The u3a movement is for older people, giving opportunities to meet and make new friends who share the same interests.

Most, but not all u3a organisations are charities, with a similar Objects Clause :-

“The advancement of education, and in particular the education of older people and those retired from full time work, by all means
including associated activities conducive to learning and personal development.”

The Three Principles of the u3a Movement are as follows :-

The Third Age Principle

• Membership of a u3a is open to all in their third age, which is defined not by a particular age but by a period in life in which full time work has ceased.
• Members promote the values of lifelong learning and the positive attributes of belonging to a u3a.
• Members should do all they can to ensure that people wanting to join and participate in a u3a can do so.

The Self-help Learning Principle

• Members form interest groups covering as wide a range of topics and activities as they desire; by the members, for the members.
• No qualifications are sought or offered. Learning is for its own sake, with enjoyment being the prime motive, not qualifications or awards.
• There is no distinction between the learners and the teachers; they are all u3a members.

The Mutual Aid Principle

• Each local u3a is a mutual aid organisation, operationally independent but a member of The Third Age Trust, which requires adherence to the guiding principles of the u3a movement.
• No payments are made to members for services rendered to any u3a.
• Each u3a is self-funded with membership subscriptions and costs kept as low as possible.
• Outside financial assistance should only be sought if it does not imperil the integrity of the u3a movement.

Whilst every session this Tech Team undertakes will have an advertised Tech related Topic or Theme, often with a pre-prepared presentation by a Team Member or invited speaker, when there is time afterwards any member can just raise a particular query or problem they have regarding the use of technology in running their u3a.

The key thing about our regular Zoom drop-in sessions is that members are not only invited to comment at times during the live presentation, but also instigate uncensored “round table” discussions at the end, consistent with the “Let’s Talk” ethos rather than “Sit and Watch” style of many presentations.