What is the u3a

The u3a is a national network of learning groups which was founded in 1982, the movement aims to encourage groups of people who are no longer in full-time work, to come together and continue their enjoyment of learning and it can be any subject that interests them.

After its inception , the movement grew very quickly and by the early 1990s, a u3a was opening every fortnight. u3as started in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and in 2008 membership was increasing by 11% every year. 2010 saw our membership hitting the quarter million mark. 2022 saw 40th Anniversary of the movement.

The national movement and the regional u3as are all separate charities with their own constitution and committee, but work together with the common aim of helping people continue learning.

As well as White Cliffs u3a, you can subscribe to Interest Groups Online (formerly called Trust u3a). Interest Groups Online is a platform for collaborative learning. It is an online community, bringing people together from all across the u3a movement and beyond. There are around 70 different groups that meet online across a wide range of subjects. Groups are interactive and vary depending on the needs of the participants. To find out what the National Movement is doing and to join some of their events, please look at their website here