The Dumfries branch was formed in 1993 and in
2011 has over 270 members.
The University of the Third Age in Dumfries (U3A) is part of a national
organisation which started in England in 1982, the idea originating in
France in 1972. The U3A in Scotland was founded in 1987. In the UK
there are 820 branches with over 272,000 members. There are around
37 branches
in Scotland with over 3,500 members.
The
U3A aims to encourage people who are no longer in
full-time employment, to engage in educational, creative and leisure
activities at minimal cost by making use of skills and knowledge of its
members. Most of its members are retired and we usually meet regularly in
each other’s homes. In Dumfries there are 23 Special Interest Groups
including philosophy, art, writing, poetry, French, and cooking. Outside
and sporting pursuits include gardening, swimming and walking.
Since we learn for the pleasure of it, no qualifications are required and
none are given. Groups are led by members with a special knowledge or
interest in the subject they lead, so individual members are both learners
AND teachers, giving their services freely.
It
is a general policy that the interest groups meet during the daytime and
all members are welcome to attend talks on a variety of topics once a
month. This meeting provides a chance to socialise and exchange news
about Interest Groups currently running or requested.
An
annual outing is arranged in May to a venue suggested by members.
