U3A

If it’s just meeting the group you’re not sure about couldn’t you ask your neighbour to take you and introduce you?
I probably know some of them, Dearknees1, as friendly acquaintances but some are what I'd call "blue stockings"; that isn't meant in a derogatory way!

I did look into joining but it would mean getting on three buses even though I live almost in central London. I also made the effort to visit one in Kensington. Unfortunately there was a big delay on the underground and I arrived around 11 a.m. I peeped through the window and saw several elderly people asleep on their desks so didn’t enter.
I’m thinking to join Oddfellows. Anyone heard of them?

We joined ours in 2019 - we’d been in Ramblers prior to that but the walks were a bit long & a bit too fast for me. The U3A group walks were shorter & slower. We went every week & the walkers were very friendly. I also joined a reading group & a writing group. The former carried on into lockdown via email but the latter fizzled out. My husband gave a well-attended talk & we went to several others, which were good. There were quite a few groups in all.
We moved away 6 months ago & went to the local U3A open day which was packed with people offering lots of great groups. There are nearly 1000 members in all!
We both joined a short walks group, ‘Towns & Country’ which is a great way to discover a new area with a walk, talk & often pub lunch, & a quiz group. Husband is also in a longer walks group & I’m in a reading group & Travellers Tales. We have also joined our local short mat bowls club after a course arranged by the U3A. All groups are friendly & helpful & run 4-weekly sessions. There are regular trips too. Lots of other groups but we’re now too busy for more.
It’s always worth going on a waiting list if a group is full as people’s circumstances change & spaces become available.
It’s a good way to meet people, especially if on your own. It’s not easy walking into a group for the first time but most people are kind, friendly & helpful to newbies.
Sad to hear some people have had a bad experience but don’t be put off, I’m sure the majority are happy with the U3A.

i have moved many times both here and abroad. My first day in my new place is always spent joining the library, looking through their long list of clubs and things happening. they are usually very up to date with correct numbers etc so I tend to look to see what is available for the things I enjoy and go from there, ringing up the secretaries for information. You can tell quite a bit with a quick phone call, then usually arrange to go as a visitor to see if it what I am looking for. that way you are not committed on the first visit, get a chance to look around, and if it isnt quite what you wanted the members can put you in the right direction for the level you need. Also I usually find I know what days are good for me and sods law, with U3A the groups I wanted to join would all be on the same day , or the one day I could not go. So less disappointing to look up whats on on a thursday? in the library and not be disapponted by seeing the group that is just what yo want but that is the one day you are commiteed to child care for your family. Also I always get the local paper, and often get it sent to me for a couple of weeks before I move. They always have the news from the surrounding villages and towns, and you will read about what is going on and can follow up what appeals. I am a good card player but now live alone, so have been happy to find a great local village Whist Drive. It is on every thursday evening, with a very keen group. We have a great game, pay £4 per evening, for which you pay £2 for the game and £2 for raffle tickets. The prizes are done in the old way, with a whole range of things from fresh farm eggs or a free range chicken or fruit or a new diary etc etc. The winner choses which prize they want so if you are vegetarian you will probably get the basket of fruit or the diary and not the chicken. This way more people are pleased with their prize. We have a lot of good chat in the interval.one young man usually does very well so we kid him by asking if he has brought his trailor for all the prizes he is taking home. I Think it is a bargain. Two hours playing a game I enjoy, meeting new people , keeping warm and not needing the heat on at home. That is definitely the one for me. I think there is a U3A card group but not on a day that suits me. Dont be discouraged , keep looking and something will turn up. Oh also by the way, I go swimming as it is something that I can exercise with a bad back. Youget chatting to other swimmers - partly you are doing the same thing, but I think the british are more likely to speak to you when you are in your swimming things!! So you often find out from another swimmer about things happening round about. Happy hunting

U3A is very big here in Australia. Nothing to do with universities, just a bunch of people with similar interests. Subjects include arts and crafts, languages, IT, creative writing, book groups, line dancing, music groups, choirs, current affairs, film groups, cycling groups - whatever someone is interested in and someone is willing to run.

This is on the website of my local U3A in a smaller city.

To join U3AC and/or enrol for courses simply fill in the online application form, pay the annual subscription (£110 in 2024-25) plus any additional course fee as shown in the Programme, plus the enrolment fee of £5 for new members. Enrolment opens at the beginning of July and closes the following May.

I’m amazed some people elsewhere in the country only have to pay £10! Ours is a very active group, with lots of classes etc, but many sessions are fully booked. Also, you have to put your name forward for a group, and don’t know if you will get a place - after you have paid your £110!

The cost and not knowing if you will get your chosen sessions has put me off joining.

Great way to get to know people, particularly if you are new to an area. Interest groups to suit all tastes (and if not you can always start your own group). As with any large group there will be people you bond with and those you don't. And there's always the odd "prima donna". Rise above it, enjoy the wide range of interest groups and be willing to join in and contribute - anything from helping to put out chairs for a meeting to starting a new group. Whatever your reservations, at least give it a try.

