Category: Announcements

1. National Insurance number ‘compromised’ cold calls.
If you’ve received a pre-recorded message or phone call claiming your National Insurance number has been compromised, you can safely ignore it. It’s a scam.

Phishing emails
Fraudsters appear to be continuing to use the hook of National Insurance numbers as a means to exploit personal information from victims – the scam appears to have now moved to phishing emails:

This email, which was not sent by GOV.UK

2. Cold call ‘crime scam’

We’ve been made aware that an official sounding voice usually claiming to be from the National Crime Agency or ‘National Office for Serious Crimes’ has been cold calling unsuspecting members of the public, asking them to call back urgently. Fraudsters will then try to manipulate you into handing over personal information using a web of lies and threats.

There have been dozens of people targeted by this scam over the past few months. Action Fraud data shows it is the most reported phone scam of this year so far, having received more than 1,000 reports.

One victim reported that when he returned the call he was falsely told that someone had been using his National insurance number (NINo) to claim Universal Credit. The scammer told him that if he didn’t hand over his personal details so they could make a ‘correction’ he would be liable to repay thousands of pounds in fraudulently claimed benefits and could be sent to prison. At this point he realised something wasn’t right and put the phone down, but the scammers continued to try and get in touch with him for more than a week.

The scammers tell the unsuspecting victims to hand over their personal information as they need to be issued with a new NI number. Don’t be pressured for your details. In reality, there’s very little damage anyone could do with just your National Insurance number, even if someone had access to it. But your other personal details, such as your name, date of birth, address and bank details are much more valuable to criminals. They could use this information to target you with more personalised scams, or try to gain access to your accounts. No government organisation would ever pressure you to hand over sensitive information, and if you’re uncomfortable or unsure, just hang up the call.

Finally: Remember, you can visit Gov.uk which offers contact numbers and web chat support if you have concerns regarding your National Insurance number.

David Rose

Message from the Chair May 2021

Hello and welcome. There are eight bank holidays in 2021 and two of them are in May.
Before retirement they were something to look forward to, as for the large majority of us, it meant time off work.

How they came about and why we know them as bank holidays dates back to 1871 when:
Statutory bank holidays were introduced by the 1871 Bank Holiday Act and were days when the Bank of England and banks could close. The Act made provision for no financial dealing to occur on that day and bills or promissory notes that were due on that day were not payable until the following day and did not incur any penalties. Before this time banks were unable to close on weekdays as to do so would have put them at the risk of bankruptcy. But once the act was on the statute books, bank staffs were able to have fixed holidays. The first bank holidays were Easter Monday, Whit Monday, the first Monday in August and Boxing Day, in England, Wales and Ireland.

When you are in the u3a every day is like a holiday….
Provisionally on May 17th the Covid protocols change and groups of six will be allowed inside and groups of thirty outside. This means that we can start to organise some face to face group activities. There will still be some conditions relating to risk assessments, social distancing, hygiene and masks that will need to be followed.

I wish to commend an article by Val Gant suggesting a Hucknall u3a litter picking squad. Val is asking that volunteers get in touch with her, please see further details in the article.

Finally thanks to everyone who voted in the AGM and remember we will need new committee members next time.

David Rose Chairman

Are you concerned about the environment and the amount of litter in our locality? If so, read on. When we are out cycling and walking no doubt, like us, you notice lots of litter in both urban and rural areas.

Litter collecting in Linby Brook Feb 2021

We do complain and moan to each other about the amount of litter we see but we have now decided that we would like to do something about it.

For this we will need your help – we wish to gather some volunteers from our membership by setting up a Hucknall & District u3a Litter Picking Group.

It is suggested that this could take place one day per week and last for about an hour per session. All equipment such as litter picking sticks, gloves and collecting bags will be provided. We have contacted both Ashfield and Gedling Council and there is an offer of some equipment and all rubbish will then be collected by the council.

Think of the benefits – gentle exercise and fresh air in the company of fellow u3a members whilst making a difference to the environment. If you are interested please contact Val Gant on the form below:-

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Hello Everyone,

We had a good warm and sunny start to spring in the final days of March and for the next six months the clock in my car is reading the correct time now we have entered British Summer Time (BST) – the time used in the UK from late March to late October, that is one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time.

The early history of BST is interesting. It was first established by the Summer Time Act 1916, after a campaign by builder William Willett. His original proposal was to move the clocks forward by 80 minutes, in 20-minute weekly steps on Sundays in April and by the reverse procedure in September. In 1916, BST began on 21 May and ended on 1 October. Willett never lived to see his idea implemented, having died in early 1915.

April is also the AGM month of our u3a. I would like to move ahead by 12 months to focus on the AGM in April 2022. Currently our constitution states the trustees (main committee members) can serve for a total of 6 years.

In April 2022 five members of the current committee reach that milestone and will vacate their office:

David Rose – Chair
Christine Berrill – Treasurer
Siobhan Lee – Groups Coordinator
Philip Attenborough – Equipment Manager
Barrie Saunders – Support across the committee roles

A u3a cannot function without trustees designated as officers: Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer and Business Secretary. Before April 2022, Hucknall u3a will need members to step forward and volunteer for committee vacancies especially the officer roles of Treasurer and Vice Chair.

We had a similar situation in April 2016 and for a time it was almost a closure situation. It was thanks to the work and persuasive powers of John Tedstone and his retiring committee that encouraged the retiring members of the current committee to volunteer.

We will need at least five volunteers next April , if you are interested please get in touch with a committee member or myself via the form below:-

David Rose

Proposed presentation to celebrate some activities carried out by Hucknall and District u3a members under Covid restrictions since March 23rd 2020

Have you tried something new during lock down?
A new craft or hobby: Learnt a new language or piece of music?
Walked or cycled a different route in your neighbourhood and noticed something you hadn’t before?
Have you had time to try a new recipe or baking technique?
Read a book or watched a film you never had time to read before or wrote your own poem or story?

I would like to compile an audio /visual presentation of activities undertaken by the Hucknall u3a members during the various levels of lock down. This will be shown at one of our future meetings.

Your contributions would be most welcome, please send photos, short videos, illustrations or pieces of writing to me via the contact form below:

Thank you
Chris Vincent

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