Educating public about opportunities with U3A

Having found out some information about the University of the Third Age (U3A) and 
the learning and social opportunities it provides for retired people, an opportunity was missed in Chris Bond’s 
article (Yorkshire Post, July 17) in not sharing that effectively with your readers, so that others might get to know about the organisation and see the possibility of enhancing their “golden years”.

U3A has just won the silver award as the second best [after the OU] continuing education provider for people of 50+ in the UK, at a Gala Reception on Friday July 13 at London Olympia.

Retired readers may be surprised to know that in the Yorkshire and Humber region there are 44 U3A groups with 18,859 members.

It is the aim of the U3A movement, as it celebrates its 30th year, that every retired person will live within five miles of a U3A Group.

U3As are self-help, self-managed life-long learning co-operatives meeting every day of the week and engaged in interest groups involved in active learning, both academic and practical.

There are no exams and no degrees. Each U3A group is a coming together of like-minded retired men and women who get involved in activities in the arts, humanities, science and technology, physical pursuits from Tai Chi to fell-walking and social activities to wine-tasting.

Members can create their own interest groups within the umbrella of their parent U3A.

So – a U3A within a five-mile radius of every retired person is the aim of the Yorkshire and Humber Regional Committee, providing leisure activities and healthy pursuits that could enrich lives and develop lasting friendships.