u3a - Volunteering for u3a

Volunteer with the Trust

As a volunteer-led organisation, volunteers are at the heart of everything that we do. Dedicated to bringing learning opportunities to u3a members across the UK, our volunteers make things happen.

At a local level every u3a is run, and activities are delivered, by our members. Members cover a variety of roles including 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. Over 300 Trust Volunteers deliver opportunities and support for u3as across the UK. Trust Volunteer roles are varied and include providing inspiration and support as Subject Advisers, running workshops for u3a members as Trainers, or as Directors for the Trust or TATTL Board.

In the 2025 Trust Volunteer survey, 85% 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.

With as little as an hour a week, your time and energy can make a meaningful impact.

To find out more about any of these roles, or more information about volunteering for the Third Age Trust, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Volunteering opportunities

Information volunteers

The u3a Information line receives enquiries from members of the public wishing to find out more about u3a or to join a local u3a. As an Information Volunteer, you will be helping these prospective members understand more about u3a and the benefits membership can bring.

You will be a friendly voice on the phone connecting them to a local u3a and helping grow the u3a movement. We are looking for individuals who are confident, friendly, can put people at ease, and passionate about helping people discover the joys of the u3a.

There will be an online information session on Monday, 26 October at 2pm. If you would like to come along, please complete a brief registration form.

Subject Adviser volunteers

We are currently looking for a Yoga Subject Adviser and a World History Subject Adviser in particular but are always looking for new advisers on any subject where there is a vacancy.

As a Subject Adviser you will provide support and inspiration to members who are setting up or running groups in your subject area. You will also develop resources and increase awareness of your subject area with the membership.

Have a look at our u3a Subject advice page, and if your area of interest doesn't have an adviser, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to find out more.

Support resources volunteers (Beacon)

Beacon is a membership management system for u3as. Helping users to make the most of all of the features in Beacon is a key objective in this role. Many users are given access with some basic guidance and others may get a lot more support locally. However, clear and consistent support resources allow many more users to get accurate and helpful guides, so that they can find their way using Beacon in real life situations.

In this role you’ll be creating step-by-step guides for specific tasks or processes in Beacon. Following an agreed Word template, the real skill is being able to break down instructions into logical steps and then use plain English to take the user through each. You’ll need to have the imagination to understand how a new user, who may not be confident using technology, would read your guides. There’s also the opportunity to create screen recordings, with a narration, subtitles and callout banners, so that those who prefer to learn in this way can access support in a format to suit them.

Training and support volunteers (Beacon)

Beacon is a membership management system for u3as. We’re not looking for Beacon experts but for skilled communicators. It would certainly be an advantage if you’ve used Beacon before but that’s something you can learn. What can’t be taught is being engaging to listen to, skilled at explaining things in a logical way as well as having bags of patience to support people trying to learn something new. Oh yes - and a willingness to learn yourself!

From surveys and feedback, we know what Beacon users want from training. So we’ve started moving to shorter sessions focussed on smaller subject areas. This also makes it much easier for trainers as you can learn one specific session, getting comfortable delivering that before starting to learn another. We’ll provide the training and support on using Beacon, Zoom and Powerpoint if you can bring the skills.

A Trust Volunteer induction, handbook, training, and ongoing support is provided for all roles. To find out more about any of these roles, or more information about volunteering for the Third Age Trust, 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.

For more information about volunteering at the u3a, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..