This carefully-chosen selection of links to reliable websites will help you and other seniors in Nottinghamshire surf the web safely and effectively to save time and money. And to find reliable information quickly.

All links should open in a new window or tab to make it easy to return to this page; or use your browser's BACK button.

Special interests
Links to sites covering specific topics where we have our own special interest groups are on the appropriate group page listed below - where the leaders have recommended the sites they find most useful. Click on the group name to see what they suggest.

Please note: Mansfield & District U3A is not responsible for external sites and, although we check links regularly, we cannot guarantee that they will all work all the time. Please contact the Web Editor if you find any problems.

The Third Age Trust and Local U3A sites

U3A National Office/The Third Age Trust U3A Sources - an educational bulletin online.The International Network for Universities of the Third Age - encourages internet use for more effective communications and learning for U3A members in the UK Association of East Midlands U3As - comprises the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, and Nottinghamshire. Notts U3A Network - a federation of U3As in Nottinghamshire that have joined together to support each other, in the promotion of informal learning and the cultural and social development of their members. Their county-wide Interest Group Directory download is a PDF here. Virtual U3A - an online-only U3A that provides the U3A experience for those unable to play a full part in a terrestrial one Local U3As Arnold, Ashfield, Burton Joyce, Dukeries, Hucknall, Keyworth, Nottingham, Ravenshead, Retford, Sherwood, Southwell, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Worksop.

Keep safe on-line & keep your PC healthy - some simple, free precautions we recommend AVG 2012 - download this free anti-virus prevention for Windows-based home users from one of the World's most trusted security companies Advanced SystemCare - download this free PC maintenance tool to protect, optimize, clean, and repair your computer and registry Bank Safe - precautions you should follow when asked for your credit card details Bullguard - a free and well-reviewed spam filter. CC Cleaner - a useful maintenance utility to keep your computer operating efficiently Dropbox - a free and easy way to store, sync, share and back-up files online in case your computer crashes File Hippo - free check for software updates Get Safe Online - Government-backed advice to help you use the internet confidently, safely and securely and to avoid scareware and other scams Malwarebytes - tools that can identify and remove malicious software from your computer. Microsoft Security Essentails - real-time protection against viruses, spyware, and malicious software. Prey Project - Prey lets you keep track of your phone or laptop and will help you and the police find it if it ever gets lost or stolen.Free Smart Defrag - a free and effective disk defragmenter that keeps you PC working at top speed Soluto - frustration-busting faster boot-up by eliminating unnecessary software from memory Spam Fighter - this free and well-reviewed anti-spam email gateway will prevent unwanted emails and is an essential download if your ISP or email client doesn't provide one as standard Super Anti-Spyware - a free tool for protection from Spyware, Adware and other potential threats

