U3A stands for the University of the Third Age. This is a
self-help organisation for people no longer in full time employment,
providing educational, creative and leisure opportunities in a
friendly environment. It is a national movement with local
U3As all over the UK. These are charities in their own right
and are run entirely by volunteers. A typical U3A has about
250 members but could be as small as 12 and as large as 2000.
Local U3As are learning cooperatives which draw upon the knowledge,
experience and skills of their own members to organise and provide
interest groups in accordance with the wishes of the membership.
The teachers learn and the learners teach. Between them
U3As offer the chance to study over 300 different subjects in such
fields as art, languages, music, history, life sciences, philosophy,
computing, crafts, photography and walking.
The U3A approach to learning is – learning for pleasure. There
is no accreditation or validation and there are no assessments or
qualifications to be gained.
ABOUT THE THIRD AGE TRUST
The Third Age Trust is the national, umbrella body (a registered
charity and limited company) which represents all U3As in the UK at
national and international level. It underpins the work of
local U3As by providing educational and administrative support to
their management committees and to individual members and assists in
the development of new U3As across the UK. It is run by a
National Executive Committee democratically elected from the
membership and offers a range of services, to support and advise
local U3As which are self governing. The Third Age Trust is
funded mainly by annual subscriptions paid by member U3As on a per
capita basis, with the occasional grant for specific projects.
It has 3 full time and 5 part time staff and is located in Bromley.
The U3A movement is growing all the time; approximately 50 new U3As
are started every year. They pursue an amazing range of
topics; some academic, some practical and others recreational.
Most local U3As offer a combination of opportunities to study,
create, socialise, and in general, develop a fitter mind and body.
U3A is the only national education organisation in the UK run
entirely by its own members.
For more information about the U3A please visit the national
website http://www.u3a.org.uk/
If you wish to search for other U3A branches, please click here.
For information on activities of the U3A in the East Midlands,
please visit the Regional
website.
THE VIRTUAL U3A
Do you know anyone who is unable to join U3A because of mobility,
location or other problems? There is another option.
Please let all your friends know and spread the word.
The Virtual U3A (vU3a), which went live in January 2009, is an
online-only U3A, affiliated to the Third Age Trust. One of its
principal aims is to provide the U3A experience for those who are
rendered isolated in some way by circumstances or geography and
unable to play a full part in a terrestrial U3A. More
information is available on the public website www.vu3a.org
where one can also apply for membership. Why not pay it a
visit? And if you know of anyone who might benefit, please
pass the information on.
