Torbay u3a, based in Torquay, is for retired and semi-retired people and has approximately 300 members and offers interests groups, led by its own members, in such activities as walking, gardening, coffee mornings, science, languages, crafts, film club, board games, swimming, movement to music, lunch club, tai chi, yoga, scrabble and more.  Members who are interested in an activity can form a new group and share their knowledge and enthusiasm with other members.   

There is also a monthly Speaker’s meeting, held at Central Church, Torquay, on the second Wednesday of each month, from 2pm.   Non-members can attend for just £1. 

Access our website  : Torbay u3a website

Membership information : Torbay u3a membership information

Information on groups  : Groups

The u3a is a nationwide network of learning groups aimed at encouraging older people to share their knowledge, skills and interests in a friendly environment.   There are no age limits, but the u3a is for people in their ‘third age’ - no longer in full-time employment or raising a family.   The name comes from its French origins, where ‘l’université du troisième âge’ was founded many decades ago.  It was brought to England in 1981 by three friends embarking on the "third age" of their lives,  Peter Lazlett, Eric Midwinter and Michael Young, and it has flourished here ever since.   The main u3a site for the UK can be found here : https://www.u3a.org.uk/

The idea behind u3a is that it provides interest groups for learning and activities ‘by the members for the members’.   That means that the members decide on the groups they want to form, and they run them themselves.    In addition, your local u3a usually offers  a monthly Speaker’s meeting with interesting talks on a variety of subjects and occasional social events such as coffee mornings, cream teas, evening get-togethers etc, depending on local interest. 

Membership of Torbay u3a currently costs just £10 per year, and membership entitles you to a monthly newsletter, a Third Age Matters magazine and access to the groups and activities of the Torbay u3a.    In addition, we are always looking for volunteers to help run our local u3a, take on roles on the Committee, run interest groups and help with publicity.

For further information, contact us via the Contact page on our website : https://u3asites.org.uk/torbay/contact  or contact the secretary : secretary@torbayu3a.org.uk