U3A in my nearest town is very good. There is a group for everybody I believe.Monthly Group meetings at mine n Cardigan West Wales have a speaker each month. Usually very good. I would recommend this highly! Everyone is so welcoming.

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I was partner a very successful U3A before I moved, it had a monthly meeting with a speaker, there were meetings for new members and a member greeting newbies at the door.They ran outings and holidays.The committee and group admin was excellent.

We moved and I’ve tried two different branches; one is okay and I’m still part of a group who are very friendly. I’ve given up on the other, the leader never let me know dates or subjects for discussion although the people were pleasant enough. I’m afraid groups do become cliquey especially if you join one a distance from the village they’re based in. I’m lucky that I have family close by but I’m afraid if you were on your own these particular branches wouldn’t be your saviour unlike my old one sadly. It’s the only thing I miss since moving.

I just did a search for u3a, and found this thread, as I have recently joined - only £12. There are a vast number of interest groups available, but there are only two I’d choose to be involved in at the moment. There are monthly general meetings where people of interest are invited to give a talk, and monthly coffee mornings when new members are introduced. Did you decide to join lizzypopbottle?

Angstridden3

I was partner a very successful U3A before I moved, it had a monthly meeting with a speaker, there were meetings for new members and a member greeting newbies at the door.They ran outings and holidays.The committee and group admin was excellent.

We moved and I’ve tried two different branches; one is okay and I’m still part of a group who are very friendly. I’ve given up on the other, the leader never let me know dates or subjects for discussion although the people were pleasant enough. I’m afraid groups do become cliquey especially if you join one a distance from the village they’re based in. I’m lucky that I have family close by but I’m afraid if you were on your own these particular branches wouldn’t be your saviour unlike my old one sadly. It’s the only thing I miss since moving.

The meetings I tried to go to were actually in my own village at the house of someone I’d known for years but I felt so unwelcome I stopped going

Ours was only £10 too. It does attract quite a lot of bossy women but I suppose you need them to organise things. On our trip to Spain we were told who to sit beside and on the day we didn't go on the trip my friends were afraid to have lunch in case J had something organised for later!

Ours is thriving or seems to be except no-one wants to be chair or on the committee.
I recommend offering to help opn the committee as a good way of meeting the unselfish core of people.

At our monthly meeting there's a talk by a visiting speaker and information boards round the hall with the interest groups advertised where you can sign up. Tea and biscuits, a book exchange and time to chat.

I'm in 4 subgroups which are mostly monthly apart from the walking group which is fortnightly.

Our nearest is dire. A club for old people. Crochet, jigsaws and the odd coffee morning. Nothing intellectual at all.

Oh, dear, that doesn’t sound good. I’ll give it a whirl, and see how it goes. 😂

Ours is £15 a year and we pay each meeting, good value for money. Just try it.

Ours is really good. There is no younger age limit though the meetings and activities are usually during the day so most are retired.

I'm in the history group which reminds me I'm supposed to be giving a short talk about a well known architect.
I'm also in the walking group, art appreciation¹ and the newest group which will plan activities to suit the members.

I didn't know there was U3a Interest Groups Online

www.u3a.org.uk/learning/interest-groups-online

Dh has attended a U3A French conversation group for several years.
TBH none of the groups attracted me, so I haven’t used it.

I didn't either Chardy
I shouldn't throw the bulky newsletter in the recycle bin without reading it. 😂

You can start your own group Witzend
My DM did in Cambridge when they didn't have what she wanted. She started a portrait painting group, a poetry reading group and a group which loved watching Opera!

I was hoping for a Spanish conversation group, but there isn’t one, so if there’s enough interest I might start one. Need to meet a few people first.

Our u3a group, in a small seaside town, has over one thousand members, and nearly eighty different interest groups. Additionally, there is weekly coffee morning and a monthly lecture/talk. Each year a holiday for about five days, loads of theatre outings by coach, and lots of other coach days out.

Small committee runs it all, with lots of other help and all the interest groups have their own individual Group Leader. These are all invited to a Thank You afternoon tea each year.

We do have an Open Day annually, and know there are still so many lonely people who do not join us - our subs are kept low at just £12 for the current year.

The success of u3a depends entirely on people volunteering to go on committee, become a group leader, organise the outings, etc.etc. So, if someone finds there is no interest group at their local u3a for them, then why not say you will start one.

I would comment that one of the main reasons that some u3a's are having such problems getting cttee members and officers is due to the rather silly (IMO), Constitution that is imposed on all of us by the National Office.

In an attempt to try to encourage more volunteers this constitution does not permit anyone to be on the Committee for more than nine years and no officer (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer) may be there for more than three years, either consecutively or over any amount of time. It is difficult enough to find people to take on these volunteer roles, without them having to step down after just three years.

In order to be part of the national organisation with charity status and insurance, we have to accept this constitution and abide by it. But.....there will be increasing number of local u3a's who just will not be able to find people to act as Secretary, Treasurer and Chairman, whilst those willing and able to do these roles are not permitted.

Those who are saying that their local u3a's are finding it difficult to get together a committee, may well find this is the reason.