National u3a
The u3a Movement
The u3a movement is nationwide, most towns have a local u3a. Currently there are over 1,000 u3as with over 450,000 members. There is a national u3a body, the u3a Trust, which provides educational and administrative support to the local u3as.
They also offer a number of workshops, webinars and interactive sessions delivered by members for members, which are free to join. We will highlight some of these on the National Event page here. For full details of all National events click here.
Off the Wall
Save the date: 10 May 2023
u3a members from all over the UK will descend on Hadrian's Wall in 2023 to celebrate the building of the wall and the influence that the wall has had on our creative lives.
The wall extends from coast to coast across Northumberland and Cumbria - from Wallsend on the River Tyne in the east to Bowness-on-Solway in the west, and once marked the north western border of the Roman Empire.
See everything that’s planned so far in our programme, which you can download below.
Off the Wall Programme 01 23 (148.97 KB)
If you are interested in taking part, please contact thewall@u3a.org.uk
The Trust is about to circulate a draft digital strategy document. This video is a conversation with the chair of the digital strategy working group.
Following the Trust’s AGM on 6th October, a presentation was made by the Chair, Liz Thackray and the Vice-chair, Allan Walmsley about a possible re-structuring of the Board of Trustees. It was made clear that these were only suggestions and that consultation with the membership would be held before any draft proposals were formulated.
The following videos give some background to the discussion. If you have any questions you can email governance@u3a.org.uk
The video below, produced by the u3a Trust, highlights the benefits and opportunities available when joining a u3a.
The Trust has also produced a video which describes a typical local u3a, not all of the specific activities mentioned are currently provided by Tonbridge u3a.
The u3a radio podcast has now launched on podcast platforms.
Previously available to listen to on Youtube, members will now be able to listen on platforms including Spotify and Apple. Nick Bailey, part of the u3a radio team who put together the episodes each month, says 'this is something a lot of you have asked for. It will be a handy way to listen and we hope will help to spread the word of the u3a movement in its 40th year.'
In the January episode, the team discuss the Kindertransport learning initiative, talk to a member of u3a in Australia and hear about the milestone of 5,000 trees being planted in the u3a 40th anniversary wood.
Listen to the podcast on Apple, Spotify and Google Podcasts. The episode can also still be listened to on our u3a YouTube channel, with captions.
Do you have a story you would like to share? If so please get in touch.