WHAT’S ON OFFER FROM WESTBURY AND DISTRICT U3A?

Once you have joined Westbury U3A and paid your yearly subscription, you are eligible to join as many of our interest groups as you choose. Some groups may make a small charge for their meetings or activities. The photographs on this page show some of our interest groups but click here to see the full list of groups currently on offer.

You are also eligible to attend our monthly meetings These meetings take place on the second Tuesday of the month at the Westbury United Reformed Church Hall at 2.00 pm. A fee of £3 is usually payable on entry, which includes refreshments. However, as a potential new member you are most welcome to come along to one of our monthly meetings for a free taster session before joining us. Click here to see the programme of speakers at the monthly meetings.

WHAT DOES IT COST?

Very little! We fix an annual subscription fee, payable on April 1st, which currently is £10. Above that, you may pay a small fee for each monthly meeting that you attend, which is currently £3. For group meetings held in private houses it is normal to ask people to pitch in to cover the cost of tea and biscuits etc.

Payment of the subscription entitles you to join any of our groups, and you will also receive copies of the national magazine 'Third Age Matters'.

We hardly need to stress that these figures are enormously attractive compared with what you’d have to pay to go on local authority or privately run courses. The U3A is a fantastic bargain!

IS THERE AN AGE LIMIT?

No. There is neither an upper nor lower age limit. You don’t need to be a senior citizen, though most U3A members tend to be in that category, and you don’t need to be permanently retired either. In fact, no one will delve into your background at all if you come along and ask to be a member.

An important point to note, though, is that nearly all meetings are held during the daytime rather than evenings, so the U3A isn’t really suitable for people who have a steady 9-5 type of job.

WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE JOIN THE U3A?

The U3A is for all people who wish to keep their minds and bodies in good shape with the passing years.

Your previous experiences jobs, qualifications, achievements, etc. are irrelevant. The U3A welcomes everyone and gives all comers the opportunity to try out exciting new things.

CAN I JOIN THE U3A FOR THE MONTHLY MEETINGS ONLY?

Yes, a few of our members do just this. But you’ll get more out of the U3A if you join one or more groups.

CAN I JOIN A GROUP BUT NOT GO TO THE MONTHLY MEETING?

Yes; again some of our members do this. But as well as offering some interesting talks, the monthly meeting gives us an opportunity to keep members informed of developments such as new groups starting up, and to make announcements about future events. It’s also a nice social get together with tea/coffee and biscuits included in the fee.

HOW DO U3A’s DIFFER FROM EACH OTHER?

U3As are independent bodies. They organise their own programme of activities and fix their own subscription fees. In practice, however, most U3As tend to be run on fairly similar lines, each offering a set of ‘interest groups’ that members can join. The number of such groups varies, as do the actual subjects on offer. These reflect the interests of the local membership. Most U3As also hold regular general meetings open to all their members.

WOULD I BE JOINING A LOCAL OR A NATIONAL ORGANISATION?

A bit of both. When you pay your membership fee you are actually joining a particular local U3A, and can then take part in any of the subjects, activities and meetings run by that U3A.

However, there is a national umbrella body, called the U3A Trust, which exists to provide advice and resources that are made available to all the local U3A’s and all U3A members. A part of your membership fee goes to the head office.

WHAT DOES THE NATIONAL U3A HAVE TO OFFER?

Quite a lot; to start with, there’s a large range of physical resources available for groups to borrow. These include DVDs, and videos. They are invaluable for subjects such as music, art history, architecture, history, religion and philosophy. Then there are human resources in the shape of national coordinators for many subjects; their advice can be sought on ways to run particular interest groups. National experts are also available at an annual summer school, where members can choose from a set of interesting short lecture or practical courses. All U3A members receive a regular magazine ‘U3A News’ and an excellent free publication called ‘Sources’.

For those with internet facilities, there’s a national website, which is a mine of useful information; and members can join national on-line courses in a growing list of subjects. Finally there is the U3A Travel Network, which offers dozens of special interest holidays in the UK, Europe and world-wide all at very reasonable prices.