20 Years of Community, Friendship and Activity – Discover Goring Gap u3a
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Goring Gap u3a—two decades of bringing people together locally to enjoy shared interests, make new friends, and get more out of their free time. To celebrate, we’re holding an Open Day on Saturday 11 July 2026, from 10:00 to 14:00 at Goring Village Hall, and everyone is warmly invited to come along.
Despite the name, u3a isn’t a university in the traditional sense. There are no exams, no qualifications, and no pressure. Instead, it’s a community of people—mainly retired or semi-retired—who come together to enjoy activities, share interests, and take part.
It’s about participation rather than formal learning. Members run groups for each other, based on what they enjoy—anything from walking and cycling to music, discussion groups, games, crafts, languages, and more. Some people come to try something new; others simply enjoy meeting like-minded people on a regular basis.
At its heart, u3a is about enjoyment, friendship, and staying active—mentally, socially, and physically.
Although we’re called “Goring Gap”, you don’t need to live in Goring or Streatley to join us. Our members come from across South Oxfordshire and West Berkshire, reflecting the wide local community we serve.
You may be retired or nearly retired and relishing the freedom and time to try new things. Perhaps you are experiencing an empty nest and would simply like to get out, meet new people and try new things? For many people, retirement does bring welcome freedom—but after the initial euphoria, it can also leave a gap where work once provided structure, social contact, and a sense of purpose. u3a offers a gentle and flexible way to fill that gap:
Meet new people and build lasting friendships
Have something to look forward to each week
Stay active and involved in the local community
Enjoy a wide range of activities at your own pace
You can join in as much or as little as you like—there’s no obligation, just opportunity.
We have two main streams of activities
Meetings you can see the tange of meetings we have and look at the upcoming schedule by going to the Events page on this web site, or click here
Monthly meetings take place on the last Thursday of each month except for July and December. These are presentations on interesting subjects by experienced external speakers. You can attend in person or if you are unable to do so, from home on YouTube.
All members are welcome. Non members can attend a taster event as a guest.
We hold Summer and Winter Lunches in June and November following the monthly meetings. These are professionally catered lunches. in the Goring Village Hall and are extremely popular with our members.
We hold Monthly Coffee Mornings in the Coppa Club at the Swan Hotel in Streatley
A few times a year we hold Teas to welcome our new members and give them an opportunity to talk to each other and the committee members. Teas
Our Group Leaders do a fantastic job, so a few times a year we organise a tea to say thank you but also to share experiences and listen to how we could do things better.
We have a formal committee who take care of the day to day management of the u3a, but many activities would not be possible without our volunteers. So again, a few times a year we organise a tea to say thank you but also to share experiences and listen to how we could do things better.
Groups - We have over 30 groups you can join. To explore them and make contact with the group leaders, go to the Groups page on this web site, or click here
If you have an idea for a group, come along to the open day and talk to us. We can help you work out the best way to set the group up, promote it to our members, and provide support as you get established
Get Involved – Not Just Attend
One of the things that makes u3a special is that it is run by its members. Many people find that getting a little more involved adds an extra layer of enjoyment. Members are encouraged to get involved—whether that’s joining the committee, helping out as an assistant, or even leading (or co-leading) a group. Working together is a great way to quickly build friendships, move past small talk, and feel part of a team. If you’ve recently retired, it can also be a nice, easy way to transition from working life into an interest filled retirement.
You can join by going to the Join page on this web site (click here) and filling in an application form. We have a very simple to enter online form but if you prefer, you can download a form, print itm complete it and post it to us. Then all you need to do is to pay the subscription for the remainder of the membership year and we will enroll you, usually within 48 hours. You can pay your subscription by bank transfer or cheque.
You can also join at the Open Day, we will sit with you and fill in a form. Once you have paid the subscription, we will make you a member.
