Our guiding principles
Our purpose is given effect by:
1. Providing opportunities for members to come together to learn from one another, regarding themselves as both learners and tutors, running their own programmes and drawing on each other’s knowledge, skills, experience and research.
2. Maintaining membership open to all – in respect of age, while the majority of members are retired people, no joining age is stipulated.
3. Neither requiring nor awarding any qualifications.
4. Fostering learning in a challenging, enjoyable and stimulating way, with members participating actively in friendly and supportive environments.
5. Offering a wide range of traditional, contemporary, creative and leisure activities which reflect members’ wishes.
6. Ensuring U3A is run in a voluntary manner, with members’ participation being encouraged, respected and valued.
7. Where tutors are necessary, obtaining their services on a voluntary basis from within U3A wherever possible.
8. Inviting experts from outside U3A when specialist input is not available within U3A.
9. Maintaining U3A as an independent organisation run by its members.
10. Funding activities mainly from subscriptions of members, which are kept at a reasonable level.
11. Fostering good communication and a common sense approach.
12. Making use of new technologies which assist activities.
13. Collaborating with local educational institutions and community groups.
14. Promoting the benefits of U3A in the local community and other districts.