Welcome to Grantham U3A
Grantham U3A was formed in 2001 with an initial membership of 15 and has grown steadily to our present membership of over 500. As we have expanded we have been able to increase our range of activities. We are all volunteers and are a self-help organisation with charity status.
If you are retired, semi-retired or about to retire you are eligible to join us. There is no minimum age. We provide the opportunities for education, recreation and companionship in a mix of activities of your choosing.
For the latest news about Grantham U3A go to the News & Views page.
If you wish to renew your membership, please go to the Membership page using the button above. If you wish to know more about Grantham U3A, then please read on.
We hold a central meeting for members in Grantham every month and we also enjoy meeting together in specialist interest groups to enjoy particular subjects or to participate in recreational activities. Special one-off events are also organised.
U3A Learn Laugh Live
The U3A is a learning cooperative of older people which enables members who are no longer in full-time employment an opportunity to share knowledge and recreation together in an informal setting.
The Third Age refers to the period of time after the First age of childhood dependence and the Second age of full-time employment and parental responsibility.
Anyone in the Third Age can join the U3A, whether you are in retirement, semi-retirement or about to retire – all you need is the interest and enthusiasm. Despite being called a “university”, it requires no qualifications and no qualifications are awarded. The term “University” refers to the University of Life and the organisation has members and not students.
The International Association of U3As was formed in the early 1970s and the UK’s Third Age Trust was created in 1982 as a registered charity. There are now over 900 local U3A branches in the UK.
To learn about U3A, its Vision, Mission and Principles, please click the 'U3A' button at the top of this page which will take you to the website of The Third Age Trust, the umbrella organisation for U3As in the UK, and click the 'Third Age Trust' tab.
Membership Details
The annual subscription of Grantham U3A for 2024 is £10.00. Our membership year runs from 1st January to 31st December. Subscriptions are due by 1st January. Those joining in November and December have up to two free months membership.
Membership entitles you to attend our monthly meetings, join any of our Interest Groups, and receive a copy of our Newsletter/Bulletin which is published monthly and also a copy of the National U3A News which is published five times a year. We have in excess of 60 Interest Groups, details of which are given in the pages under the 'Groups' button at the top of this page.
If you are interested in joining Grantham U3A please go to the Membership page. If you would simply like to know more, please contact our Membership Secretary by using the Contact page.
Monthly Meetings
We hold a monthly meeting for members on the third Tuesday of each month in the Grantham Guildhall Arts Centre.
Doors open at 1.45pm, announcements are at 2.00pm and the guest speaker commences at 2.15pm.
Talks generally last for about an hour or so including questions. There is also the opportunity for members to obtain information about activities and interest groups as they can speak to any of the Committee members present.
Coffee Mornings
Held most months on the fourth Tuesday at St Wulfram's Church Coffee Bar from 10.00am -- 11.30am.
Committee
The constitution of Grantham U3A decrees that the Group is controlled by an Executive Committee of not less than 5 and not more than 15 members, and with a maximum of 2 co-opted members being authorised.