Volunteer with the Trust

The u3a is a volunteer-led organisation and at all levels volunteers are dedicated to bringing learning opportunities to u3a members across the UK. Locally every u3a is run and activities are delivered by volunteers. This may involve being on the Committee, running interest groups, organising meetings and events, and welcoming new members into a u3a.

There are also u3a members who volunteer directly with the Third Age Trust as Trust Volunteers across the UK. Some 400 Trust Volunteers deliver opportunities for and support u3as across the UK. Trust Volunteer roles include providing inspiration and support as Subject Advisers, running workshops for u3a members as Trainers, being part of the Beacon or SiteWorks teams, and many more!

In the 2024 Trust Volunteer survey, 84% of Trust Volunteers said they feel like their contributions as a Trust Volunteer are meaningful and rewarding and 83% said they feel like they make a difference.

Volunteering roles

We are looking for volunteers for the following roles.

Beacon Volunteers - a range of roles are available; software testing, supporting with Beacon training and documentation, and providing support on the Beacon help desk. We are looking for members who have experience using Beacon, good technical know-how and skills relevant to the specific role you are interested in.
u3a Radio Podcast Reporters - this role involves conducting and editing interviews for the u3a Radio Podcast.

A Trust Volunteer induction and ongoing support and training will be provided for all roles. To find out more about any of these roles, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

We also regularly advertise positions in the u3a matters magazine and in the u3a Friends newsletter.

Join our Friends newsletter community

The u3a Friends newsletter shares news, learning opportunities and member stories from across the u3a movement.

Signing up to the newsletter means you are up to date and in touch with all that's happening across the movement as it happens. You'll also gain exclusive access to our Friends Extra website - a range of offers, discounts and services.

Each issue of the Friends Newsletter includes a link to the Friends Extra benefits website.

Sign up to our u3a Friends Newsletter

Hear from our volunteers

On retirement I spotted the article in the u3a magazine, looking for members for the Finance Committee and was pleased to be selected. When my local u3a was looking for a new treasurer, I thought that this would assist me in that role and vice versa.I like to be able to give back by applying the skills and experience gained over my career.

u3a is very much about getting out as much as you can put in, whatever that may be. You do not need to be the local Chair (or Treasurer!), but there are always situations where your u3a is looking for assistance, whatever your skills.

- Henry, Treasurer for Dacorum u3a and member of the Third Age Trust Finance Committee

Be part of something bigger

Hear about how u3a volunteers worked together to create our festival of learning, u3a off the wall, where members came together to lead creative writing workshops, guide others in cycling trips and much more.

u3a Board and Council

The Third Age Trust is overseen by a Board of Trustees, who are responsible for governance of the Trust, and the u3a Council, an elected body of regional representatives who act as a conduit between the membership and the Board, feeding members' views and priorities into the Trust's strategy development. In addition, there are also u3a members who serve on the finance and governance committees, all of whom are u3a members who volunteer their time to help the future of the u3a movement.

If you have any questions about volunteering at the u3a, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Volunteering for u3a