u3a - Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

With a 50-year history, 1000 u3as and over 400,000 members across the UK, the u3a movement has now established itself as a major and successful entity in voluntary action.
 
The u3a in the UK (formerly known as the University of the Third Age) has its origins in the 1970s and the establishment of “L’Université du Troisième Age” in Toulouse in 1972. At the time, there was a growing awareness that many people coming to the end of their working lives had missed out on educational opportunities earlier in their lives.  L’Université du Troisième Age used a model similar to the extra mural work of many UK universities at the time. An alternative model was emerging in Australia, using a community development model. It was this example that fitted best with the thinking of the founders of the movement in the UK – the entrepreneurial spirit of Michael Young, the community education experience of Eric Midwinter and the academic interests of Peter Laslett melded together in a vision of a self-directed learning community of people no longer in full-time employment and the u3a was born in 1982.
 
The UK in the 1980s was an exciting time for voluntary bodies as volunteerism was endorsed by the political agenda. A mutual aid/self-help/volunteer led organisation matched the spirit of the time. u3a groups began to emerge around the UK, receiving little support from the Third Age Trust apart from a newsletter and a manual produced on a duplicator. The u3a was and still is essentially a collection of volunteer organisations run and managed by volunteers.
 
The 1980s and 90s were a time when there was a rapid growth in the number of u3as and discussions over what kind of support was needed and how it should be funded and provided. What framework could be developed to support the village u3a with perhaps a hundred members and the city u3a with perhaps two or three thousand members – how could the voices of u3a members contribute determining the work of the umbrella body – the Third Age Trust. u3as fiercely defend their independence while the need for a national presence and leadership has become more necessary.
 
The self-help values underpinning the organisation remain strong. u3a groups offer a diverse range of activities from astronomy – some groups building their own observatories – to pickle ball – to modern languages – to live music and just about any other activity one can think of.
 
However the u3a faces challenges. Fewer people are prepared to commit to roles of responsibility locally or nationally. Changes in statutory pension age have led to a redefining of membership criteria. Increasing numbers of single parent families and families with two parents in employment have created the need for grandparents to provide childcare. What does this mean for the future of u3as and the u3a movement?

- this session is free to attend, but booking in advance is required.