Welcome
Basildon & Billericay u3a is one of over 1,000 u3a's nationally with a combined membership exceeding 365,000. We are a growing, dynamic and outward-looking movement which has a positive and creative approach to retirement. We aim to take part with others in informal learning and leisure activities - thus providing an opportunity to remain active and furthering good mental and physical health.
u3a is designed for people to come together to pursue and share learning. There is no age limit, but as most of our activities are held during the day they tend to appeal to retired or semi retired people in Basildon, Billericay, Wickford and surrounding areas. No qualifications are required and none are given. All you need is enthusiasm to share interests and skills, and to learn new ones. The benefit is self-fulfillment.
Membership We are a registered charity - no. 1012706 - originally formed in 1989 and self-managed by an elected Committee. We’re also self-funded by an annual membership subscription, which is £15 for the year from 1 March 2024 to 28 February 2025 (£10 if joining after 1 October 2024). We have about 500 members and, if you would like to join us, you will be very welcome - please see the Contact page.
Our members receive Monthly Newsletters and we hold monthly meetings on the 4th Friday of every month, starting at 2:30 pm, in the Canon Roche Centre behind the Catholic Church at 21 Laindon Road, Billericay (with limited car parking available). They usually begin with a short business section followed by a guest speaker (normally from outside u3a but occasionally from within it too) and conclude with refreshments - free tea and biscuits - and the opportunity to mix and chat. See Events for this year’s programme of speakers. Visitors are very welcome and, if you decide to join u3a on the day, your £2 admission fee will be deducted from your first year’s membership subscription.
Members have the opportunity to remain active and involved by pursuing an almost endless range of interests in the company of like-minded individuals . They may join over 50 Interest/Activity Groups. These usually meet in mornings or afternoons in a member’s home but, if this isn’t appropriate because of a Group’s size or activities, local halls may be hired with the agreement of the Committee. Where possible, members help each other with transport. For more information on the current range of learning and leisure opportunities available, please see the Groups page
In u3a you are part of both a national & world-wide learning organisation. The Third Age Trust has been the national support and advisory organisation for the u3a movement in the UK since its creation in 1982. It maintains the national website. Members of Basildon & Billericay u3a receive “Third Age Matters” magazine published 5 times throughout the year by the Third Age Trust, and also can borrow from their extensive range of DVDs and other learning/study resources.
u3a is not just confined to the UK. It’s a truly international movement, which began when the seeds for ‘Lifelong Learning for Older People’ were sown at a French Summer School in Toulouse in 1972. This led within the year to the formation of the International Association of u3as (AIUTA) and the idea quickly spread to countries all around the world.