03/12/2025
Kinross-shire u3a
u3a in the UK
SPEAKER MEETINGS IN KINROSS PARISH CHURCH FIRST TUESDAY OF EACH MONTH FROM SEPTEMBER TO APRIL WITH AGM IN MAY.
12 ACTIVITIES CURRENTLY
Places of Interest
Film and Theatre
Book Club
Famous Scots
Gardening Group
Scrabble
Rummikub
Walking Group
Lunch Group
Genealogy
Wine Tasting Group
NEW - GENTLE EXERCISE
The University of the Third Age (u3a) was first launched in 1973 in Toulouse, France by Professor Pierre Vellas. This initiative aimed to provide continuing education for the elderly, and it has since evolved into a global movement with millions of participants engaged in lifelong learning for fun and social interaction..
Founded in 1982, the UK u3a movement aims to encourage groups of people no longer in full-time work to come together and continue their enjoyment of learning subjects of interest to them.
From the start, the guiding principles were to promote non-formal learning through self-help interest groups covering a wide range of topics and activities as chosen by their members. There is no minimum age, but a focus on people who are no longer in full-time employment or raising a family. The u3a movement was to be self-funded, with members not working towards qualifications but learning purely for pleasure. There would be no distinction between the learners and the teachers – everyone could take a turn at being both if they wished.
The movement grew very quickly and by the early 1990s, a u3a was opening every fortnight. u3as started in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and in 2008 membership was increasing by 11% every year. 2010 saw the membership hitting the quarter million mark.
In the UK one of the founders was ERIC MIDWINTER (OBE). He was a social historian, and as such was acutely aware of the need to recognise senior people as valued members of society, he was adamant that the older person should be seen as "a positive, active citizen, not as a negative, passive social casualty".
He was an English author, broadcaster and academic. He was a consumer advocate, a social policy analyst, a historian of the sport of cricket and an expert on British comedy. He is the author of numerous books about Cricket and other subjects such as education, social reform, consumer advocacy, British comedy, literary history, football and cricket. as also the past (Yesterdays) etc.
Sadly he passed away earlier this year at the age of 93.
