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Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a is an active social organisation for anyone in or around Basingstoke who has retired, is semi-retired or has never worked and who would like to make new friends with similar interests and enjoy a wide range of activities in the local area. The u3a motto is Learn, Laugh, Live. Your local u3a Finished with the 9–5 or family commitments? Now it’s your time to explore, enjoy and connect. At our u3a, you can discover new interests, rediscover old passions, and—most importantly—have fun while meeting friendly, like‑minded people. Whether you love learning something new, sharing skills, or simply enjoying good company, there’s something here for everyone. We’re a welcoming community run by members, for members. Everyone is encouraged to join in—whether that’s helping to organise activities, leading a group, or simply sharing ideas. It’s all about learning together, laughing together, and making the most of every day. In this short film, we explain the benefits of becoming a member of the Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Find a Group Join our u3a Contact us Benefits of Membership DIscover our Groups Newsletter Monthly Meetings National u3a Volunteer News Edit Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a publishes a monthly newsletter, News Edit. If you have news or information to include in the News Edit, please contact the editor. Click below to see the latest and previous issue. Volunteer? As our u3a continues to grow, we want to ensure our community remains vibrant and well-run. To do that, we are looking for a few more friendly faces to help us behind the scenes. We are looking for members to volunteer for simple tasks that take the pressure off our core team, and a couple of new Committee members to join us in July 2026. If you’d like to get involved, please use the volunteering contact form. National u3a Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a is part of a national organisation which offers online learning, online interest groups, a blog, monthly podcast, summer schools and more. National u3a Website The website of the national u3a movement - offering online learning, online interest groups, a blog, monthly podcast and more Read More u3a Radio Podcast The u3a radio podcast, set up in 2020, showcases the amazing things happening across the movement. It’s created by a team of u3a members who all have radio experience and features interviews with members, interest group leaders, Trustees, national volunteers and Subject Advisers. Read More Interest Groups Online Interest Groups Online (abbreviated as IGO) is an online u3a community that gives you the opportunity to join groups, talks and courses from the comfort of your home. Note that this has a separate joining fee. Read More u3a Summer Schools u3a summer schools are organised by individual regions and nations, giving you the opportunity to spend a couple of days getting to know other members, learning new things and exploring topics Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a does not offer at present. Read More National u3a Friends Newsletter The u3a Friends newsletter shares news, learning opportunities and member stories from across the u3a movement. Signing up to the newsletter means you are up to date and in touch with all that's happening across the movement as it happens. You'll also gain exclusive access to our Friends Extra website - a range of offers, discounts and services. Each issue of the Friends Newsletter includes a link to the Friends Extra benefits website. Read More National u3a Learning A schedule of activities complimenting what is provided locally and connecting members across the UK Read More Health and wellbeing Health and wellbeing Groups Once you have joined our u3a, you can join as many of our 90+ groups as you like (there is a modest additional charge for a small number of our groups) and take the opportunity to develop your interests, make new friends and enjoy yourself. We offer recreational and social activities plus a wide range of educational study groups, with a very friendly and informal atmosphere. The groups meet in a number of venues around Basingstoke and Old Basing. For more details, and to find a group that interests you, see more about Our Groups . A printable summary of the groups we run can be found here . New groups We are always looking to provide our members with more variety or to start a second group when a group is full. The committee member who is responsible for Group Development can be contacted via this contact form . If your particular interest is not covered, why not investigate the possibility of starting your own group? There is every chance that other members may be looking for a new challenge and keen to join a new activity. It is certainly not always necessary to be able to "teach"; you and your group can explore and develop your subject together. Recently added groups Coffee Group Golf practice Introduction to Tarot Pilates Show More Members are invited to monthly meetings, usually including an external speaker on a topic of general interest, with tea/coffee and biscuits afterwards with the opportunity to talk to other members. Click here to see more details. Please note the change of venue - Queen Mary's College Main Hall Next Meeting: Wednesday 8th July AGM Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a Annual General Meeting Followed by Tony Harris, returning to our AGM where he has been very well received before, appearing as Donald Trump!

