The University of the Third Age, or “U3A”, is a worldwide movement encouraging older people in the “third age” of life to take up or continue educational and other interests in friendly and informal settings. No qualifications are required to join – and no qualifications or degrees are awarded. Members are encouraged to see the value of, and take pleasure in, learning for its own sake. U3A defines “third age” as coming after the “first age” of youthful growth and education and the “second age” of maturity, career and/or home-making responsibility. It comes after full-time employment, usually with retirement and senior citizen status, but U3A does not specify any minimum age for membership.
The movement was founded in France in 1972, where it was closely linked to Universities, but when it came to Britain it became more of a self-help organisation. Yeovil U3A was one of first UK groups to be formed and affiliated to the national movement (in 1983)  -  though in those days it went by the name of YSIS (Yeovil Shared Interests Scheme). In fact Yeovil had pre-empted the national launch, as a group known as New Horizons, with the same basic concept, had been formed from a local pre-retirement seminar, and members of this moved across to the new national movement.  The reason for choosing the initial title was that it was felt that ‘University’ was too grand, and would deter potential members, although the word is used in the context of its ancient meaning of ‘a community of scholars’. More recently the title was changed to YU3A, in recognition of the fact that U3A is now a nationally known movement and many people did not realise that YSIS was a part of it.
U3A in the UK has grown rapidly since its founding, and there are now some 711 U3As and 208,375 members. It is one of the fastest growing organisations in the country. Interest groups are often quite small with meetings or classes taking place in members’ homes. Not only does this save on accommodation costs, it makes for friendly contact among members. Costs are kept as low as possible so that members can take part in as many groups as they wish. Quite often members join to try out a subject that they always fancied. Others join because they are looking to make new friends in their retirement.  

Photographed at the Silver Jubilee celebrations are Gwen Gowman, a  founder member together with the current Chairman Rachel Cunningham, cutting the Anniversary Cake. Jean Thompson was the Special Guest, together with Fran Elkin the Regional Co-ordinator.The banner on the Home Page was made as a co-operative effort by the Craft Group for the 20th Anniversary.