u3a - Volunteering for u3a

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.

All u3a members are encouraged to volunteer and there are plenty of opportunities to suit a wide range of skills, experiences and time commitment. If you are interested in volunteering for your u3a, please contact a member of your committee.

Join 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 Subject Advisers, Start-up Volunteers, Trainers, the Beacon Team, Advice Volunteers and many more! Some of these roles include answering calls to the u3a Advice Line, supporting a new u3a to get started, running workshops for u3a members and much more. In the 2023 Trust Volunteer survey, 72% of Trust Volunteers said they feel like their contributions as a Trust Volunteer are meaningful and rewarding and 72% said they feel like they make a difference.

If you are a current u3a member and are interested in getting involved at a national level as a Trust Volunteer, please look for opportunities advertised on this page, in the u3a matters magazine and in the Friends newsletter.

u3a matters magazine

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.

Trustees

There are also 12 Trustees from the regions and nations who make up The Trust Board of Directors. Each Trustee is a u3a member who volunteers their time to help the future of the u3a movement. This is in addition to 40 u3a members who serve on governance committees.

Each Regional Trustee is elected to the Trustee Board by members in their region and serve for an initial period of 3 years.

If you want to find out more about being a Regional Trustee or who your Regional Trustee is, please visit the Board of Directors page of the website.

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..