1. Pam Jones National Chairman
The Third Age Trust
Pam Jones
National Chairman

2. . . . in March 1982
First U3A created in Cambridge after an experimental Easter school
a National committee was set up
Three requirements only were stipulated: - Open to all Third Agers - Educational in its widest sense - Democratically run

3. 10 October 1983
The National body was registered as a Charity and as a Registered Company called The Third Age Trust

4. What is The Third Age Trust?
The national representative body for U3As throughout the UK
A Registered Company & a Registered Charity
The Members of its Board of Directors (the NEC) are also its Trustees who administer the Trust in accordance with its Articles and Memorandum of Association
The U3A movement started very quickly in 1982 after Eric Midwinter

5. National Executive Committee
4 Officers (Chairman, 2 Vice Chairmen and a Treasurer) elected by the entire membership at the AGM
12 Trustees (one from each of the Regions in England, one from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) elected by each region / country by postal ballot

6. The Regions Scotland Northern Ireland North East Yorks & Humber
West Midlands
Northern Ireland
South South West
South East
London
Scotland
North West
North East
Yorks & Humber
East Midlands
East of England
Wales

7. NEC Administration
The NEC meets as a full committee every two months to manage the business of the Trust
There are 7 sub-committees which meet on a face-to-face basis several times a year but conduct most of their business by and teleconferences.
ToR for each Committee:

8. NEC Committees Standing Committee on Education
Development Sub Committee
Finance Committee
Governance Committee
International Committee
IT committee
Research Committee

9. Finance
All day-to-day expenditure National Office staff, running costs, NEC Expenditure is met from the per capita membership subscription of £3.50 per annum and merchandise sales and advertising revenue

10. The National Office Located in Bromley, open 5 days a week
Central clearing house for all enquiries and day-to-day administration of the Trust
Back up support for starting new U3As
Advice on constitutional, legal & insurance matters
National Conference and AGM

11. Training and Development Team
Created in 2015 to set up new U3As.
The team is employed by the Trust.
Working in conjunction with Regional Volunteers
They also lead U3A- related workshops.
They arrange “on request” workshops.

12. Resources The Resource Centre: a library of non-book material for loan
Subject Advisers over 50 National Subject Advisers offering support to Group Leaders

13. Benefits for the membership

14. Where we are today 999 U3As and 385,000 members
National Office staff (7 full-time, 7 part-time)
A partnership of the Trust and individual U3As based on mutual support and co-operation
Actively planning for the future . . .