In 2018 I became a founder member and the first Chair of my local u3a (Bourne End & District). A couple of years later, while researching programs to use with our Photography Group, I came across Canva.

Canva is a powerful online graphic design program, able to create posters, presentations, videos, websites, indeed any kind of media involving pictures and other graphics (as well as editing our photos and creating photobooks and collages).

We used the free version of Canva initially, but I soon realised that as a registered charity our u3a could acquire the Pro version free of charge for up to 50 of our members (normally £100 p.a. each). We applied, within a week we had Canva Pro, and we’ve been using it ever since. It’s ideal not just for creating our publicity materials and presentations – e.g. this poster – but creating the websites featured below, charts and graphs, newsletters, etc.

In early 2024 I started to run Canva Courses for IGO (the Third Age Trust’s Interest Groups Online). The courses meet twice monthly over Zoom for 12 sessions, covering all the main uses of Canva relevant to u3a’s. I am currently running my fourth Canva Course group. At the end of the course members can join the IGO Canva Projects Group, which also meets twice monthly to undertake a variety of projects in Canva, including creating posters, newsletters, videos, and websites.

An increasing number of local u3a’s are now joining the free Canva Pro scheme for charities. As a result, more and more u3a members are seeking Canva tuition, and my current Canva Course Group is the largest ever, with 40 members.

I have created a range of online resources to help local u3a’s and their members with Canva. These resources include comprehensive notes, presentations, and revision crib sheets. They are all available at the course website created at Bourne End u3a or by following the links below, and may be freely downloaded, copied, and distributed subject to the minimal restrictions in the copyright notice.

I can also provide support by Zoom, as well as support by email.

• The main Canva Course website
• Links to all the session notes, presentations, and crib sheets
• The Canva Course in 200 slides
• The u3a IGO Canva Course
• How to get Canva Pro for your local u3a and how to run a Canva Group
• Links to other online resources (Youtube videos, Canva and AI, graphic design, etc)