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Following the very successful Regional ‘Memory’ Workshop (held on 7th March) Lynne Cox has been appointed Regional Coordinator for Memory Courses. The Coordinator’s role is to help those U3as which ask for it to provide the Memory Courses which were the focus of the Workshop. Lynne, of Whitwick U3A, has a recent degree in psychology and has been involved with not only her own U3A Committee but in Leicestershire and the Region. Lynne will be in touch with U3As shortly.  Issues 1 and 2 of the Regional Memory Newsletter can be viewed in the Publications Section.

A Creative Writing Workshop for Group Leaders is to be held on Wednesday 23rd May to enable participants to meet, discuss ideas and problems, gain ideas from each other and from the providers, and establish networks as a basis for future development.  Read more in the Events Section.

In September 2012 Liz Wilson completes her three year term as the Region’s Trustee and she cannot have another term (or year). Therefore, members are invited to consider putting themselves forward for this important and interesting post.   Read more in the People Section.

mapAbout the U3A

In the UK the U3A is a movement which provides opportunities for retired people to participate in learning activities both educational and recreational.  We also provide companionship.   There are over 800 local U3As in the UK and each is independently managed and self-governing.   The range of activities in each one is up to the members to decide and provide.

U3As provide a wonderful opportunity for retired people to enrich their lives by learning new skills and developing new interests, which act as a social vehicle, whilst retaining a fun element. 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 our national support and advisory body and we adhere to the aims and guiding principles of that organisation.

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.
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.  Later it provides one means by which to communicate with the NEC through the Trustee.

Because of its geographical size the Region has divided itself into five County Networks of U3As (with Leicestershire and Rutland operating as one).   A separate page shows the extent of the U3As and their Networks.  You might like to have a look at the websites for the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Networks to see what they do and their latest news.

The Region has formed also a Representative Council on which each Network has two elected representatives. The Council meets three times per year to organise events and publications, discuss items of common interest, and to provide a forum for the exchange of information between the member U3As and the TAT.

The Region and Networks are about U3As (and their members) doing things together.   It is not a talkshop or another layer of bureaucracy.

To learn more about the U3A watch this U3A video:


There are links to other YouTube videos in the Links section.