I am Sofie Landau, chairperson of U3A London which has existed for 22 years.

We have about 1500 members.

We rent our premises so that everything takes place in one building. We have more than 100 lectures either weekly or fortnightly and a talk by a well-known outside person once a week.

Our lectures comprise 7 different languages, history, philosophy, literature, creative writing, music, science, law, mathematics, architecture, politics and physical activities, yoga, tai chi etc.

I very much enjoy meeting people with so many different interests and getting so much mental stimulation from the various lectures which I manage to attend.

Jean Thompson - Reading U3A UK
1. Reading is in England, forty miles west of London by the River Thames

2. We have 370 members

3. We have 30+ Interest groups, from 'Science and Technology' to 'Wit and Humour'. We have four language groups, German, French, Italian and Spanish. We mostly meet in a centrally located Baptist Church though some small groups still meet in members' homes.

We have two Open Meetings a month; one with an outside speaker and one run by our own members, who demonstrate or describe their own experiences. I am a co-convenor for the Travel Group, where speakers, mainly our own members, tell us in depth about countries they know. We try to vary the monthly programme. Next month, for instance, I am taking part in a members' panel discussion on 'The Pros and Cons of Travelling Alone. Our annual fee is £15.

4. The members. We have a wide social mix in Reading and I enjoy the stimulation of meeting so many different people and making new friends.

5. I hope we'll get a snapshot of U3As around the world and understand each other better. top

From Michael Grounds, U3A Bendigo.
U3A Bendigo is in a provincial city in the centre of the state of Victoria, Australia. The city is built on a goldfield, the richest in the world in its day. 80,000 people. (See archive picture right).

We have about 230 members, and about 23 activities (the 10 to 1 ratio seems to hold for most Australian U3As).

We have groups studying Art, doing art, writing, learning computer, doing/teaching cryptic crosswords, discussing current issues; walking, exercising; making music (choir, chimes, instruments) and
playing/teaching chess, bridge and cribbage: and more.

What I like best about my U3A is the sharing relationship I have with intelligent people from all walks of life, free of competition and formal award.

My personal message: It's never too late to learn something new.

Mike Williams - Hastings & Rother
1. Location of my U3A: Hastings & Rother U3A is in the county of Sussex on the south coast of England, east of Brighton.

2. How many members? Currently 243 members which is pretty close to the UK national average.

3. Range of Activities: We have groups in History, Languages, Walking, Music Appreciation, Art Appreciation, Reading, Theatre, Antiques, Debate, Bridge, Scrabble and Painting to mention just a few.

4. What I like best about my U3A: It is very sociable and there are many friendships within it. Members are enthusiastic about U3A ideals and see their membership as one of the most important features of their lives.

5. My personal message: I have been Vice-Chairman of my U3A and am now Treasurer. I also edit the Newsletter. These activities mean that I am able to be in touch with more of the membership than most people. I also do things on a national level - but that's another story. My message is that membership of U3A has to be one of the most successful ways of bringing fulfilment and pleasure into older people's lives.

Geoff Preshner: Vice Chair of Hertford & District U3A UK (1993)

!. Hertford is 30 miles north of London.

2 We have 1150 members and we post a 6 page monthly news letter called CONTACT to about 700 members (including 250 married couples) and E-mail the rest.

3. We have over 120 groups covering 80 different activities, including 9 types of walking groups, 20 Art groups and 10 performing Art groups and 11 Practical Art Activities. There is also a science & technology group and theatre and concert groups, which are 'Open to all Groups'. Ffinally, we run 19 Sports & physical activities, which include my own Sailing Group. We have nearly 400 members at our monthly meetings and hold many occasional meetings around the area of Hertford

4 .Like many other U3As, we do appreciate the essential core work carried out by the Group Leaders and do our best to reward them at our Group Leaders and new members meetings.

5. We support the Region and take part in all Regional activities , We have recently had a very successful Regional Study day with 200 members from 13 U3As, where I feel the term "What do I like about my U3A" was created by Barbara Lewis.

6. I am so pleased that the the views expressed by so many U3As in this country is also being held by U3As overseas, i.e. " that the U3A is a Great Company of Friends who love meeting,and care a lot about each other", repeating what Aina from Melbourne, Australia said "Join the U3A and keep the doctor away".

Greetings from Howell Jones U3A Cairns Inc.

Name and Location: Situated in tropical Queensland, Australia 146° East by 17°South with easy access to both the ancient rainforests and Great Barrier Reef, Cairns is home to some 120,000 residents and is an extremely popular tourist centre. U3A Cairns was established in 1990 and currently enjoys a membership of over 400.

