PEOPLE in Kingswood are being urged to join a group helping older people to ‘learn, laugh and live’.
The volunteer-run u3a – University of the Third Age – held an event in Page Park that featured Tai Chi, a daytime disco, open day and informal social event as part of the Bristol Celebrating Age Festival, which was supported by charity Age UK and the Friends of Page Park.
u3a aims to provide opportunities for people who are no longer in full-time employment or raising a family to learn new things, take part in activities and pursue interests.
October’s event was run by Lindsay Gough, one of Bristol u3a’s trustees, who lives in Emersons Green.
Lindsay said: “I’m a fit and active 67-year-old and have noticed that there’s very little around that targets people like me. Bristol u3a fills that gap brilliantly, as our interpretation of ‘lifelong learning’ is as broad as it can possibly be.
“It costs just £20 a year to become a member and once you’ve paid that, you are not charged any more money to participate in activities.
“We have over 150 diverse interest groups running across Bristol which include physical activities, discussion groups, academic subjects and social groups.”
Bristol u3a has more than 1,400 members, around 250 of them in East and North-East Bristol.
Groups range from cycling, motorcycling, walking and table tennis to film, book, rock’n’roll and art appreciation. Anyone who would like to find out more about u3a can email learnlaughlive@bristolu3a.org.uk for more information.
The group also has a website at u3asites.org.uk/bristol/home, which includes details of all the groups currently running.