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 Queens Award for Voluntary Service 2008 |
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We are one of 600+ U3As in the UK. Each is autonomous but share the national 'Common Aims and Guiding Principles'. The U3A movement is neither political nor religious. U3A members are normally retired or semi-retired. All who are not in full-time employment are welcome, both male and female. The Aughton and Ormskirk U3A started in late summer of 2003 and are now one of the largest in the UK with 1700+ members. In 2008 we celebrated our 5th birthday. In 2008 we also received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service. The Christ Church Aughton Scout & Guide HQ is our main location for all activities but several other venues are used as well. We provide opportunities for a wide variety of life enriching activities in a freindly and informal manner. While a principal focus is informal 'life-long learning', hobbies, cultural and physical activities also feature strongly. We aim to be more than a social club. No qualifications are required to join the U3A - no examinations are held and no certificates are awarded; activities depend on volunteers from our members to oranise and participate in over 70 activities. Every Thursday we hold our Horizons coffee morning and 'internet cafe'. On the first Thursday of the month we have a speaker in Christ Church after coffee in the HQ. Throughout the week we have a varied programme with groups and also computer advice centre on a Monday and Tuesday morning. We have a prize-winning newsletter with details of all the group activities. The University of the Third Age, now more popularly known as U3A, began in Toulouse, France, in 1972 as a summer school for retired people. It was so successful that other programmes were quickly set up throughout France and the idea spread throughout the world. The first International Association of U3As was established in 1980. The organisation was set up in Britain in 1982. While U3A is celebrated for the wide range of activities it offers to retired people, providing socialisation and stimulation, it is the human stories of the members which make it the very vibrant organisation it has become. When families grow up and work comes to an end, finding like minded people and new challenges can be a problem – but not if you have an active U3A group in your district! Many people have also found U3A a lifeboat when partners have died, divorce has fractured their lives, or other tragic life events have occurred. The positive attitude of the members and their group leaders and the support and companionship they offer, has transformed many lives and encouraged members to have more fulfillment in retirement than they could have imagined. The U3A is also a body which speaks for older people on national issues and keeps its members well informed on matters which affect their daily lives. With the post -Second World War ‘baby boomer' generation increasingly coming on board, U3A can ensure that decision makers hear the views of third and fourth-agers – and act on them.
For all other groups use the U3A find a group web page National, Regional and International U3A SitesThe Third Age Trust - the U3a National Group The World U3A - the international network for U3As world wide The Virtual U3A - an internet based U3A group North West Region of U3A's and U3A North West News South West Lancashire U3A Network
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