Local MP, Maria Miller, met with Elaine Budd, Trustee at the Basingstoke branch of U3A (The University of the Third Age), a national charity that organises learning cooperative groups for retirees.
Maria said: “I was delighted to meet with Elaine and hear about the excellent work U3A do to support and connect local retirees.
“Here in Basingstoke we have the most rapidly ageing population in Hampshire. It is therefore great to hear that the local branch of U3A is growing its membership and matching the clear demand amongst Basingstoke retirees to pursue a wide variety of different pastimes and learning activities. Older generations in Basingstoke have a wealth of experience and knowledge, and U3A helps facilitate the sharing of those diverse skills.
“So many of our conversations around retirement focus on financial planning, rather than the importance of supporting retirees’ mental health. Therefore, a charity like U3A has a key role to play, promoting stimulating and social lifestyles for those adjusting to retirement, to the great benefit of their mental wellbeing.”
Each U3A draws upon the knowledge, experience and skills of its members to organise local study and activity groups. Throughout the country, U3A offers hundreds of subjects in diverse fields including art, languages, music, history, science, literature, poetry, theatre-going, philosophy, crafts, garden visits, archaeology, bridge and computing. The choice of subjects depends only on the members’ wishes and the availability of volunteers with enough expertise and/or enthusiasm to act as Group Leaders.
More information about U3A, activities, and membership, can be found on their website:
