Finding a new community through u3a

Barbara from Daventry & District u3a talks about joining u3a and how it connected her with a larger community.

My membership of u3a has been such a good thing. Suddenly on my own after many years, and not wanting to impinge on children for support, membership made me 'brave' enough to venture out and meet new people. It is such a friendly group to be in, I love it!!

I saw the advert for u3a in my local village magazine. The thing that swayed me most was the long list of trips that were arranged to all sorts of places and events. To me, this meant I could visit places of interest with others rather than on my own.

I can’t really recall how I ended up as a committee member but am very grateful that I did! It led to me starting my own group for people with an interest in Motoring, and we now number some 16 members. We meet regularly to chat and decide on places we would like to visit, everyone makes suggestions, and dates are agreed to suit the majority. We have had some super experiences, and some that were only available to us as a group (a local technology park for one – involving a ride down a test tunnel used by F1 teams!)

I so enjoy my membership of u3a that I write about and promote the benefits in my local village and church magazine, and my village hall very kindly displays our u3a flyer on its notice board.

My u3a has a real mix of groups to join. Naturally I joined the supper club – it being another very social event with the added benefit of not having to cook for one night.

With the friends I have made, and the enjoyment of not feeling lonely, I am so glad I took the plunge and joined Daventry and District u3a.

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