All Groups Our Groups Once you have joined our u3a, you can join as many of our 80+ groups as you like (there is a modest additional charge for a small number of our groups). The groups meet in a number of venues around Basingstoke and Old Basing. To view groups individually, by category, venue, day of the week and morning or afternoon sessions, use the buttons below. You can apply to join most groups by clicking on the "Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a groups" option on the Members Portal. If you would like to get in touch with the leader of a particular group, please use the "Contact Us" button at the bottom of this page and we will forward your enquiry to the relevant group leader. Some groups have a waiting list to join, and some groups are split: Across different times or venues Level (e.g. Beginners / Advanced) Details will be shown on the individual group page. If you have a question relating to an existing group, then please contact the Groups Facilitator via groups@basingstokeu3a.org Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a is a voluntary organisation, and our groups are run by members for members. We are often on the lookout for group leaders, and if you have knowledge of or interest in a subject that we do not cover, we can help you start a new group. Contact the committee member responsible for new groups for more information. Click for a 4-week grid showing all the groups by week Category Arts & Crafts Indoor Games Languages Lifelong Learning Music & Dance Physical Activity Wellbeing Day of Week Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Morning/Afternoon Morning Afternoon Venue Select Venue Reset Selection View Printable Group Schedule All Groups are displayed Art 4 All BCOT Luncheon Bingo Book club Canasta Creative writing Current issues Excursions and holidays Folk and country dancing German Hellenic life Italian Conversation Literature - old and new Meditation - Ancient Wisdom Military History Needles and Pins Patchwork and quilting Pilates Quiz group Rummikub Scrabble Singing for pleasure Square dancing Theatre Group Understanding legislation Walking Cricket Walks with your camera Art and craft Badminton Biography Bridge Coffee Group Cribbage Cycling Family history French Golf practice History Ladies who lunch Local and social history Meditation and energy skills Motorbikes Only Connect Photography Poetry appreciation Rose Gardening Science and technology Short mat bowls Skittles Strategic board games Transport Walk or Stroll in the park Walking football Wooly Crafters Art history and appreciation Ballroom dancing Board games Calligraphy Computer group Croquet Easy Paced Walking Football Film group Gardening Health and wellbeing Introduction to Tarot Line dancing Mahjong Members on their own Music and words Papercraft Pickleball Pop the Question? Rounders Science and technology book club Simply sewing Spanish Table tennis Ukulele Walkers Walking netball I f your particular interest is not covered, or your chosen group is full with a waiting list, you could investigate the possibility of starting your own group, with support from the Committee available, to help you move forwards. It is certainly not always necessary to be able to "teach"; you and your group can explore and develop your subject together. The committee member who is responsible for Group Development can be contacted via NewGroups@basingstokeu3a.org

Discover Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Groups in Basingstoke, UK. Join diverse groups and activities to enrich your social life and learning experience. Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Groups Home Our Groups Venues Venue Map

Join our u3a and come to our Monthly Meetings at Popley Fields Community Centre in Basingstoke. Discover forthcoming events and connect with the local community. Monthly meetings Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of most months. The usual timings are: 13:30 - tea, coffee and biscuits; time for chatting 14:00 - presentation 15:00 - Q&A; tea, coffee and biscuits to finish Please bear in mind that the lengths of individual presentations will vary. Popley Fields Community Centre Carpenters Down Basingstoke RG24 9AE Forthcoming events Wednesday 8th July Please note the change of venue - Queen Mary's College Main Hall AGM Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a Annual General Meeting Followed by Tony Harris, returning to our AGM where he has been very well received before, appearing as Donald Trump! August 2026 Please note that there is no monthly meeting in August

