St Ives is a town in Huntingdonshire, Cambridgeshire situated on the Great Ouse, with a population of about 17,000.
u3as are self-help, self-managed lifelong learning co-operatives for people no longer in full time work providing opportunities for their members to share learning experiences in a wide range of interest groups and to pursue learning - not for qualifications but for fun. There are more than 1000 local u3a groups, and ours (u3aivo) currently has over 1000 members from St Ives and the surrounding towns and villages.
Our u3a motto is Learn, Laugh & Live!
What do we do?
The u3a model is peer to peer learning, and activities are organised by fellow members. Any member can start an interest group, and the group members learn together and from each other. We do not have paid tutors.
Groups
Subjects are varied and include languages such as French and Italian, physical activities such as Birdwatching, Country Dancing and Table Tennis, practical activities such as Craft and Digital Photography, and other groups such as Music Appreciation and Philosophy. You can see a full list on our Groups page and click through to see details. Groups also organise outings, and theatre trips throughout the year.
We are always encouraging new ideas.
Members' Open Meetings
A good number of us meet each month with a speaker or entertainment (usually on the second Thursday at 2pm in the Corn Exchange). Details of upcoming Members' Open meetings can be found on the Members' Open Meetings page, and there is also a page on Recent Open Meetings. Entry is free, and non-members can come once to find out what we are like.
Membership
Members pay £13 pa (plus their share of any group's costs). You can find out more on the "What it means to be a member" page.