What is a u3a?

A "university of the third age" or u3a is not a university in the usual sense; it is an association in which members pool their own abilities and skills in an informal learning co–operative. No qualifications are required of members and none are awarded. Paddock Wood u3a is affiliated to the Third Age Trust, which offers advice, resources and other help.

The u3a movement began in France in 1972 and started in the UK in 1982. It is a worldwide organization and grows quickly wherever it springs up. The founders recognized older people as active citizens with talents and skills to be utilized for the benefit of each other. The overriding aims of the movement are that we should never stop learning and that learning should be fun. What makes u3a unique is the fact that everything is done by members who share their knowledge and interests with each other in interest groups.

There are now over 430,000 members in over 1000 local u3a throughout the UK today.

​Read the article "The u3a story" by Francis Beckett here

The Principles of the u3a Movement

​The u3a movement is non-religious and non-political and has three main principles:​

The Third Age Principle

  • Membership of a u3a is open to all in their third age, which is defined not by a particular age but by a period in life in which full time employment has ceased.
  • Members promote the values of lifelong learning and the positive attributes of belonging to a u3a.
  • Members should do all they can to ensure that people wanting to join a u3a can do so.

The Self-help Learning Principle

  • Members form interest groups covering as wide a range of topics and activities as they desire; by the members, for the members.
  • No qualifications are sought or offered. Learning is for its own sake, with enjoyment being the prime motive, not qualifications or awards.
  • There is no distinction between the learners and the teachers; they are all u3amembers.

The Mutual Aid Principle

  • Each u3a is a mutual aid organisation, operationally independent but a member of The Third Age Trust, which requires adherence to the guiding principles of the u3a movement.
  • No payments are made to members for services rendered to any u3a.
  • Each u3a is self-funded with membership subscriptions and costs kept as low as possible.
  • Outside financial assistance should only be sought if it does not imperil the integrity of the u3a movement.
"It is really enjoyable trying to learn something new and then succeeding."