National U3A Day, Wednesday 2nd June 2021

Leicester U3A and the National U3A Day
The U3A is a national organisation established in 1982, committed to lifelong, self-help learning in a congenial informal setting for people who are no longer in full time employment. Leicester U3a plans to celebrate the National U3a Day on 2nd June with a series of online events designed to showcase its unique appeal and its role in the wider community.
With nearly 400 members and 75 different interest groups ranging from Bus Pass Tours to Botany and Backgammon to Orienteering, Leicester U3A has much to offer members whose ages span from their mid fifties to well into their nineties. Although many ‘baby zoomers’ have taken to the new normal with a little help from group convenors, lots of non tech savvy members join meetings with the use of simple handsfree domestic telephones!
According to U3A Secretary, Ros Devine: “Before lockdown many members felt part of a group or club, but now, with the use of weekly news sheets, monthly newsletters and video conferencing, we all feel part of a wider community. Indeed, people who were just colleagues are now lifelong friends!”
Apart from organising a wide range of social activities and interest groups, Leicester U3A works with Age UK, the University of Leicester, as well as other academic institutions on learning projects and regularly participates in research. It holds monthly meetings with speakers, coffee mornings, bridge tournaments and quizzes. Even during lockdown Leicester U3A is staying active. Groups like Architecture, Current Affairs and Bridge are thriving through the use of technology and social media, using everything from Zoom, WhatsApp and Flickr to the oldest social media of the lot, picking up the phone for a chat.
Leicester U3A belongs to the Leicestershire and Rutland U3A network and regularly competes in county wide social events and competitions.
Come join us on 2nd June on http://www.u3asites.org.uk/leicester and find out why our motto is Live, Learn, Laugh!