Founded in 1982, u3a is a UK-wide movement of locally-run interest groups that provide a wide range of opportunities for people to come together to learn for fun. Members explore new ideas, skills and activities.

In the past, the organisation was known as the University of the Third Age, a name that caused confusion, as it is not a University and the third age sounds sci-fi (new age, space age!)

Well, the ‘third age’ is defined by a time in your life where you have the opportunity to undertake learning for its own sake. There is no minimum age, but there is a focus on people who are no longer in full-time employment or raising a family.

You may not have heard of us, but we are one of the 1,057 u3as in the country. All together, there are over 450,000 members. Membership costs less than

£20 per year, open to everyone who is no longer in full-time work.

The u3a movement is self-funded and members do not work towards qualifications but learn purely for pleasure. Also, there is no distinction between the learners and the teachers – everyone could take a turn at both.

Our u3a is an established organisation with over 350 members. General meetings are held monthly at the Somer Centre and groups meet in various, convenient locations chosen by the group leader.

Pre-Covid, we held a monthly coffee morning and speaker meeting. Over the past few months, we have been carrying out these activities via Zoom, but are now slowly opening up again.

Prior to lockdown, we had over forty interest groups, some of these are beginning to meet face to face again. These include Art Appreciation, Wine Appreciation, Table Tennis, Ukulele and the Guitar group have led the charge. Others will follow soon and you can see what groups run on our website below.

The photo above is the present committee running Norton Radstock u3a, though there is also a tenth member, Web Manager, Sue Green, who was taking the photo! We are committed to opening up again, however, we are taking care as Covid-19 has not disappeared. Safety is our priority as we begin to meet again, and all group leaders have been briefed on how we have to act together to keep each other safe.

Colin Tincknell, Chair of Norton Radstock u3a says: “After such a difficult time we are looking forward to opening up this Autumn. Members have really missed not taking part in our many wide-ranging activities.”

To find out more, why not go along to the Midsomer Norton Farmers’ Market on the morning of Saturday, 4th September and visit the u3a stall or visit: https://u3asites.org.uk/norrad/home