U3A Movement in the UK

Origins

The seeds for 'Lifelong Learning for older people' were sown at the Summer School of the Universite du Toulouse held in Toulouse in 1972. This led within a year to the formation of the 'International Association of Universities of the Third Age'. The U3A in the UK started by the creation of the Third Age Trust in 1982 as registered charity No.288007, company No 1759471. Contrary to what was happening in France, there was no support from Universities so that Third Agers themselves used their skills to organise and teach in their own autonomous learning groups.

Since Third Agers learn for the pleasure of it, no qualifications are required and none are given.

The Third Age Trust is a member of AIUTA which aims to promote active learning, research and community among Third Agers everywhere.

U3A Basics

Around the country, groups of people organise themselves for the purpose of learning. To quote one of the founders of the movement, Peter Laslett, 'Those who teach shall also learn and those who learn shall also teach'.

The subjects tackled vary with each U3A and the number of subjects offered depends on the size of the local U3A and the enthusiasm of the members.

Now

Now in the UK there are 582 local U3A groups with a total membership of 164,443 (as at March 2006).

Admin

The Third Age Trust has full time Administrators, a company Secretary, and a few part time paid employees

U3A operations are controlled by a National Executive Committee (NEC) who are elected at the Annual General Meeting. This meeting is combined with the annual Conference at which third agers from all over the country congregate to debate and plan the organisation's future.

The Third Age Trust encourages and helps the formation of new U3A groups, organises subject matter networks, and helps to support new study groups with advice and teaching materials.

Address:

Old Municipal Buildings,
19 East Street,
Bromley, BR1 1QH

Telephone number: (020) 8466 6139
Resource Centre Direct number: (020) 8315 0199
Fax (020) 8466 5749

e-mail: national.office@u3a.org.uk
Web site www.U3A.org.uk

Finance

Each U3A Group contributes a "capitation fee" currently £3.50 per member to the Third Age Trust. There are sponsors who support the trust with money or in other ways. The Trust receives no financial support towards the running of the organisation from National or Local Government.