Charity offers learning as well as social benefit

LOCAL U3A BRANCH IS PART OF BIG NATIONAL NETWORK

- KATIE OBORN

MANY people dream of retirement, a chance to finally sit back and put your feet up – but, after a while, some find themselves twiddling their thumbs and unsure how to fill their time.

One Plymouth charity is now giving retired Plymothians a place to spend their time with like-minded people.

The socially interactive networking movement, u3a, is available for all to join across the city. From enjoying walks on Dartmoor to taking classes on ancient history, Spanish, gardening, metal detecting, wine tasting or poetry – you name it and u3a probably has a group to suit your interests.

Members run the groups in a ‘sharing of interests’ – creating groups for other like-minded members to join. Groups are held at people’s homes or venues such as The Duke of Cornwall Hotel.

Plymouth’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Mark Shayer, has become an honorary member of Plymouth u3a and he officially received his membership credentials at the Lord Mayor’s Parlour last Wednesday, September 13. Plymouth u3a has about 800 members, making it the largest u3a organisation in the South West.