Is U3A too old for me!

[ProteinFibreHaribos]

Recently retired in my late 50’s.
Im looking for things to fill the day. There are several U3A groups within a drivable distance, but I’ve had a look at their websites and their itineraries and it all looks like they cater for older people (said in the nicest possible way!).
Has anyone my age, who has joined the U3A? How did you find it?
My DSil tried one, but said they were a bit clicky, so left.
Any alternative groups for the recently retired?

Yea. An hours lesson.

Me and DH wanted to travel, but bereaved parents ( who need support) and adult children (who need childcare), put a stop to that.

I think that’s very, very reasonable. I would expect at least £25.

yes, it feels like we will be in betweeners for a very long time though! But I probably will go back to work - only financial reasons, I don’t have any trouble filling my time, but some people really enjoy being very busy.

I hope you find some things that suit you.

I've never heard of it either. I don't think it can be a thing in my area.

Ive worked with volunteers alot and would highly recommend. I think people get a lot out of it and they are desperately needed. There are lots of options that are flexible and lots of different roles out there from Mountain Rescue to your local museum

I’m 61 and one of the youngest in my knitting / crochet group but I love my ladies and we have great chat. About in the middle of my line dancing group but again they are great fun. I sort of retired 14 month’s ago but still end up doing about 10 hours a month (IT support the replacement they eventually took on is clueless)

There are over a thousand local u3as around the country so there's almost certainly one not that far away.

They are all run independently of each other, although affiliated to a national organisation, so the classes offered and fee structure will vary from one to another (ours has a £20 annual membership fee and charges £1 per class).

I'm 66 and one of the younger members, but it very much depends on the particular class - e.g. we have several walking groups for varying speeds.

You can see where your closest one is here;
u3a - u3a Locations

It’s pretty widespread but I guess the individual groups aren’t high profile

https://www.u3a.org.uk/regional-u3a-websites

I do this with HomeStart and support their various groups and outreach on an ad hoc basis.

Toastmasters?

You would only have to contribute to the hire of the room so probably £5-8 pw. You should give U3A a go - if you join a group following your own interests it really doesn’t matter about the age of the other members. There will also be a monthly lecture for all members. Oh, £18 pw isn’t expensive - art classes can cost £30pw.

@P00hsticks. Thanks for the link. Apparently there's one 3 miles from me yet I've never heard of it and don't know of anyone who goes to it.

U3A branches vary a lot in age range and cliquiness. And within a branch the various activities will vary - something active like table tennis probably attracts younger members than more sedentary pursuits. Many are very cheap so if there are several in your area you can give them all a try for a year.

Have you thought about Rotary? Plenty of opportunities for taking part in volunteering, local charity events etc. You can choose which projects to be involved with, and if you're busy or away on holiday there's no problem. There's bound to be a group near you - just Google it.

I retired at 55 and I went. I joined a discussion group, a choir and a Tai Chi class. My friend goes to French, German and Italian classes. Go for it, there are endless different groups to join.

In fairness, the whole concept of U3A is that it is for retired people.
You have retired a good 10 years younger than the state pension age, so if you look at things that have been set up by, and for retired people, it is logical you will be a good 10 years younger than most of the people that attend.

There's an element of thinking about what you planned to do when you decided to retire. There's nothing wrong with going to groups with people that are older than you of course, but if you have an issue with it you perhaps need to look for things that aren't designed for retired people.

All that said, oddly enough I was talking to someone last week who goes, and thoroughly enjoys the things she does - learning sign language, and a walking group seemed to be her favourites, and she volunteers by teaching a skill she has. But she was saying how she can go along to talks about all sorts of things ...history groups, astronomy, music appreciation (she would say she's not musical), art appreciation - and there are lots of art groups and craft groups to do practical learning.

But, as others have said, there are lots of ways you can volunteer without needing to be in a fixed place at a fixed time each week.

Gardening at your local hospice or similar
Become a Treasurer for a Scout Group or District
Litter Picking
Supporting whichever charity you wish as a fundraiser - even shaking a bucket at an event as an ad hoc thing but I have a friend that does probably 10 or 12 events a year, things like checking runners in at a half marathon or 10k
Walking dogs for the Cinnamon Trust
Being a guide at a small local museum (I understand NT doesn't like flexibility)
Volunteer as a befriender - older people though something like MHA or Age Concern, or supporting a person with VI through sense , or physical difficulties through PHAB, or Care Leavers
Refurbishing tools through TfSR or even Men Sheds
Cooking / prepping / washing up on a rota at a lunch club or warm welcome
Volunteering in the library
Toddler Groups (yes, often run by Churches, but not religious, and you certainly wouldn't have to attend services if you didn't want to, but you'd be welcomed onto the rota at most I've had anything to do with

Seriously if you want to volunteer, there are 1000s of ways to do it.

But what about 'Walking .... {insert sport of choice} ' ? I know a few people that do walking football, and one that does cricket.

Or there are plenty of community choirs where you don't have to be able to read music.

That sounds brilliant

I’m 44 and would love to
join!

I joined at 55 a few years ago and I'm in a walking group and a theatre group. I'm the youngest by quite a lot, but the people are interesting and friendly.

A friend of mine is only just 60 and has joined. She goes to a sci-fi book club, a cycling club and her husband goes to a very niche historical reenactment group. All U3A. Tbh there’s very little stopping anyone retired from setting up a group they fancy. I have my dp pegged to set up a U3A gaming group in a year or two. I like the fact it’s all done on a shoestring and accessible to everyone. I have only experienced Rotary via my late husband and I could see some nice things about it but the setup and the special Ladies Nights and whatever just make me shudder.

Yes! Mid 50’s and briefly joined. No-one under the age of 70 near me and there were already the old guard who run the book club like as though it was an outreach of COBRA and you needed government clearance to get a place.

Going to try the local adult ed college and to Italian there instead. And maybe beginners drawing/water colours.

Rotary has come a long way since the old days of professional men meeting for lunch, with the occasional 'Ladies' Night'.

Men and women are members on equal terms (of course), meetings are usually evenings or breakfast time, and there's often no meal involved apart from the social events.

Most of the emphasis is on helping local communities in practical ways, whilst also contributing to the work of a very effective worldwide organisation.

My parents are in their 80s and have been in the u3a since their early 60s. It has been brilliant for their retirement. They have been in groups, my mum runs a bridge club, they’ve been on trips in the uk and onto the continent, they’ve made some great friends and they’re still very active. They say there are plenty of people in their late 50’s who have recently joined.

I joined the U3a in my late 50s after taking early retirement to join the walking group. I am now mid 60s and there is a mix of ages depending on activities. I only really do the walking groups.

I am a member of U3A. I am 67 and I am often one of the youngest there. You do need to look at different groups and activities as they do vary.

Have you looked at Oddfellows oddfellows.co.uk ? They are really active and do lots of meet up's and days out. I have found them better than U3A.