What is The Third Age?

It refers to a period of time after the First Age of childhood dependence and the Second Age of full-time employment and parental responsibility.

What is the University?

The u3a is a self-help organisation and we look to members to share their knowledge and skills. Members meet in groups to develop their particular interests. We do not have any paid tutors; group leaders are members who volunteer to coordinate groups in subjects of their choice. Members are not students and qualifications are neither required nor given. Members who are fit are expected to offer to help in any way they can with the running of u3a.

u3a Group Meetings

Most groups meet in the daytime. our Groups are shown on the Groups page. Please contact the Group Leader for more details by clicking on the Group Leaders name on the Group page.

If the group is currently full, it may be pssible to put you on a waiting list. You can also contact the Groups Secretary, Jenny Schofield, telephone 01934 822450, who may be able to start an additional group on your chosen subject.

Monthly Lectures

The lectures are held on the second Friday afternoon each month, apart from August.  Lectures are given in the United Reform Church Hall in Waterloo Street, Weston-super-Mare. A guest speaker gives the lecture. Lectures start at 2.15pm and last for about an hour, with time for questions. Sessions conclude with tea or coffee and biscuits and close at about 4pm

Forthcoming Lectures are show in the Lecture Group page. Click on the Event for more information.

Coffee Mornings

Normally these are every Tuesday from 10am to 11.15am. They provide an opportunity for members to meet socially and see the Notice boards that display current information.
Coffee Mornings are temporarily suspended and will resume on the 3rd February 2026 in a new venue, We Are Super Event Space in the Sovereign Centre (entrance opposite the foot of the stairs to the car park).

Enquiries and fee payments are dealt with at the coffee morning.

What does it cost?

The subscription for Individual members for a year is £12, two members at the same address can join as Joint members at a reduced rate of £10 each a year. Our membership year starts on April 1st, however if you join after the 1st January your first year's membership will run until the 31st March in the following year.

For new joiners, from October 1st until 31st December the subscription rates are reduced by half.

If you are already a member of another u3a you can join our u3a as an Associate member at a reduced rate of £8 per year.

Members can join more than one group if they wish. At each group meeting in a private home a nominal fee is payable to the group leader for refreshments and incidentals. There is an additional charge of £2 for a group meeting held in a room or hall which has to be hired.

How to Join

You can join in person at our weekly coffee morning held at We Are Super Event Space in the Sovereign Centre (entrance opposite the foot of the stairs to the car park) on Tuesday mornings from 10.00 am to 11.15 am. 

Alternatively, click the button to join on line or to download forms for postal applications.

Any one who qualifies as a member can join a group immediately, but there is no guarantee that they can be accepted into any particular group. Once a member you will have to contact the group leader to check if there are vacancies in a group. No formal qualifications are needed and there is no upper or lower age limit.

last updated 13/01/25