Welcome to Chard, Ilminster and District u3a
u3a stands for the University of the Third Age. It is a unique and thriving international movement that provides educational, creative, and leisure opportunities for people in their "third age" – typically those who are retired or no longer in full-time employment and whose main family responsibilities are behind them.
Self-Help Learning: This is the core principle. u3a groups are not like traditional universities with paid lecturers or formal curricula. Instead, they operate on a "self-help" or "peer-to-peer" model. Members share their own knowledge, skills, and experience with fellow members. "The teachers learn and the learners teach" is a common motto.
No Qualifications, No Exams: Learning in the u3a is purely for pleasure and enjoyment. There are no entry requirements, no qualifications sought, no exams to pass, and no degrees awarded. It's about lifelong learning for its own sake.
Variety of Activities: Chard, Ilminster and District u3a offers a vast range of interest groups covering many topics. These include:
Academic subjects (history, languages, literature)
Physical activities (badminton, tennis, cricket, table tennis, walking, yoga)
Leisure and social groups (book clubs, theatre trips, bridge, chess, music, discussion groups)
Local and Volunteer-Run: Each u3a is an independent, self-financing, and self-managing charity. They are run entirely by volunteers from within their own membership. They typically operate at a local level, with groups meeting in village halls, community centres, or members' homes.
National Support: In the UK, local u3as are supported by a national coordinating body called The Third Age Trust. The Trust provides guidance, resources, and represents the u3a movement at a national and international level.
In essence, u3a provides a vibrant, social, and intellectually stimulating environment for older adults to continue learning, pursue hobbies, make new friends, and stay active in their communities.
For further information please continue to explore our website which provides information on who we are, what we do, and how to join us. We also have a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/chardilminster.u3a.
