The
Northamptonshire Network consists of 13 u3as based across
Northamptonshire.
To find out where we are, hover the mouse pointer over an
appropriate picture. Any comments, pleaseclick
here to contact the WebMaster
Northampton
Oundle &
District
Wellingborough
Gt Oakley & District Brixworth & District
Kettering
The u3a Day at Chester House was a
resounding success with the weather being kind, the
displays brilliant and attendance high.
Click here to see the
official report (with pictures)
THRAPSTON AND
DISTRICT U3A
Last year, as part of Northamptonshire Network 40th
Anniversary celebration, Thrapston & District
members took part in a Members Mile Challenge. They
walked their mile but also decide to make it a sponsored
event. The money raised was used to buy a bench (and a
plaque to put on it) which was put in place at the
beginning of March. It sits among the daffodils
planted by the primary school children within the
Thrapston Park Project and halfway round "the mile
“. It is already in use and anyone who rests there
now knows there is a local u3a.
Fifty
Mysterious Postcards
Oundle Member Kathryn Baird has writen a book
and has been published
u3a is a UK-wide
movement which brings together people in their ‘third age’
to develop their interests and continue their learning in a
friendly and informal environment. It is an organisation for
those who have finished working full-time or raising a
family and have time to pursue interests with like-minded
people or just to try something new. It provides
educational, creative and leisure opportunities in a
friendly environment.
The individual u3as are run entirely by volunteers and draw
upon the knowledge, experience and skills of their own
members to organise and provide interest groups. The
teachers learn and the learners teach in such fields as art,
languages, music, history, life sciences, philosophy,
computing, crafts, photography and walking though not all
subjects are found in all u3as.
The u3a approach to learning is learning for pleasure.
There is no accreditation or validation and there are no
assessments or qualifications to be gained. To learn
more about the national and individual u3as click on the
links shown in the column to the left or click on the video
link at the bottom of this page.
There are now 1057 u3as (as of October 2020) with about
450,000 members including U3As
The Aims of the
Northamptonshire Network
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.
Ensure u3as have the opportunities to propose
and vote for their representative on the National
Executive Committee (NEC) of the Third Age
Trust. It provides one means by which to
communicate with the NEC through the Trustee.
Enable and support the launch of new u3as.
Organise outings and joint events such as
Study days, exhibitions and competitions.
Help Interest Group Leaders share their
knowledge and expertise with other u3a groups with the
same interest.
Share information about special events,
excursions, holidays etc
Click
on the picture to see a video of u3a members