Although we do not have our own premises, our meeting facilities include member’s homes, church halls and various community centres, and an international Golf Club with breath taking views across the Coral sea and the home of Exploring Music

Annual membership is $20 pp or $30 per couple. We also operate, mainly for long term visitors, a membership fee of $2 a month. Apart from initial set-up costs, each activity is self supporting and normally incurs an admin fee of a couple of dollars.

Range of activities: These are categorized into three areas: Academic, Health and Social. We have excellent academic facilities at the local university and each semester will see thirty or more members studying a variety of subjects from higher mathematics to social services. In addition to university study we normally offer several language courses, two art groups, two music groups, a poetry group which is no stranger to local radio, computer training, genealogy and various creative writing classes, also a variety of study and discussion groups.

The three most popular group activities are Exploring Music (classical), Mah Jong, and the monthly social lunches. A smaller group celebrate each full moon with an outdoor supper party and in four years have seldom been forced undercover by rain.

What I like about my U3A: I was the founding president of U3A Cairns and have been committed to its development since the beginning. I always enjoy welcoming new colleagues from a wide age range and all walks of life, who individually and collectively can add so much enrichment to our Association.

Now that we have several members in their nineties we have recently decided that at ninety, members become honorary members for life without subscription.

My personal message: Whenever I produce a U3A booklet, the back page always carries the statement which I believe sums up the importance of U3A:

“Time used is life – time wasted is existence”

From Georgine Weertman - Groningen, Netherlands

1. Groningen (175.000 inhabitants) is in the province of Groningen, which is in the northern part of the country, about 2 hours by car from Amsterdam. The name of the organization is Senioren Academie HOVO (higher education for elderly people) in Groningen en Drenthe. Besides Groningen, we have a program in another, smaller town, to the south east of Groningen: Emmen (in the province of Drenthe). The organization is a not for profit foundation, but professionally run, no volunteers. The organization is not subsidized, but is allowed to make use of the university's classrooms.

2. We had in 2004 (Groningen + Emmen) 1583 enrolments in the courses (mostly ten-weeks), 2424 in lectures, 369 in lecture+excursions, 32 in travels, 48 in seminars with a group of German seniors from the university of Oldenburg in Germany, in research programs, 40 in study circles. How many different people were involved is hard to tell. Several people enrolled in more than one activity during the year.

3. We have three programs per year: in the fall, in the winter/spring and in the summer. The fall and winter programs offer about 30 to 35 courses + several series of three to five lectures. Every term the program is completely new. We offer no language courses, since there is a good community college in town that offers those. The meetings are weekly, only the literature courses are every other week, to give people enough time to read. The subjects are very divers (archaeology, cultural history, economy, philosophy, history, religions, musicology, psychology, sociology, writing, theatre, theology, but only some courses in the field of the sciences. The level is academic, since we are connected to institutions of higher education (f.e. the university). We have several history courses, since people seem to be particularly interested in history. In general it mainly depends on the subject whether people choose a certain course.
Half of all the courses and lecture series are given by one teacher, the other half are given by several teachers, each week another, all scholars in that particular field, who often come from other universities in the country, and even from the Flemish part of Belgium. In these courses people also get together in discussion groups, led by young university students. This works most satisfactory to both sides; the seniors and the young students learn from each other.
The fee for a ten week course is ? 192,00.

4. I am the planner of the programs here and have not had time to take part in the courses myself, but incidentally. As I am going to retire in another half year, I am looking forward to be able to take part. Everyone is quite enthusiastic and it always pleases me when people tell me they are happy with the courses, where they not only get to hear interesting things, but also meet with other people of the same interests.

5. My personal message is that more and more elderly people find their way to learning and by learning widen their scope so they will understand and accept the complexity of this fast changing world .

Christine Jackson Mandurah Western Australia
1) Mandurah U3A is appx 70 kilo metres from south of Perth by the Peel Inlet.

2) Our member numbers are 150 and rising.

3) We have 13 learning groups which cover English Literature, African Studies, Art, Astronomy, music etc plus local affairs. All run by our own members as 'group leaders'. There are two semesters a year with different programmes. We meet at the Senior Citizens building and have one General meeting a month. This includes a professional speaker.

4) What I enjoy about U3A is it varied programme and friendliness.

