About Us
u3a stands for the University of the Third Age whose motto is 'Learn, Laugh, Live'. It is a self-help organisation for people no longer in full time employment providing educational, creative and leisure opportunities in a friendly environment. It consists of local u3as all over the UK, which are charities in their own right and are run entirely by volunteers. Local u3as are learning cooperatives which draw upon the knowledge, experience and skills of their own members to organise and provide interest groups in accordance with the wishes of the membership. The teachers learn and the learners teach. Between them u3as offer the chance to study over 300 different subjects in such fields as art, languages, music, history, life sciences, philosophy, computing, crafts, photography and walking. A typical u3a has about 250 members but could be as small as 12 and as large as 2000.
The u3a approach to learning is – learning for pleasure. No qualifications are needed and none are given. Members organise their own activities and offer their skill, knowledge and experience to their fellow members.
At present the annual subscription of £10.00 is due on August 1st each year. Those joining for the first time after 1st. March are accepted at half the annual rate for that year. Some groups have to make a small charge for room hire etc.
Newsletters are issued 4 times a year and are emailed to all members whose email address is registered with us. Paper copies are available from Gloucester Guildhall box office and at monthly meetings.
In the interests of sharing and perpetuating the aims of the u3a movement, the Cotswold Link has set up a reciprocal agreement between its member u3as. Any member of a Link u3a may attend one group activity in another Link u3a, without having to become a member of that other u3a.
ABOUT THE THIRD AGE TRUST
The Third Age Trust is the national representative body for u3as in the UK.
It is both a limited company and a registered charity. It underpins the work of local u3as by providing educational and administrative support to their management committees and to individual members and assists in the development of new u3as across the UK. The Third Age Trust is funded mainly by annual subscriptions paid by member u3as on a per capita basis, with the occasional grant for specific projects.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN u3as AND THE THIRD AGE TRUST
u3as are independently managed charitable associations with their own constitutions. Membership of The Third Age Trust is a requirement in order to use the u3a name and logo both of which are protected but once registered, providing the aims and guiding principles of the organisation are adhered to, local u3as are self-governing.