North Down & Ards
University of the Third Age
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Page Last Updated 19-February-2010
ABOUT U3A
A wonderful movement guaranteed to give all retired people a zest for life and a reason for getting up each morning, has been active in this Province for the past fifteen years. Did you know about it? It is called the U3A, or University of the Third Age, an organisation which emphasises self-help combined with education in its very broadest sense, an elaborate title for a club that can be all things to all men (and women of course). Interested? Then read on! You may be about to change your life as you now have the chance to join U3A. In North Down we have a very lively U3A with over 600 members and some 40 plus interest groups.
WHAT IS THE U3A?
U3A (University of the Third Age) in Northern Ireland is part of a much larger
organisation started in France about 45 years ago. There are now approximately
186,693 members in the UK making to date, 646 autonomous groups, 15 of which
are in Northern Ireland, with one closely affiliated U3A in Donegal. There
are also a few others in the South of Ireland.
U3A caters for people from all walks of life, all retired but all enthusiastically following a wide variety of interests. U3A is not an academic institution nor yet an ordinary club, our most important principle being that we teach and learn from each other. All U3As are autonomous but in North Down and Ards "Interest groups" are suggested, organised and run voluntarily by the members themselves, rarely with outside help. We are a group of people who intend to keep young and active by stretching our minds and bodies to the full and by really enjoying ourselves in the process.
INTEREST GROUPS
U3As comprise a number of interest groups which run weekly, fortnightly, monthly
or just occasionally. North Down and Ards was founded in 1997 by Florence
Macfarlane. Since then our activity groups have multiplied and now cater for
a very wide range of interests, reflecting the interests of the group leaders
almost all of whom are volunteer members. They are often assisted by convenors
who look after the practicalities of running a group ie Membership, premises,
refreshments etc. For more details please consult the "Activities"
page.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Our basic ethos is set out in our Principles and Objectives written by founder
Peter Laslett in 1982
U3As are run by the members through an elected committee, sub-committees and with support from other U3As throughout the Province. A Nation-wide network is promoted by the Third Age Trust, our parent body in London. Members act as convenors, leaders, tutors, typists or coffee makers, looking after individual interest groups, using enthusiasm and their life-time experience to encourage fellow members to participate and help. They are not necessarily, in fact often NOT teachers! Sometimes, to provide variety where members are either unable or unwilling to give up their time, groups invite outside tutors and speakers to help them with their activities, but, if at all possible, not on a regular basis. Links may also be made with other educational organisations, such as WEA or the local FE College who may provide premises, help and advice or classes requiring expensive equipment such as IT.
We hold monthly meetings to exchange experiences and news and to meet socially, when we often invite an interesting speaker or generate discussion on relevant topics. Throughout the Province, other groups have been formed in Ballymena, Bangor, Belfast, Causeway, Crossmaglen, Erne, Foyle, Newry, Sperrin and Strabane, with an associate member Errigal in Donegal.
NATIONAL OFFICE:
Third Age Trust: Unit 3, Carpenters
Court, 4a Lewes Road, Bromley, BR1 2RN
Telephone: 020 8466 6139
Elizabeth Gibson, Resource Centre Manager
Telephone: 0208 315 0199 e-mail: resource.centre@u3a.org.uk
Website: www.u3a.org.uk
On the website: Other U3As, subject networks, news and publications,
group start up
leaflets, on-line courses, Sources on-line, discussion lists, hot links, a
notice board.
About U3A / Meetings / Activities / Timetables / Committee / Membership / Photographs / Useful Links / Message Board / Index