East Midlands U3A Region

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COVID-19 Coronavirus

The COVID-19 coronavirus is the most serious event in our lifetime. It is touching all aspects of life, particularly that of U3A members.  The postponement of Monthly Meetings and Interest Groups sessions - the beating heart of the movement - presents a challenge for many members, particularly those that have become socially isolated with the current restrictions on movement.  However, U3A members are very resilient and have overcome many setbacks in their lives by adopting a positive attitude.
Third Age Trust Chairman Ian McCannah, March 2020.

Latest News

New Dates

Because of the current coronavirus situation the first National U3A Day has been moved from Wednesday 3rd June to Thursday 1st October 2020 which is International Day of Older Persons.  U3A Day is planned to maximise the opportunity to raise our profile nationally.

The planned East Midlands Regional Conference 2020 - 'Making a Difference' has been moved from Tuesday 21st April to Friday 30th October 2020 .at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Eastwood, Nottingham.   To view the programme follow this link: programme.

Thrapston & District U3A and The National Trust site at Lyveden - A Shared Research Project

The Thrapston & District U3A Shared Research Group presented the Resource File they had produced about Meriel, Lady Tresham, to Emily Wolfe, the Operations Manager of The National Trust site at Lyveden.
The National Trust hopes to get this bound into an A3 book which will be available to everyone once the site at Lyveden re opens later this year. The content provides useful information that can be incorporated into interpretation at the Manor and will enable Meriel to be an integral part of the story.
It is hoped that the group will now research another aspect of Lyveden so that more resources are available for those who may be interested.
To view a larger image click here.
Sheila Underwood, Chair, Thrapston & District U3A, on the right presenting the file.

About the Region

U3As are organised into Regions in England, and into countries for Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.  The East Midlands Region comprises the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, and Nottinghamshire.

The Region has two fundamental purposes:

1. To enable U3As to work together to help them meet their objectives (learning, recreation and companionship) – by cooperative activities usually involving discussion and sharing of experiences.
Read about  Shared Learning and Research Projects under the Region tab.

2. To ensure U3As have the opportunities to propose and vote for their representative on the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Third Age Trust.  The Regional Trustee provides a means of communication to the NEC.  
Read about the role of Regional Trustee under the Region tab.

Because of its geographical size the Region has divided itself into five County Networks of U3As (with Leicestershire and Rutland operating as one).   Find out more about the U3As and their Networks under the U3As and Networks tabs. 

You might like to have a look at the websites for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire Networks to see what they do and their latest news.

The Region and Networks are about U3As (and their members) doing things together. 

About the U3A

In the UK the U3A is a movement which provides opportunities for retired and semi-retired people to participate in learning activities both educational and recreational.  It also provides companionship.   There are over 1000 U3As in the UK with over 365,000 members and each, under the umbrella of the Third Age Trust, is independently operated. The range of activities in each one is up to the members to decide and provide.

U3As provide a wonderful opportunity for retired and semi-retired people to enrich their lives by learning new skills and developing new interests. To Learn Laugh and Live is the aim of all members. Each U3A is a “university” of people, who come together to share and pursue learning in all its forms.   It is also a member of The Third Age Trust (TAT), which is the national support and advisory body and to whose aims and guiding principles every U3A member adheres.

To learn more  about the TAT aims and guiding principles follow this link to the TAT website- Vision and Mission.