Annie Clouston – Why join the u3a?

I have to admit to being a bit of an evangelist for the u3a. It has so much to offer. First let me explain what it is: the u3a (formerly The University of the Third Age) is a learning cooperative where people from all walks of life volunteer to share with fellow members their knowledge, experience and skills. So, to give examples from Teesdaleu3a we have chemists, engineers, geographers and geologists, poetry and literature lovers, gardeners, painters, table tennis and pickle-ball players, fell- and more leisurely walkers, cooks, bird watchers, photographers and so on. The list is only as endless as the members make it.

Most significantly, and to make this personal, the u3a is a social and sociable organisation. I was born and schooled in County Durham and came back home from the Midlands with my husband – a southerner – in 2011 when I was semi-retired. My husband, Jim, was unsure about how he would cope with a late-life move to a “foreign land”. Well, he loved it, for we found Barny to be incomparably welcoming and accepting.

One of my first acts of joining was the u3a. My education was largely arts-based and I regretted that my knowledge of the life scientific was exceedingly sparse. I also wanted to learn more about the Dale and wanted to walk. I joined the committee that steers the local organisation and I became the editor of the newsletter. In February 2021 during the pandemic that tested our resilience both as individuals and as organisations, Jim died. His illness had left me emotionally and physically exhausted and I needed to give myself a kick up the backside and “get out more”. The u3a was my therapy, I became the Chairwoman that year and found in the busyness, the companionship and warmth of my colleagues, a restorative potion for my grief.

If I were to evangelise further, I would point out that massive amounts of research into growing older have concluded that there are six major components to good health and well-being. These are: a healthy diet, not smoking, not drinking to excess, regular exercise, learning new things and playing games, and sharing quality time with others. The u3a is supremely good in offering the last three of these components. There’s no stuffiness (that’s why we all want to shed the title the University of the Third Age) and no entry qualifications, other than being over 18, and not in full-time employment. As a new member you can be assured of a warm welcome. If you are a little bit curious or excited and want to learn more you can turn up at a monthly meeting, fourth Thursday of the month at 10.30 at The Witham, a Coffee and Chat session, second Thursday of the month, venues around the Dale (check the Mercury’s What’s On guide) or consult the website: www.teesdaleu3a.org.uk. To thrive the u3a depends on refreshing itself with new members and new ideas so join us and we’ll all benefit – a win-win.