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Short mat bowls group. Fun, friendly, good exercise, sociable and very easy to play.  Runs from October to March.  First time players are welcome but numbers are currently restricted to 18 per session.  Players must wear flat soled shoes that must be changed into at the venue. Short mat bowls Back to Groups Page Fun, friendly, good exercise, sociable and very easy to play. Runs from the end of September to March. First time players are welcome but numbers are currently restricted to 18 per session. Players must wear flat soled shoes that must be changed into at the venue. Venue: Hook Bowling Club, Bowling Green Lane, Hook, RG27 9TZ Date: 1st & 3rd Monday Time: 10:00 - 12:00 Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Board games group. New board games like Scotland Yard and The Great Game of Britain, and old favourites such as Yahtzee Board games Back to Groups Page Board Games 1 If your memory of board games is Snakes and Ladders or Ludo then the Board Games 1 group can introduce you to a variety of modern games which are fun to play and interesting. Favourites include Scotland Yard and The Great Game of Britain but we have many more. If you’d like to come along to see what we play then contact the group leader to find out when the next meeting is likely to be. Get some practice in ready to beat the grandchildren! Board Games 2 The group will play some of the old family favourites such as Yahtzee or learn more recent games e.g. Ticket to Ride. Get Bit, or Herd Mentality are guaranteed to make you laugh. The objective is to play lots of shorter games in the session rather than the more complicated strategic games. You may find games you want to share with family and friends. The group leader will guide you through the games and make it easy to understand the rules. Board Games 1 - Venue : St. Andrew’s Church , South Ham, RG22 6ER Click here for website Date : One Tuesday a month - The meeting dates for 2026 are: July 7th August 4th September 1st October 13th November 10th December 8th Time : 13:30 - 15:30 Board Games 2 - Venue : T he Tavern Gaming Cafe London St, Basingstoke RG21 7NY (inside the Red Lion Hotel) Date: One Tuesday a month - Meeting dates for 2026 are: June 23rd July 21st August 16th September 15th and 29th October 27th November 24th December 22nd Time: 1st group 1200-1430, 2nd group 1430-1700 Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Science and technology book club group. We are a small group with a common interest in Science, Engineering and Technology subjects. Science and technology book club Back to Groups Page * This Group has a waiting list for new members at present * We are a small group with a common interest in Science, Engineering and Technology subjects. The book club was started in 2022, within the Basingstoke U3A Science & Technology group, to offer members a chance to read some of the latest, most topical books on Science, Engineering and Technology. Meeting once a quarter, we review the chosen book in a relaxed, friendly environment over refreshments. We allow three months to read the book before the review, so there is no time pressure, and it allows members to follow up on some of the references for further research. This book club has been successful and we have held some interesting and stimulating reviews on a number of subjects ranging from existential physics, to the science behind the lives of fungi. The group is limited to 16 members, in order to allow every member to provide their input within the time limit of the review. However, if you are interested in this group, you may add your name to the waiting list until a space become available. Venue: Group Leader’s house in Kempshott Date: quarterly on the 2nd Friday, commencing on 13 December 2024 Time: 10.30am to 12:00 Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Motorbikes group. The motorcycle group has been created to allow like minded motorcyclists to chat, ride and enjoy coffee ( not always in that order )! The group enjoy social rides, at a relatively easy pace, making sure no one gets lost. Motorbikes Back to Groups Page The motorcycle group has been created to allow like minded motorcyclists to chat, ride and enjoy coffee ( not always in that order )! The group enjoy social rides, at a relatively easy pace, making sure no one gets lost. The group normally rides once a week on different weekdays between Spring and Autumn. The routes generally follow quieter roads and try to stay away from dual-carriageways and motorways at all costs! Rides every 3rd Friday of the month, weather permitting. Meet at Basingstoke Leisure park, Bingo hall car park’ Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings

Discover the vibrant community of u3a in Basingstoke, UK. Join us to explore educational and social opportunities for retirees. Learn more today! About our u3a The Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a started in 1999 as Old Basing and District U3A. The original Certificate of Membership of the Third Age Trust is shown below, and the certificate congratulating us on 20 years' membership of the Trust is shown also. Click on either image to view a larger copy of the certificate. Our u3a changed its name in 2008 to reflect its increasing membership more accurately. We now have more than 1,000 members. In 2024, a few of our members (thank you!) kindly put together a digital document reviewing our first 25 years. It includes clips of some of our achievements and groups, and can be viewed by c licking on the last image.

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Photography group. Through a programme of talks, demonstrations and practical sessions we aim to improve the pictures we take. Photography Back to Groups Page Through a programme of talks, demonstrations and practical sessions we aim to improve the pictures we take. We focus on the following topics: understanding our camera features improving composition understanding raw wildlife photography how to take interesting pictures of various weather conditions a practical session We also have a couple of sessions when we look at members’ photos. Venue : Christ Church , Reading Road, Chineham, RG24 8LT Click here for website Date : 3rd Tuesday of the month Time : 14:00 - 16:00 Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Biography group. We read a mixture of recent and earlier biographies suggested by group members. These will often be available in paperback or on Kindle. Usually, one member introduces the selected book to start our discussions. Biography Back to Groups Page We read a mixture of recent and earlier biographies suggested by group members. These will often be available in paperback or on Kindle. Usually, one member introduces the selected book to start our discussions. Venue : Old Basing Pavilion Room Date : 1st Wednesday of October, November, December, February, April and June Time : 10:00 - 12:00 Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings

Basingstoke - Old Basing u3a Folk and country dancing group. Do you love dancing, but have never been Folk Dancing before? We are a warm and friendly group and always welcome new members, whether a beginner or experienced.  You don’t need a partner. We swap partners each dance. That way we get to know each other and it’s a great way to make new friends. Folk and country dancing Back to Groups Page Do you love dancing, but have never been Folk Dancing before? We are a warm and friendly group and always welcome new members, whether a beginner or experienced. You don’t need a partner. We swap partners each dance. That way we get to know each other and it’s a great way to make new friends. We practise the dances before dancing to the music and are reminded of the steps throughout by our team of callers. Why not try a taster session and have fun one Friday morning? Venue : Ridgeway Community Centre, Blackdown Close, RG22 5BN Click here for website Date : Every Friday Time : 10:00 - 12:00 Please note that you need to be a member of Basingstoke-Old Basing u3a to attend these meetings