5) I have been a member since 1997 and a committee member for six of those, now Chairman. My life changed for the better upon joining U3A. Once retired, remaining busy I found was esential, even better having fun and making friends and learning too. U3A Mandurah was lucky enough to receive an award this year, on Australia Day from the local government. 'An Achievement of Excellence' medallion. (The icing on the cake !!! )

Eileen and Leslie Perrin - 25.1.2005

1. Name and location of my U3A - Harrow U3A in Middlesex, north of London.

2. How many members? Approximately over one thousand.

3. Range of Activities Art Appreciation, Literature, History, Languages, Mathematics, Music, Walking, Tours in Europe, Museum & Theatre visits, Talks, Current Affairs, Astronomy, Psychology, Creative Writing, Folk Dancing, Painting, Computer Skills.

4. What I like best about my U3A: The chance to try new subjects in venues not too far away from my home, and the chance to hold groups in my house on subjects I wish to pursue in depth.

5. My personal message: My husband and I are both aged 80 plus and have lived in our present home for over 20 years and we both retired from jobs in London in 1986. My husband was in magazine publishing and I was a P.A. attached to the Head of Science in a College of Further Education. We celebrate our Diamond Wedding on July 10th this year. We have a son and a daughter and six grandchildren.

We joined the U3A in 1991. I had a 'home' Creative Writing group for over twelve years. Having just ended that, I now run a new group studying English History in the 18th Century, also in our home. I hope that someone with similar interests will contact us by e mail.

Sylvia Schrire - Co-ordinator, U3A Cape Town

My husband and I started U3A in S.Africa just at the millenium (Jan 2000) as a result of our wonderful experiences of U3A when visiting our children in Sydney and Ealing. It caught on like the measles, and has grown exponentially.

Around Cape Town we now have 6 U3A's with over 3000 members. There are another 8 local U3A's established around the country -- Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth, Plettenberg Bay, Knysna and George, with another 4000 members. Most U3A's offer 25 to 50 courses at a time, held in private homes, libraries, church halls, etc. In addition we all hold General Meetings monthly, addressed by eminent guest speakers.

There are also frequent local excursions and theatre visits; and "summer socials" during our 2 month recess. So far no over-border travel. Annual subs are between 2 pounds and 4 pounds, with all activities free, and free access to all other U3A's. We have a web site, although it is not always kept up to date www.u3a.org.za

What I like best about our U3A is that previously I never realised how many interesting and interested people there are out there. U3A in S. Africa has been more successful than we ever expected, purely because of the very real and deep need for affordable stimulation for senior citizens.

I am Ivor Manley, Treasurer of the U3A Farnborough and District.

1. Where? Farnborough is the county of Hampshire, in the UK, approximately 40 miles South West of London.

2. How many members? 1000 plus.

3. Range of Activities 90 Study Groups ranging from Languages through Art Appreciation, Painting, History, Industrial Archaeology, Architecture, Social History and Music Appreciation and Jazz, to physical activities like walking, Bowls, Tai Chi and Yoga. Visits (to historic sites, concerts, exhibitions and theatres), group holidays, study days and weeks are very popular and encourage that sense of learning together, which is a crucial element of the U3A

4. What I like best about my U3A. Its members, who are looking for challenges and stimulation in their third age but in a companionable and "fun" context.

5. My personal message. The U3A has a great deal to offer. Not only the scope for life long learning but also the support of others at a time of potential vulnerability. How often have I heard people say that "the u3a has been the saving of me."

Arthur Bridson - Fivedeans U3A - comprising Ovingdean, Saltdean, Roedean, Rottingdean, Woodingdean - stretching along the Sussex Coast from Brighton.

1. We were formed in 1997and have 80 members; our annual fee is £12.

2. Activities:- In January, February, March, May, June, October and November there is a branch meeting with a speaker held in a residential in the centre of Saltdean. In April we have our Annual General Meeting. Get-together parties are held in July and December.

Courses:- Armchair travel, Art history, Basic watercolour painting, Book group, Calligraphy, Discussion group, Family history, German, Handicraft, Play reading, Poetry, Scrabble, Science, Shared learning with overseas U3As, Sussex history, Walking.

3. What I like about my U3A:- I never have a dull moment - there is always something to keep me feeling young.

4. My personal message:- Try to help people in every way.

Martin Shirley says....
1. We are U3A Chard, Ilminster and District U3A,
in the South Somerset cider-making area of the beautiful English West Country: see www.chardilminsteru3a.org.uk

2. How many members? 175

3. Range of Activities Monthly meetings with invited speakers at the Guildhall in Chard, and 30 subject groups, from Art to Genealogy to Spanish to Writing for Pleasure

4. What I like best about my U3A The number of decent and likeable people that I have met through becoming a member and getting involved

5. My personal message "Being retired is a full-time occupation - U3A can help you to get the most out of it !"

<< Back to first page