Welcome
The u3a
Founded in 1982, the u3a is a UK-wide collection of locally-run charities that provide a wide range of opportunities to come together to learn for fun. The u3a principles can be found here u3a Principles
The u3a is for people who are either retired or no longer in full-time employment but who want to continue to learn and socialise There are no assessments or qualifications required to join and none to be gained. The focus is on learning for pleasure.
More information can be found on the u3a National Website at www.u3a.org.uk
Roding Valley u3a
Roding Valley u3a (RV u3a) was inaugurated in May 2004 and now has a membership of over 500. Our u3a is situated in West Essex. We draw members from the towns of Epping, Loughton, Abridge, Chigwell, Theydon Bois, and the surrounding areas.
Everyone is welcome. We are an extremely friendly bunch of people!
We have a monthly meeting for all members, nearly 40 separate interest groups, social events and outings. There is something for everyone.
Annual membership is £20.00. The cost of belonging to a group can be as little as 50p a time, just to cover refreshments. More details are provided below and via the tabs at the top of this page. If you would like more information about our activities, or wish to join, just send a message via this link: General Enquiries
Monthly Meetings
On the 3rd Monday of each month there is a meeting at Theydon Bois Village Hall at 10.00am with an invited Speaker - this lasts for about an hour and is open to all members. The talks are varied, often illustrated, and are chosen to reflect different tastes and interests. Invariably there is something for everyone. Doors open at 9:15 am, so you can have a coffee and a chat beforehand.
More information about upcoming monthly meetings can be found by clicking here. Monthly Talks
Interest Groups
Our interest groups include arts & crafts, games, outdoor activities, exercise, literature, languages, music and science.
You can find a summary of all our activities by clicking on the Groups tab. The Groups page will lead you to individual group pages, where there is more information about how a group operates and how to contact the group's convenor.
At our monthly meeting, you can also chat to the Groups’ Coordinator about group availability and ideas for new groups.
Outings & Walks
We arrange outings, including trips to the Festival Hall and regular social events. We have quiz nights and a summer BBQ. These are open to all Roding Valley u3a members. More details can be found by clicking on Events
Social
Roding Valley u3a also has numerous less formal activities, including pub lunches and afternoon teas. There are evening quizzes and summer socials. There is also the occasional wine tasting. Details of these are on the Social Events and Clubs page.
Monthly
Newsletter
Our monthly Newsletter keeps members up to date regarding outings, theatre visits, social events and group news. All members are welcome to contribute. Please contact the editor via this link Newsletter Contributions
See our latest newsletters here:
The National u3a
All Roding Valley members can join online events organised by the National u3a. Visit the u3a website at www.u3a.org.uk for more details. National u3a website
All Roding Valley members receive a copy of the national magazine "Third Age Matters" through the post. This provides more information on national events and on line learning activities.
Roding Valley u3a is a registered charity (Charity Trust No.1116143). We are managed by an Executive Committee. The committee members act as trustees. Their details can be found by clicking on the Contacts tab. All members of the committee are volunteers. Roding Valley u3a cannot accept responsibility for any commercial activities carried out by any convenor, speaker or member that may be advertised or promoted at any time. Members use such services at their own risk without any recourse to Roding Valley u3a or its Trustees