East Antrim U3A

We are a charity, a friendly self-help organisation for people no longer in full time employment, providing educational, creative and leisure opportunities in a friendly environment. 

University of the Third Age is an international movement whose aims are the education and stimulation of mainly retired members of the community. —those in their third ‘age’ of life. It is commonly referred to as U3A.

In the United Kingdom it is recognised that most people of retirement age have something to contribute and the emphasis has been on sharing, without formal links to traditional universities.

U3A membership is not related to a specific age but to a period in one’s life (the third age) after the second age of full-time employment and parental responsibility. Anybody in their third age can join U3A and this includes people who are working part-time. There is no lower age for membership as long as the above criteria is met.

East Antrim U3A has its own premises at 12 Nelson Street, Carrickfergus, which consist of a substantial hall and another smaller hall for meetings, office, kitchen and toilet facilities. There is wheelchair access as required. Group meetings are now being held there unless otherwise stated on the monthly activity programme. Our new telephone number is 028 9336 1110, so if you are interested in joining or have any query you can give us a ring. Generally there will be someone present in the office to answer your call. Alternately you will be welcome as a visitor at our next general meeting (see above), and you can join then if you wish. Our new address for all correspondence is 12 Nelson St, Carrickfergus BT38 8AR.

Our monthly general meetings are held externally at Joymount Hall, by Carrickfergus Library on the 3rd Monday monthly, 2.00-4.00pm.

We offer 36 interest groups including art (3 groups: watercolour, Acrylics & Pencil), craft (pottery, general crafts, needle crafts), canoeing, 6 Languages (Esperanto, French, German, Irish, Italian & Spanish), Bridge, Famil History, Singing for Fun, Folk music, Gardening, International, Dining, Line Dancing, Opera Appreciation, Reading, Quizzers, Scrabble, Walking, Yoga & Zumba!  full details of the group can be found on our website http://eau3a.org.uk.  This year in July & August we are offering a series of one day workshops including all the languages for holiday, cold porcelain flower making, calligraphy, colour pencil, wet felting, introduction to the world of the deaf and their language, spinning & weaving (now full) and Tai Chi.  To attend, we would prefer you to be a member of U3A, any U3A in the UK or Ireland, but would consider a one-off attendance if you are eligible and thinking of joining.  Again full details can be viewed on our website.  

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