The University of the Third Age: A growing nationwide network of self-help educational activities organised for and by retired and semi-retired people of all ages
 
The first Université du Troisième Age was founded in Toulouse in 1972 The Universities in France made available their facilities and tutors to provide courses for older people.

The UK University of the Third Age started in Cambridge in 1981. There are now over 350 U3As in this country with a total membership of around 100,000.

When the idea was taken up in the UK in 1982 the approach was different It be­came a ‘do-it-yourself’ model with the term ‘university’ used in its original meaning where a group of people gather together to learn from one another.

U3A is about involvement in learning new things, expanding horizons sharing skills and experiences, making new friends, helping others to learn, accepting new challenges to show that age need be no barrier to learning or to helping others to learn. And to enjoy!

About Penrith & North Lakes U3A