Welcome
Who We Are at Barnsley & District u3a
At Barnsley & District u3a, we are a friendly and vibrant community of over 1,300 members from Barnsley and the surrounding areas. We bring people together who are looking forward to retirement, or who are no longer in full-time work, and who want to make the most of their time.
We offer the chance to explore new interests, meet new people, and enjoy life to the full. With more than 100 activity and interest groups, including languages, arts, music, science, technology, and food and drink, there is something for everyone. Members can take part in monthly meetings, presentations, travel, dining out, sports, quizzes, and much more.
We believe in making the most of life, and our members continue to develop their creative, educational, and social interests in a warm and supportive environment. Many share a wealth of experience, skills, and knowledge gained through their careers and hobbies, and are encouraged to form activity groups and pass on their expertise to others.
We are a community where friendships grow, interests flourish, and new experiences begin. Why not join us and become part of Barnsley & District u3a?
u3a Floral Art Challenge
Barnsley & District u3a – Floral Art Challenge at Houghton Road Community Centre
This morning’s u3a floral art challenge at Houghton Road Community Centre was an absolute delight. The time just flew by as members got creative with the materials provided, producing some truly wonderful pieces of floral artwork. The room was full of colour, imagination and that lovely u3a buzz of shared enjoyment.
And to make a great morning even better… we even had cake. A perfect finishing touch to a friendly, relaxed and thoroughly enjoyable U3A session.
Silver Shimmy at u3a Festival York
Silver Shimmy Dancercise at the u3a Festival, York
Five members of Silver Shimmy travelled from Barnsley to York to join KaeCee in delivering a lively and enjoyable workshop at the u3a Festival, attended by more than 30 delegates.
Our Silver Shimmy Dancercise session introduced participants to the foundations of belly dance in a fun and accessible way. We began with a gentle warm-up, followed by a more energetic heart-raising warm-up before teaching some of the basic belly dance movements. Everyone joined in enthusiastically, learning the foundation moves and taking part in our easy-to-follow group dances.
To round off the session, our Silver Shimmy members performed four of our belly dance routines, which were warmly received with enthusiastic applause from the audience.
It was wonderful to share our love of dance, movement and friendship with so many people, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the workshop. We hope to inspire more people to discover the fun and health benefits of belly dance.
Non-Members Attending Groups
If you’d like to come along and try one of our groups or our Monthly Meeting, you’re very welcome. simply contact our Membership Secretary through the Contact Us page for more information.
Non-members are welcome to attend up to two group sessions and one Monthly Meeting on a trial basis.
Please note that our social and travel events are for members only.
Not a Member?
You can find our membership application form on the Join Us page.
Monthly Meeting.
🌟 Another Fantastic Barnsley u3a Monthly Meeting! 🌟
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us today. It was wonderful to welcome around 130 members for another enjoyable afternoon of friendship, learning and laughter.
👏 A special thank you to Ann Featherstone for her fascinating and entertaining talk on life in post-war Britain. From rationing and “make do and mend” to homemade Christmas decorations and everyday family life, she brought the era to life with warmth, humour and wonderful storytelling.
There was plenty to see around the room too, with group displays, information about upcoming activities, trips, holidays, lunches and opportunities to chat with friends old and new.
If you’ve been thinking about joining Barnsley u3a, why not come along to our next monthly meeting? Whether you’re looking to learn something new, meet new people or simply enjoy great company, you’ll always receive a warm welcome.
💙 Thank you to everyone who helped make today such a success. We look forward to seeing you all again next month!
A Fabulous Tuesday Afternoon of Music
What a wonderful Tuesday afternoon we shared, with a full church and a fantastic programme of music from the Bu3a Choir under the direction of Tony Jermy, accompanied throughout by Steven Carey. The choir delighted the audience with a varied and uplifting selection, including the beautiful anthem As Long As I Have Music. There was something for everyone, with a lovely rendition of an Adele classic performed by one of our choir members, Ian Dowlman, who accompanied himself on guitar. This was followed by a moving performance of What a Wonderful World, featuring a stunning violin solo by Liz Briggs. The afternoon also included a delightful poetry reading from Olive, adding another special touch to the programme. We were pleased to celebrate several birthdays and a wedding anniversary, making the occasion even more memorable. To round off the afternoon, the choir and audience raised the roof together with a stirring rendition of Jerusalem, bringing everyone together in true community spirit. As our Vice Chair summed it up in just one word: “Fabulous!” A huge thank you to Tony Jermy, accompanist Steven Carey, the choir, our guest performers, and everyone who attended and supported this wonderful afternoon. We look forward to welcoming you all again at our next musical event.
Monthly Meeting
Monthly Meeting Highlights ✨
What an afternoon!
Our latest monthly meeting was a fantastic celebration of friendship, community, and everything that makes our u3a group so special. With 120 members filling the hall, the room was buzzing with energy, conversation, and plenty of activities to enjoy.
There was something for everyone, including:
🌱 Plants to buy
🍽️ Meals to book
🧳 Trips to arrange and pay for
We were also delighted to see our u3a banner proudly displayed once again as we celebrated our 30th anniversary — a wonderful reminder of the many years of friendship, learning, and shared experiences within our group.
The afternoon included another very special celebration as one of our earliest Chairs marked her 90th birthday. It was a lovely moment to honour her contribution and share in this important milestone with fellow members.
The highlight of the day was undoubtedly our fantastic Ceilidh band 🎶. Their talented musicianship had everyone tapping their feet, singing along, and even taking to the floor for a dance. They brought so much joy and energy to the afternoon and were absolutely brilliant.
A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the event such a memorable success — from the organisers and volunteers to all those who came along and joined in the fun.
💙 Bu3a at its best.
bu3a Doing What They Do Best – Socialising!
Chinese Night at the u3a
Forty-seven of our members gathered for a delightful evening at China Court, Mapplewell, where we enjoyed an array of delicious Chinese dishes and the pleasure of great company. The atmosphere was warm, lively, and filled with laughter as friends old and new shared stories over a wonderful meal.
A heartfelt thank you to Sue for organising such a lovely event — just one of the many dining-out evenings that we enjoy together at the u3a.
Barnsley & District u3a Charity number 1077654