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 or contact the membership secretary Michelle Burdis on 07517 028626.

The renewal form is on the Members page.

 

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

The website includes details of  events put on by the national organisation around the country

 

 

Our U3A Motto:

“We learn at leisure and study for pleasure”

  Who are we?
 

  Regular Meetings

Last updated on 24 November 2018

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.

 

Programme for 2018:

     

 

 

U3A OPEN QUARTERLY MEETINGS

These are held for all members, their guests and members of the public’, and are held every three months 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 2019 are:

 

Venue: Clair Hall, Haywards Heath

Time: 2.00 4.30pm

- Tuesday 22nd  January 2019 – a talk by Michael Smith about the polar explorer Shackleton

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 2018 are:

 

- Monday 10th December 2018

 

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

 

Arc Legal Assistance - U3A Helpline

 

The details are as follows:-

 

Arc Legal Assistance in partnership with Irwin Mitchell Solicitors

 

Telephone number 0344 770 1040

 

Quote -  U3A Legal Helpline

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

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.

 

If you require any further information about the groups please email Mike Gardiner – Groups’ Coordinator – hhu3agroups@gmail.com  or Tel: 01444-482559

  What’s new.......

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,

U3A National Office,

52 Lant Street,

London SE1 1RB

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.

 

TAT Newsletter: U3A Members can sign up for the TAT Newsletter on the latter website.

  Forthcoming events for your diary

NEWSLETTERS

 

Our HH U3A Newsletters are listed on the MEMBERS page and can be read by L-clicking on them and entering the Username and Password, which are case sensitive.

 

Please send articles to newsletter@haywardsheathu3a.org.uk

 

Please note that the closing date for entries in our next Newsletter is 9th December 2018,

 

U3A HQ Newsletters - these are available via the link to the archive at https://www.u3a.org.uk/about/newsletter

 

 Sussex U3A Network  - SUN

 Third Age Trust (TAT)

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.

 

Further information about SUN can be found under the SUN tab at top of this page or by clicking here.

 

SUN Rep:  Diana Cawdery 01444 484560

 

 

Sergison Arms Pub HH

Earn Commission For Your U3A

If U3A members book their holiday with Riviera Travel they will donate 10% of the final cost to our U3A.

NB: you must mention the name of your U3A when you book and they do advertise in Third Age Matters.

Worried that you might get scammed? Come along to the talk at the Wesley Hall , Methodist Church on 26th November at 10am  to find out how to keep safe. (03/11/18)

An updated version of the Groups Information Handbook is now available on the website (03/11/18)

Anyone interested in joining a U3A table tennis group please email Peter Caddy on peter@caddy51.plus.com if you haven’t already done so. (03/11/18)

Anyone interested in joining a U3A astronomy group please contact Mary Armour on hhu3asec@hotmail.com. (03/11/18)