Liz Thackray, National Chair u3a for the whole of UK, visited Ilkley on Tuesday 29 November to learn how the local branch has grown to become one of the largest and most vibrant in the country.
Across the UK, u3a groups looks to engage with folk recently retired or thinking about what life will be like after retirement and who then ask what next.
Jacqui Wellbrook, Chair of the local u3a, commented: “For those actively involved in running the local u3a, it was also an opportunity to learn first-hand of the challenges running such a diverse organisation that has over 1,000 local branches and a combined membership of 430.000. All run by volunteers with just a handful of paid employees to keep the administrative cogs working.”
Ilkley & District u3a has over 1,750 members with more than 100 interest groups meeting regularly at locations throughout the district. The emphasis is on having fun, learning and making new friends through shared interests and hobbies. Everything from art to languages, railways to walking. So the concept of lifelong learning clearly strikes a chord with many living in Ilkley, Otley and the surrounding towns and villages.
Find out more by searching for Ilkley u3a on line where there are also links to its Twitter and Facebook accounts. There are also Ilkley drop-in sessions on the first and third Friday mornings of the month in the Clarke Foley Centre.
