running smoothly.  Please go to them for advice and help.

  1. Do you need an assistant? Many very successful groups have more than one person helping to run the group. Apart from anything else, an assistant can cover for holidays and sickness. An assistant could be looking after the finances, organising the venue or ensuring the group’s information for the wider membership is up to date.
  2. Some groups rotate key tasks between their members. For example, the location could be a different member’s home each time. A walk may be led by different members.
  3. Finances

The following are the financial rules to adhere to:

      • Monies received from members must be forwarded to the Group’s account managed by the Groups treasurer immediately.
      • Do not hold the group's money in your personal bank account for longer than the next day.
      • Do not set up a separate bank account for your group
      • Gratuities for a coach driver can be included in the price of a trip.
      • Make arrangements for dealing with money with the Groups Treasurer.