Welcome to Fleet and District U3A. By joining, you have become part of a national organisation of U3As, affiliated to the Third Age Trust, where local groups like ours provide opportunities for older adults to come together to develop their existing interests and to learn new skills. We don’t study for qualifications; we just enjoy taking part and making new friends.
The ‘Third Age’ comes from a French idea, where the First Age is your childhood and education, the Second Age is your working life and bringing up children, and the Third Age is where you make the most of your leisure time, have fun and help others.
Fleet U3A was formed in 1994 and we have grown into one of the largest U3As in the country. We are all volunteers. We share our knowledge and expertise with fellow members, certain that we will benefit from others’ skills and experience in other fields. Let us know if you have a skill you would like to share or an interest you would like to develop with like-minded people. Please also look for opportunities to join or support the leadership team of the groups you join: there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes.
Most groups meet in the daytime during the working week. We mostly keep to school terms. We have gradually returned to our traditional pre-pandemic pattern of meetings, and are enjoying the chance to socialise in person. We do still suggest that members do not attend if they are experiencing cold or flu-like symptoms.
There is usually a venue hire fee each term and sometimes additional charges for professional tutors, trips, external speakers or materials. Our flagship event is our Monthly Meeting with a guest speaker and a chance to meet informally, held on the third Wednesday in the month. We also run members' coffee meetings and an Open Morning in April and our AGM in November.
Fleet U3A has charity status and is governed by a hard-working and dedicated committee which meets monthly. It is a big job to manage an organisation as large as ours so we are always on the lookout for help.
Please do contact any member of the committee if you have a question about our U3A or want to volunteer your time in any way.
I look forward to seeing you at one of our activities soon,
Stephen Grosvenor
