About the Swaffham & District u3a
In June 1995 a local Swaffham based u3a was formed with advice from the National Third Age Trust Charity. It was called The Wissey u3a, named after a Norfolk river. It has continued successfully for 30 years.
In 2024 we decided to change our name to the more specific - and geographically accurate - Swaffham & District u3a: and saved ourselves a lot of explanation about where we were based!
Swaffham & District u3a is a lively and vibrant charity serving Swaffham and the surrounding villages. We provide opportunities to meet together for enjoyment and entertainment at our monthly meetings and to share learning experiences in a wide range of Interest Groups.
We are a registered charity 1087677
As well as a monthly meeting, with a speaker and various exhibits, membership gives you:
Members can book Jolly Days out.
Members receive a monthly e-newsletter, and regular updates between meetings by e mail.
Members also receive the East of England Newsletter, with details of all the online learning events nationally - which are free to all u3a members.
We have an annual Christmas party with entertainment.
You can join u3a Friends, which give discounts on a variety of goods and holidays.
There is a u3a podcast and a quarterly magazine on line.
The magazine is available posted to your address for an additional charge.
We are developing our Facebook Page which also features a weekly overview timetable, so you can see what is on offer each week.
In the u3a you are part of both a national & world-wide learning organisation.
The u3a Movement has more than 430,000 members and is non-religious and non-political. We believe in Life Long Learning where learning is for its own sake, with enjoyment being the prime motive, not qualifications or awards. The u3a motto is Learn Laugh Live.
All u3as across the UK are part of a Regional group. There are twelve regions that cover different geographic areas of the UK, and we are part of the East of England Region.
East of England Region u3a
Each Region appoints its own Trustee who sits on the u3a board and acts as a representative for that Region. You can find out more about the Region's activities on their website.
Third Age Trust
The Third Age Trust is the umbrella organisation that looks after all the u3as in the UK, providing educational and administrative support. The Trust is overseen by a Board of Directors, to which any U3A member may be elected. Chelmsford u3a is an affiliated member of the Third Age Trust and as such we agree to follow the principles of the u3a movement and to abide by the legal requirements and recommendations of the Charities Commission.
Fit for the Future a u3a wide consultation on governance
Wider benefits of membership
Chelmsford u3a members can benefit from a wide range of online talks, workshops and courses available free with their membership!
Most of these opportunities are presented by members themselves; sharing their knowledge or skills with others across the movement. There is also a wide range of talks on offer from well-known speakers and organisations. See the latest on-line learning events here:
U3a’s National Initiatives showcase a wide range of learning activities for members to get involved in - from challenges and projects to competitions. Some are one-off events and others run over an ongoing period of time.
U3a Friends Newsletter brings together stories and interests from across the u3a movement. Signing up to the monthly newsletter means you are not only kept up to date and in touch with all that's happening across the movement, you also become entitled to exclusive member offers with our exclusive Friends Extra benefits program.
