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Sandbach & District U3A
(University of the Third Age)
- By original definition a ‘university’ is a place where people gather together to learn from one another. The first age is one of growth and development, the second age one of employment and earning, and the third age is one of rest and retirement.
- The U3A is a growing nationwide network of self-help educational activities organised by and for retired and unwaged people. The first Universite du Troisieme Age was founded in Toulouse in 1972. The Universities in France made available their facilities and tutors to provide courses for older people. The first University of the Third Age in the UK started in Cambridge in 1981. When the idea was taken up in the UK, the approach was different. U3As in the UK are created, organised, and managed on a voluntary basis by members who also run the activities themselves on a voluntary basis.
- U3As are about involvement in learning new things, expanding horizons, sharing skills and experiences, making new friends, helping others to learn, accepting new challenges to show that age need be no barrier to learning or to helping others to learn, and to enjoy! As of August 2010 there are over 760 U3As in the UK with a total membership of over 247,000.
- Founded in 2003, and affiliated to The Third Age Trust (the UK national organization), the Sandbach & District U3A has now (April 2010) over 1000 members, with over 70 activities for members to enjoy. It is a registered charity number 1105144. It is a member of an informally organised group of U3As comprising Alsager, Biddulph, Cheadle, Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich, Leek, and Macclesfield Rural. For administrative purposes we also form part of the North West Area of the Third Age Trust.
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