The u3a movement

The worldwide u3a movement was founded in France in 1973 aimed at people no longer working full-time and based on the self help principle. The UK movement was set up in 1981. Members explore new ideas, skills and activities together, sharing their knowledge and experience across subjects ranging from Arts to Wellbeing. There are over 1,000 local u3as in the UK with around 420,000 members, all of them independent, self-funded charities run by volunteers.

The u3a is different from most other adult learning organisations. Rather than paying people to teach us, it is based on members sharing their knowledge and talents with other members. As a result, u3a members both contribute to, and enjoy, a wide range of stimulating groups in an atmosphere of mutual support and companionship.

The u3a’s self-help ethos means a local u3a can only be successful and sustainable if members are willing to offer their services. A u3a does not provide services for its members – members provide them for each other. There are lots of ways to contribute to your local u3a. It may be helping to coordinate an Interest Group, volunteering for the committee, helping at the Monthly Speaker Meetings, preparing refreshments, or planning trips, outings and social events.

The Third Age Trust

This is the u3a’s national body that looks after all the u3as in the UK, providing educational and administrative support. The Trust is overseen by a Board of Trustees, who are responsible for governance of the Trust, and the u3a Council, an elected body of regional representatives who act as a conduit between the membership and the Board, feeding members' views and priorities into the Trust's strategy development. The Board delegates specific responsibilities to various committees. Find out more on the national u3a website and check out national events on our Events page.

London Region of u3as Network

This was set up to encourage and support u3a growth and development in the London area. It currently supports 43 u3as through shared experience and knowledge. Find out more on the London Region website and check out London Region events on our Events page.

We're delighted that Islington u3a has two members who are currently serving on the national and regional governing bodies: Derek Harwood is Treasurer on the national u3a Board of Trustees and Chris Bulford is one of the two London representatives on the u3a Council.