What is a u3a
The u3a is a UK-wide movement which brings people together that are no longer in full time employment to form new friendships, develop their interests and discover the benefits of lifelong learning. Sharing skills, knowledge and experience, helping and encouraging each other to learn and enjoy learning No qualifications are needed or awarded.
What makes the u3a so unique is that it is a low-cost, self-funded organisation, comprised of interest groups, encouraging your creative, educational and social interest in a friendly manner, that are defined by their participants and learner led. The teacher becomes the learner, and the learner becomes the teacher. It is self-funded by members and each u3a is an independent charity run under the umbrella of the Third Age Trust (TAT).
Where did it originate
The u3a originated in France in 1972 and was based on special programs planned for older people, or an Older Peoples Consortium. It was taught by tutors and was based at the Universite Permamente de Toulouse.
By 1980 similar provision had been made in many other universities in France, Spain, Germany and Italy.
The British Model
In 1981, Cambridge academic, Peter Laslett, hosted a conference to discuss bringing the u3a to the UK. In drawing up the objects and principles of the u3a, Laslett rejected the French model and its links to universities. While the French model remains the typical approach to organising u3a’s in continental Europe, the self-help model favoured by Laslett has been widely adopted by Commonwealth countries.
The first u3a in the UK was established in Cambridge in 1982 and a national committee was also set up. It consisted of three members, Peter Laslett, Michael Young and Eric Midwinter who appointed the executive secretary and the only employee. Most of the initial funding came through a grant of £9,000 from the Nuffield Foundation.
The u3a has expanded steadily , and today there are over a 1000 local u3a’s, with over 400,000 members.
The movement in the UK is affiliated to IAUTA (Internation Association of Universities of the Third Age), based in the founding university in Toulouse.
Each UK u3a is a registered as an independent charity.