Getting started - some basic computer and web resources AOL - possibly the easiest internet service provider, web browser and email system to set up and use BBC webwise - an excellent site that explains the basics clearly Digital Unite's Learning Zone - an excellent on-line guide specifically for silver surfers starting out Everyday Home Computing - Clear video tutorials from Just Do It Guides to help you get started Foxit Reader - a PDF reader is necessary to open some web pages and this free one is good Google - the most popular search engine; find anything and easy to set up as you want as your personal home page Nottingham Library Service - provides free on-line access and help at all public libraries; ticket required and pre-booking recommended Open Office - a free, open-source alternative to Microsoft's commercial Office suite Picasa - a user-friendly way to manage digital photos and share them ZipGenius- an excellent and free way to handle any .ZIP files you download. Around Mansfield - some helpful local resources. BBC Domesday Reloaded - an account of Mansfield life in 1986 BBC Weather - local forecast for today and the week ahead Crimestoppers - helping solve crimes and taking criminals off the streets across the country Interface Gaming - a cybercafe near Nottingham Market Sq that's handy if you want to check emails as a break from shopping or check prices on-line. Access costs £1.30 for half an hour, or £2.50 for an hour Locallife Mansfield - local information, listings, maps, directions, websites and more Local Mansfield - a new guide to suppliers and services around Mansfield with reviews and small ads Mansfield District Council - our local authority is based at the Civic Centre, Chesterfield Road South, Mansfield. Nottingham City Council - visitor services, tourism, events, etc and many useful links Nottingham Travelwise - comprehensive updates about going anywhere by car, bus, air, train or tram Nottinghamshire County Council - has a local office in Regent St, Mansfield Nottinghamshire County Council Community Groups Directory - voluntary organisations. Stagecoach UK Bus - the operator connecting Mansfield to the national network Thoroton Society - promotes knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the history, archaeology and antiquities of Nottinghamshire, and supports local research and conservation Ticketing Network East Midlands - a central box-office for Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham Playhouse and Dance4 Trent Barton buses - connecting Mansfield to Nottingham, Derby and Chesterfield. (Their route map is here) Visit Nottingham - Experience Nottingham's excellent tourism guide. Your NHS - Nottinghamshire County Teaching Primary Care Trust is responsible for all community NHS services, such as district and school nursing, health visiting, GPs, dentistry, opticians, and pharmacy. Saving money and time - some reliable on-line suppliers and information sources AbeBooks - an online marketplace for books, new, secondhand, rare, or out-of-print Adviceguide - the public information service of Citizens Advice Bureau, providing round-the-clock information on benefits, housing and employment, and on debt, consumer and legal issues Amazon - the largest one-stop source of books, music, electrical and electronic goods and almost everything. Choose - help to find a fare deal on personal finance, broadband and more Community Legal Advice - a free and confidential advice service paid for by legal aid Consumer Choices - a useful price-comparison and consumer-advice portal Consumer Direct - telephone and on-line advice service, supported by the OFT, to help you sort out problems DirectGov - on-line access to official advice on State pensions, benefits, rights, care services, planning for retirement, car registration and taxation on-line and much more Ebay - very cheap used, discontinued and new products via on-line auctions and partner shops HM Courts Service - offers information about small claims, divorce, civil partnership dissolution, adoption, wills and probate and help for victims and witnesses in criminal cases HM Revenue and Customs - the merged Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise collects taxes and pays benefits. Self-assessed tax return information is here Law on the web - free legal information and advice, devised, built and maintained by a solicitor Money facts - independent and unbiased advice on the best rates for savings, credit cards and more Money Saving Expert - consumer journalist Martin Lewis offers easy-to-follow cost-saving tips on many subjects NHS Choices - provides a single 'front door' to all NHS online service, including NHS Direct. Pricerunner - a quick and convenient way to compare prices Royal Mail - a mass of postal information, including a facility to print your own stamps Say no to 0870 - traces low-cost alternatives to premium-rate phone numbers. Trainline - an easy train timetable and ticketing service Seniors - some sites designed for the over-50s Concessionary Travel Club - competitions helping older and disabled people save money, have fun and keep active. More here Giddy Limits - ideas, challenges, inspiration and information Mature Times - the voice of our generation, with an on-line magazine offering wide-ranging advice. My Prime - an excellent portal offering a wide range of features National Pensioners' Convention - promotes the welfare and interests of all pensioners Notts 50-Plus - provides information on services, activities, and organisations aimed at the over 50’s Saga - discounted travel and insurance, health and money advice, and more The Oldie - not a magazine about retirement but good writing and amusing articles on a wide variety of topics Continuing learning - some recommended resources Academic Earth - free video courses and academic lectures from leading colleges and universities BBC Learing Zone - learn with the BBC with online guides and courses for adults Lecture Fox - online lectures on computer science, mathematics, physics and more Open Learn - free online learning from The Open University and the BBC Miscellaneous - some useful sites not listed on a Mansfield U3A interest group page yet Antiques and Collectables - an on-line guide to help identify and value glass, porcelain, silver, clocks, paintings and more BBC iPlayer - catch-up with programmes you've missed and see what's scheduled Classic Reader - an on-line library of thousands of free books by authors such as Dickens, Austen, Shakespeare and many others Google Books - free on-line reader accessing out-of-copyright books held at the British Library and many others around the world. How to ... - on-line books to help you work for the better, and to enjoy the journey HistoryWorld - magnificent history website, with 400 separate histories and 4000 tagged events Mah-Jong - a useful resource from Peterborough U3Aer Peter Gregory, with rules and tutorials Nottingham Classical Association - supports classical learning and scholarship throughout Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire Village Ventures - features a diverse range of professional performances for all ages in village halls and other community venues across the county Rufford Craft Centre - offers a wide programme of exhibitions and workshops covering arts and crafts - supported by Notts CC. Monthly newsletter available on request W Slack & Sons - offers discounts to members of the Mansfield & District U3A walking groups at their outdoor equipment shop in Rosemary St