A collaborative way forward
A member resolution being voted on at this year's AGM calls on the Third Age Trust to carry out a formal consultation with u3as on Trust involvement in advocacy, campaigning and public policy outside the promotion of lifelong learning, education and support for member u3as.
The Board of Trustees understands the concern behind the resolution. However, the Trust has no intention of moving beyond its established purpose: remaining focused on lifelong learning and education, and on promoting, supporting and strengthening the u3a movement.
The Board therefore does not believe it is right to commit the movement’s time and resources to a formal consultation now on something the Trust is not proposing to do.
At the same time, we agree with the principle that u3as should be consulted before any future move beyond that purpose.
The Board and Chiltern u3a have worked together on an amendment, which provides that safeguard. Rather than requiring a consultation now, it would require consultation before the Trust undertakes any future advocacy, campaigning or public policy activity outside the promotion of the u3a movement.
At the AGM, there will be more than one vote regarding the proposed resolution, as there are two amendments to the original resolution. Amendment 1 will be voted on first, followed by Amendment 2. Once the amendments have been decided, the resulting version of Resolution 3 will be put to the AGM.
The Board does not support the proposed resolution in its original form.
The Board would like u3as to:
- Oppose Amendment 1.
- Support Amendment 2, proposed by the Board and supported by Chiltern u3a.
If Amendment 2 is carried, the Board would support the proposed resolution as amended.
Amendment 2 offers a practical safeguard for the future: no formal consultation now when no change is proposed, but a clear requirement to consult u3as first if such activity is proposed in future.
Ahead of the AGM, the Third Age Trust will hold an online Q&A about the resolution on 22 September at 2pm. This will provide an opportunity to hear more about the Board’s position and ask questions about the resolution and proposed amendments.
Amendment 1
Proposed by Cowbridge u3a
Seconded by Swansea u3a
That the word “independent” be inserted before the word “consultation”.
Amendment 2
Proposed by the Board of the Third Age Trust
Seconded by Chiltern u3a
That the words “within six months, a formal consultation with u3as on Trust involvement” be deleted and replaced with “a formal consultation with u3as before undertaking any activity that would involve the Trust”.
And that the words “lifelong learning, education and support for member u3as” be deleted and replaced with “the u3a movement”.
And that the words “The Board shall publish the responses together with a reasoned statement of its conclusions and proposed actions by 1 May 2027, and report to the 2027 AGM on how those conclusions have been acted upon” be deleted and replaced with “Where such a consultation is undertaken, the Board shall publish the responses together with a reasoned statement of its conclusions and proposed actions, and report to the next AGM on how those conclusions have been acted upon”.
The Board of Trustees does not support Amendment 1. The Trust exists to promote, support and strengthen the u3a movement, and the Board believes there should be confidence in the Trust to conduct consultation fairly and properly with that movement. Requiring an independent consultation would also add significant cost.
The amendments will be voted on first, in order: Amendment 1, followed by Amendment 2. If Amendment 2 is carried, it replaces the passage in which Amendment 1 would insert the word “independent”, so Amendment 1 would have no effect on the final wording. The resulting version of the resolution will then be put to the AGM
Original proposed resolution
This AGM calls on the Third Age Trust Board to conduct, within six months, a formal consultation with u3as on Trust involvement in advocacy, campaigning and public policy outside the promotion of lifelong learning, education and support for member u3as.
The Board shall publish the responses together with a reasoned statement of its conclusions and proposed actions by 1 May 2027, and report to the 2027 AGM on how those conclusions have been acted upon.
Proposed by: Haxby & Wigginton u3a
Seconded by: Guildford u3a
In 2003–04 the Trust described its role as “not that of a Head Office directing its branches but rather a National Office supporting and advising independent and autonomous u3as.”
Over recent years the Trust has increasingly moved beyond that role into advocacy, campaigning and wider public policy discussions concerning issues such as ageing, wellbeing, loneliness and community resilience.
Promoting lifelong learning and the value of u3a is clearly part of the Trust’s role. What concerns us is the shift beyond education and learning into wider social policy activity carried out in the movement’s name without any formal consultation with member u3as.
u3as are independent organisations and the members of the Trust itself. The consultation would ensure that the national body remains accountable to the member u3as it exists to support and does not assume authority to speak for the movement on wider social policy issues without first asking the movement.
This resolution asks the Trust to consult member u3as before moving further into campaigning and social policy activity outside the shared purpose of the Trust and u3a.
Haxby & Wigginton u3a
People join u3as because they see opportunities to try something new, pursue an interest, share experiences and continue learning in later life. That practical, member-led culture is the real strength of the movement and the reason member u3as exist.
Many of us are happy for the Trust to promote u3a and explain the value of lifelong learning. What concerns us is that the Trust’s language around u3a increasingly emphasises themes such as loneliness, wellbeing, social isolation, active ageing and community resilience. Many members benefit in those ways, but those are the result of participation, not its purpose.
The purpose of u3as is educational: creating opportunities for members to learn, participate and experience new things together. The purpose of the Trust is to support u3as in providing those opportunities.
Once that purpose becomes blurred, the movement itself begins to be understood differently.
We, like many, are already finding it harder to fill committee places. People take on those responsibilities because they value what their u3a is and what it offers. If we are increasingly seen as part of a wider social support system rather than a mutual learning movement, members are even less likely to take on the work of helping to run them.
u3as are the members and guarantors of the Trust, and the movement exists through the activities, groups and effort given freely by its members. This is why u3as who sustain the movement should have a formal say in how it is publicly represented and understood. On that basis, Guildford u3a seconds this resolution.
Guildford u3a
Statement from the Board and Chiltern u3a
Why does the Board oppose the resolution and Amendment 1?
Promoting u3a is not the same as campaigning
The Trust talks about issues such as healthy ageing, wellbeing, social connection and loneliness because they help demonstrate the benefits and impact of u3a membership.
We know this from members themselves. More than 10,000 members contributed to our u3a and me research, giving us substantial insight into what u3a means to people across the movement.
We use that evidence, alongside members’ experiences, to promote u3a membership and raise the movement’s national profile. Talking about the impact of u3a membership is not the same as campaigning on those wider issues as causes in their own right.
Why not hold a formal consultation now?
The Trust believes in listening to u3as and members and does so regularly.
The issue is whether a formal movement-wide consultation is needed when there is no proposed change to consult on. Such a consultation would also require significant time and financial resources.
Amendment 2 provides a proportionate safeguard instead: if a future Board proposes activity outside the promotion of the u3a movement, u3as must be consulted first.