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| | U3A Means The University Of The Third Age
a growing nationwide network of self-help educational activities organised for
and by retired and unwaged people who are middle aged and over . The first
Université du Troisième Age was founded in Toulouse in 1972. The
Universities in France made available their facilities and tutors to provide
courses for older people. The UK University of the Third Age started in
Cambridge in 1981. When the idea was taken up in the UK in 1982 the approach was
different. It became a ‘Do-It-Yourself’ model with the term
‘University’ used in its original meaning where a group of people gather
together to learn from one another.
The U3A is about involvement in learning new things, expanding horizons, sharing
skills and experiences, making new friends, helping others to learn, accepting
new challenges to show that age need be no barrier to learning or to helping
others to learn, and to enjoy! There are now some 632 U3As in this country
with a total membership of around 184,000.
Founded in 1997, and affiliated to The Third Age Trust (the UK national
organization), the Cheadle branch is now 680 members strong with
forty plus activities for members to enjoy. It is a registered charity, number
1072364. We are members of the very informally organised South East
Cheshire and North Staffordshire U3A Region comprising Alsager, Cheadle,
Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich, Leek, Macclesfield Rural, and Uttoxeter &
District branches. We also form part of the North West Area of the Third
Age Trust.
It is organised by a Management Committee of volunteers, elected by the
membership at the Annual General Meeting. Activity Group leaders are also
volunteers who give their services to pass on their skills for the benefit of
others. We learn from each other and help each other.
To help defray the running costs of the branch, annual membership 2008-9 costs £7 and
each group session attended costs £1. Members can belong to as many
groups as they wish.
New members may enrol by sending a cheque for £7 made payable to Cheadle
(Staffs) U3A, to the Membership Secretary, contact details below, or on their first attendance at their
chosen group, subject to the group having vacancies.
Our main base is Room G10 (from September 2008, G14) at the Moorlands 6th Form Centre, Attlee Road,
Cheadle, Staffordshire, ST10 1LL, where there is ample car parking. Many
groups meet here; others meet elsewhere, when more appropriate accommodation is
needed, as indicated in the programme of
activities on the next page. See also our
Take
Part page where you can influence the running of the U3A by contributing
your own ideas, keep up to date with the latest state of the existing
activities, to add your name to a proposed new activity group, to volunteer as a
group leader, the opportunities are endless.
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