TASO has an active Visits Team. Each year we arrange walks and visits to a range of events and places of interest. These are for members, and on occasion for non-members. We also arrange residential trips both in the UK and overseas. A calendar of confirmed visits for this year can be found at Visits Programme 2024-2025 .

The Team comprises around six volunteers; we give our time to making the arrangements for the events. As volunteers, we cannot necessarily respond rapidly to queries that members may have, which we are sure that all members acknowledge and respect. If you would like more information, do email us at tasovisits@gmail.com.

General arrangements for booking on to a visit

• All events [other than residential trips, see below] are booked online. TASO uses a ticketing agency, TicketSource, through which tickets are sold or allocated.
• Members first receive a general email with information about upcoming events
• In advance of each specific event, all members will then receive an email giving:
  • any additional relevant information about the event
  • a Ticketsource link to book the event (you can also click on the link in the relevant calendar entry)
  • the date and time when the booking will open for the event
• The Ticketsource booking system also has information about the event
• All tickets are sold/ booked on a first-come first-served basis and are only available via TicketSource. It is not possible to reserve a ticket in advance, e.g. by emailing a member of the Visits Team or a trustee
• Payment is made via TicketSource at the time of booking, and a confirmation email is sent to each person who has made a booking

 
*** It is important that members check their spam or junk folders after making any booking, as messages from TicketSource may well go into these folders. [The email address to look out for is no-reply@ticketsource.co.uk].

TicketSource will send out a reminder of the event close to its date, and messages may also be sent via the TicketSource system to members with information about arrangements for and/or about the event for which they have booked.

TicketSource also operates a contact system for members who have made a booking and have a question. Any email sent through this system will be forwarded on to a member of the Visits Team, and a reply will be sent. Please remember that the reply may not be the same day. If there is an urgent matter, please add ‘Urgent’ to the Subject Line of the email.

Other points to note are:

• A waiting list is generally maintained when theatre visits or trips using a coach are arranged
• Where walks or free events are arranged, a waiting list is not maintained as the administration involved in trying to reallocate a place at what is often short notice is too great for the volunteers in the Visits Team to take on.
• Walks are very popular, and do sell out swiftly. They are provided at low cost [£10-£12 per person], and are not refundable, again for administrative reasons. Where a member, having booked, is no longer able to attend but knows of someone who could take their place, they should let the Visits Team know the name and mobile number of their replacement. Such member should make their own arrangements with their substitute about payment.
• Visits and trips are primarily for Members. However tickets can be acquired for a non-member if it is clear that there are places available when the booking period is close to ending. An email will be sent to all members advising of the availability of tickets in such circumstances.
• For residential trips information about the trip will be sent to members for them to consider whether they wish to go on the trip. The trips themselves are however always arranged by a specialist Tour Provider, and places are booked directly with the Tour Provider, not through the Visits Team or TicketSource.