New Members welcome -
email our Membership Secretary for details
From the Chairman
18th June 2026
RGu3a - Members Safety – Update
Fire – Evacuation Policy – March 2026
Invacuation Policy – March 2026
Personal Emergency Evacuation (PEEP) Statement - March 2026
Your RGu3a Committee always takes the wellbeing and safety of members seriously. To that end, the
Committee have reviewed and updated procedures.
Of course, the likelihood of having to implement any of these at the Grange Community Centre is
remote.
Fire Evacuation Policy
Rochford District Council have now taken over the management of the Grange Community Centre, they
now check that the fire alarm systems and emergency fire doors are working correctly, they keep the
records accordingly to conform to Fire Safety Regulations.
The Committee’s updated Policy states the maximum number of persons safely allowed in the large
hall as 280 seated (around 100 members normally attend our monthly meeting).
With the small hall maximum standing being 75 (some of our members go home after our speaker,
therefore, do not go to the small hall for tea, coffee and biscuits.
Areas covered in our Policy are Notifying Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Alarm System does have an
automatic direct emergency contact with the Fire & Rescue Service).
A committee member making contact too is just an added safety procedure.
Our Assembly Point is the netball court which is beyond the car park.
The rationale for using the netball court rather than the car park is because if there were any cars
moving then potentially that could be another dangerous situation.
Monthly Meetings Register serves two purposes, one so we know who is attending the meeting and
secondly it would be used in the event of a fire at the Assembly Point to check who has vacated the
Hall.
I cannot stress the importance of this enough, because we would not want the Fire Service entering a
burning building looking for a member who has just driven off!
Fire Marshalls
Committee members would be at all fire exits to guide and assist members to the Assembly Point.
Committee members would be wearing a High-Vis Yellow Hat to make them stand out.
Invacuation/ Lockdown
Our invacuation would come into effect in the event of the following situations:
Potential intruders or security threats, environmental hazards (e.g. chemical spills, toxic fumes) or
criminal activity/ disturbances.
Our policy clearly states that the Grange Community Centre would go into Lockdown with all doors and
windows secured (as far as possible). Of course, the described scenarios could occur quickly without
the time to react as effectively as one would wish!
Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) Statement
This policy is designed for members who have some kind of additional needs in the event of an
emergency, attending our monthly meeting or participating in one of our Interest Groups.
It is up to the individual member to notify a committee member or group leader if they require extra
support.
The committee/group leaders will accommodate additional requirements where feasible.
Typically – Permanent PEEPS are:
A person with a disability or impairment that affects their mobility which could include sight, strength
to open doors or a hearing impairment.
Temporary PEEPS
Could be a short-term disability, e.g. a broken leg or recent surgery/ illness.
For the complete updated three policies please click on the RGu3a Policies section of the website.
I look forward to seeing you all at our Annual General Meeting on the 8th July 2026.
Edward Byford
Chairman
July 2026
WELCOME - Rayleigh Grange u3a
In 2009, following a launch meeting at Rayleigh Grange, organised by Rayleigh u3a, and the national office, several volunteers came forward to start a new u3a.
Those volunteers – Lillah Akerman, Ann Rawlinson, Margaret Halloran, Julia White, Sue Mahoney, Alan and Viv McKeown, June Cross, Jacqui Butcher, Irene and Stan Reynell - met up on 13 March 2009 at the Hungry Horse in London Road, to form a steering committee and Rayleigh Grange U3A was born.
Lillah became our first Chairman and the group of 11 our founder members.
The name Rayleigh Grange was chosen, as our monthly meeting is held at the Grange Community Centre, Little Wheatley Chase, Rayleigh.
The initial membership of 39 at our first monthly meeting has grown steadily and we now have about 330 members.
U3A stands for the University of the Third Age, but is not a university in the academic sense – no qualifications are required and none are given.
The U3A provides an opportunity through self-help to widen our experiences and knowledge.
There are now over 1000 local u3as, all over the UK, with over 425,000 members, and many more Worldwide.
We are a lively organisation, with members drawn from Rayleigh, and the surrounding area.
Our main activities centre around over 50 interest groups, which draw upon the knowledge and expertise of our members.
These are held in members homes and venues around Rayleigh, plus trips to other areas, and offer educational, recreational and physical activities, for those who are retired, or no longer in full-time employment.
Rayleigh Grange u3a is run by an elected committee of up to 15 members.
Each local u3a is autonomous, and develops its own distinctive features, but is able to call upon national and regional parts of the organisation, for help and advice.
Rayleigh Grange u3a is affiliated to the Third Age Trust, and upholds its aims and principles.
Subscription is currently only £13 a year or £25 for 2 people at the same address (this could change) which includes the features below:
- Entrance to our interest groups, spaces permitting, in the individual groups.
- Monthly meeting with a Guest Speaker - these are held on the first Wednesday of each month, usually, excluding August, but as you will imagine, all things are apt to change.
- Refreshments at the monthly meeting
- A monthly newsletter or bulletin
- Five copies of the national magazine “Third Age Matters”, (see next line !).
- You have to tell us if you want the magazine, email to Beacon Admin, or you won't receive it.
Interest groups normally meet in the home of the leader or a group member and 50p is payable for refreshments.
Additional costs may be payable when groups meet in a hall or if other fees are required (Hall hire, entrance fees, contribution to fuel costs).
Every member is entitled to attend our monthly meeting, where we aim to have a different speaker each time (see Events page).
They are held on the first Wednesday of each month at the Rayleigh Grange Community Centre, Little Wheatley Chase, Rayleigh.
Doors open at 1.30pm and the meeting starts at 2.00pm prompt.
Please ensure you sign in at the front door and please turn your mobile phone off!
(Anyone who can help putting out and stacking away the chairs will be very welcome).
Guests are welcome to attend our monthly meeting if spaces are available, the guest fee is £3.
Rayleigh Grange u3a is a Registered Charity Number 1165092.