Local Life - Wigan - June 2021

26
Ooh Arrr, it’s u3a Day!
Ask the question ‘What is the u3a?’ to someone of tender
years and the answers might range from a religious
cult to a collective of Ugandan rappers. To those in the
know though, the u3a, whose ethos is ‘learn, laugh, live’,
is an organisation that can truly claim to have improved
the quality of life of thousands of its
members.
According to Wikipedia, the
University of the Third Age
(u3a) is an international
movement whose aims
are the education and
stimulation of those
no longer in
full time
employment, but it’s really taken off in the UK with over
1,000 u3a’s containing over 450,000 members. A typical
u3a will be home to many activity groups covering
hundreds of different subjects - from art to zoology and
everything in between.
The organisation is hosting its first ever national
u3a day in June and to mark the occasion
local groups are holding various events.
The only criterion to join this lowcost
organisation is that you
are no longer in full-time
employment, although many
members join pre-retirement
to sample a few groups as part
of the transition process.
Parbold u3a have organised
a Walking Treasure Hunt, which will
take place in the village on Saturday
6th June.
Families and groups will be able to
discover clues whilst exploring the
village, and prizes, including a large,
tinned hamper and various bottles, are up for
grabs too. All children dressed as pirates will
share in the bountiful treasure on offer, but
children under 16 must be accompanied
by an adult.
To whet your appetite, the group has
provided the first clue from the treasure
hunt;
‘What is the address of the
householder in Mill Lane who seems
to think that Parbold is close to the sea?’