Haywards Heath & District U3A

U3A stands for University of the Third Age and is for people who want to keep active in mind and body, and are no longer in full time employment. No one has to stop learning just because they have stopped working.

There is first age learning at school, college and university, second age learning when skills are learnt at work and third age learning when people are free to choose what they learn. In U3A groups of people come together to study subjects of mutual interest. Learning is interpreted in its broadest sense and subjects do not have to be academic. Some people take up subjects they have not touched since their school days. Many more turn to things they have always wanted to do but never had the chance. U3A Members are typically busy people, leading at least as full and satisfying lives as when they worked full-time.  They have a continuing sense of achievement with something to look forward to every day.

The U3A is a self-help, self managed, lifelong learning co-operative with members participating in activities in numerous ways.  

Members share knowledge, skills and experience, and  contribute to the organisation by different means. Some enjoy giving talks and sharing their knowledge and others are prepared to help in administrative and practical ways.  

U3As are different from other educational establishments and courses in that:

- there is no curriculum – people learn what they wish

- there are no entrance qualifications – a desire to learn is all that is needed

- there are no exams or certificates – people enjoy  learning but do not need to prove they have done it

- there are no terms – U3A groups decide their own times to meet

- there is no campus – U3A groups often use members’ homes or rent public halls for meetings.

Information leaflets for Haywards Heath U3A are available from Haywards Heath Library.

Click here for a membership application form.

For more information on the National U3A click here www.u3a.org.uk

Our U3A Motto:

“We learn at leisure and study for pleasure”

  Who are we?
 

  Regular Meetings

 Sussex U3A Network  - SUN

Last updated on 29 September 2016

COFFEE MORNINGS

Coffee mornings for members are arranged during the year in the Community Room at the Methodist Church in Perrymount Road, Haywards Heath, from 10.00am  to 11.30am.

These are open to all members and guests, and different groups take it in turns to host these and use the opportunity to tell people about their activities.

Entry fee, to include refreshments, 50p

Remaining Programme for 2016:

      - Friday 4th November 2016 - Hosted by Wider World

OPEN QUARTERLY MEETINGS

These are held for all members every three months in Clair Hall from 2.00 to 4.00pm and are advertised in our Newsletter. Sometimes there is an outside speaker on a topic of general interest, and at other meetings we may have several members talking about a special topic or on a particular theme. The dates for 2016 are:

-  Tuesday 11th October 2016 - Our speaker is Ian Currie a meterologist who will be giving a presentation on "The History of Weather Forecasting". Admission is just £1 to include tea and biscuits, everyone is welcome."

GROUPS MEETINGS

Quarterly meetings are held in the Function Suite, Clair Hall at 9.45am for Group Leaders and Convenors. The dates for 2016 are:

-  Thursday 1st December 2016

U3A INSURANCE POLICIES

Group Leaders, Conveners and Members are advised to read the document “Overview of  The Insurance Policies Provided by the Third Age Trust for U3As”, an updated version of which has recently been received from the Third Age Trust. It is recommended that you take copies for yourselves and compare with copies previously handed out. This document is available in pdf format here.

24 HOUR LEGAL ADVICE

24 Hour Legal Advice is available for U3A members from First Assist.

Details here.

VIRTUAL U3A

The Virtual U3A (vU3a), which went live in January 2009, is an online-only U3A, affiliated to the Third Age Trust. One of its principal aims is to provide the U3A experience for those who are rendered isolated in some way by circumstances or geography and unable to play a full part in a terrestrial U3A. More information is available on the public website www.vu3a.org where one can also apply for membership. Why not pay it a visit? And if you know of anyone who might benefit, please pass the information on.
 
 

  General U3A Notices

  Groups
 

Haywards Heath & District U3A now has over 1000 members and over 80 groups covering a broad range of interests.

Click here for the complete list of our groups with links to their meeting days and venues.

  What’s new.......

 Third Age Trust (TAT)

The Third Age Trust is the national representative body for U3As in the UK.   It underpins the work of local U3As by providing educational and administrative support to their management committees and to individual members and assists in the development of new U3As across the UK. It is managed by a National Executive Committee and is funded mainly by annual subscriptions paid by U3As on a per capita basis, with the occasional grant for a specific purpose.

U3As are independently managed charitable associations with their own constitutions. Membership of the Third Age Trust is a requirement in order to use the U3A name and logo both of which are protected but once registered, providing the aims and guiding principles of the organisation are adhered to, local U3As are self governing.The Third Age Trust is based in Bromley and contact details are as follows:-

The Third Age Trust,

The Old Municipal Buildings,

19 East Street,

Bromley, Kent BR1 1QE

Tel 020 8466 6139    Email: national.office@u3a.org.uk  

Website: www.u3a.org.uk

RESOURCE CENTRE

The Third Age Trust runs a Resource Centre for members and there is an excellent collection of colour slides, videos and DVDs which may be borrowed. For further information see the website or tel: 020 8315 0199. Email address is

resource.centre@u3a.org.uk. The centre is open Mon-Thurs from 9.30am-4pm.

U3A SUBJECT NETWORKS

There are a number of National Subject Advisers who are available to give support to U3A groups throughout the country. You can contact these advisors directly on the Third Age Trust website and download the latest subject newsletters or see list in Third Age Matters.

THIRD AGE MATTERS and SOURCES

The magazine, Third Age Matters is produced five times a year and contains information about U3A nationally and about the activities of local branches.

The  publication called Sources is published three times a year and each edition concentrates on a specific topic and provides useful information to groups.

Both of these publications are sent direct to members.

OTHER THIRD AGE TRUST SERVICES FOR MEMBERS

Residential Summer Schools are run in various parts of the country and online courses are available for members to access. For further information see the Third Age Trust website.

  Forthcoming events for your diary

New ENVIRONMENT GROUP

Meetings Held: Monthly On The First Wednesday Of The Month 10am –

12 noon from 7 September 2016.

Venue: Upper Floor Meeting Room, Methodist Church, Perrymount Road.

SUN is an organisation to which all Sussex U3As belong.  Representatives from all Sussex U3As meet to discuss matters of interest and exchange ideas. It also provides contact with our regional representative on the Third Age Trust committee.

More information here.

STUDY DAYS

One of the important functions that SUN performs is to organise study days. These are presented by experts in their field and are normally run on Saturdays at various locations in the county.   A list of the Study Days planned for 2016 appears here. Application forms will normally be available about six weeks in advance from  the SUN website.