What is U3A?
The U3A is a group of people who come together to exchange ideas, to learn, and to participate in a wide range of educational, social and physical activities. No qualifications are required for joining, and no qualifications are awarded. The national U3A website can be found here. Information about Cotswold Link, a group of local U3As, can be found here
What is the Third Age?
The term ‘Third Age’ is used to refer to the time of life following childhood (First Age) and employment inside and outside the home (Second Age).
Where is the U3A?
There are over 750 U3As in the UK, with more than 250,000 members - and growing. U3As are found world–wide.
How does U3A work?
The local U3A is a collective of people with a wide range of interests who enjoy learning with others, and perhaps joining in with more active pursuits and social functions. Members learn by sharing their passions, their experience, their skills and their knowledge in small groups. All that is required is an open mind and an interest in the area being explored.
Each U3A is an autonomous organisation financed by members’ subscriptions and by small contributions to groups for the hire of rooms, expenses etc. It is managed by a committee of volunteers elected annually. Everyone is a volunteer, and everyone is expected to help in the smooth running of the U3A branch. No-one is expected to be out-of-pocket, though.