BeARA weekly activities Senior Elastix & Tai-Chi. BeARA fortnightly activities Kurling, monthly Tenpin Bowling usually 1st Tuesday of the month and Bi-Monthly Walks. See "Diary of Events" for all forthcoming activities.

BeARA is an association with objectives:

Who we Are:

As stated on our Home Page, The Bearsted Active Retirement Association (BeARA) was formed in 1998 for people over the age of 50 who are not in paid full-time employment and live in the Bearsted, Weavering, Detling and Thurnham areas together with adjacent districts. It is a very friendly club which welcomes new members.

We are affiliated to the Kent Active Retirement Association KentARA the umbrella organisation for retirement associations in Kent.

The club is a non-profit making organisation whose aim is to foster friendship and good fellowship between its members, and to provide opportunities and facilities for social, cultural and leisure activities which will contribute to the mental and physical well being of the members, with the object to ensure a full and active retirement.

The full membership has been set at a maximum of 180 to ensure that we do not exceed the Health and Safety limits required at the Grove Green Community Hall which is our regular monthly meeting venue. Meetings are held on the 3rd Monday of the month commencing at 3.00 pm and are divided into two parts. The initial part is the dissemination of information regarding current and future activities then after a tea/coffee and biscuit break a guest speaker or entertainer is provided for the enjoyment of members.

A Monthly newsletter is distributed by email to members with hard copy available to be sent by post to members providing an S.A.E. for the purpose, the quarterly KENT ACTIVE magazine, the publication of KentARA is now only available on-line..

Membership fees for 2024 are £18 for full membership (includes entry to Main & most Social Meetings) and £9 for associate members (includes entry to most Social Meetings). At present Full membership has reached capacity, although associate membership is still available. Associate members will have priority to upgrade to full membership as and when vacancies become available in date order.

Our Objectives are:

To improve the quality of life of the retired community in the Bearsted District area by organising entertainment and educational activities, social get-togethers and other activities in response to needs identified by the membership and that are consistent with active retirement.

In furtherance of the above, the Association – through its elected committee – has a number of specific objectives, namely -

  1. To arrange, or join with other ARA's, in the arranging of meetings, classes and other group activities and exhibitions which directly contribute to the overall objective:
  2. To obtain, collect and receive, money and funds by way of membership fees and subscriptions, contributions, donations, legacies, grants and any other lawful means, and to accept and receive gifts of property of any description [whether subject to any special trusts or not]:
  3. To do all such other things as and when necessary that help in the attainment of the overall objective. This to include affiliation with the Kent Active Retirement Association [KentARA]:

The committee is elected at the AGM which takes place at the February meeting. The committee comprise of 12 members which include the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Minutes Secretary and Membership Secretary.