Newry U3A Classes - The perfect tonic for Loneliness

U3A or the University of the Third Age might have been founded in Toulouse in France in the early 1970's but its Newry offspring certainly has put the 'Joie de vivre' into many peoples lives here.

Newry U3A was founded in 1988 and today they have an incredible 47 classes on offer, for anyone who is fortunate enough to be over 50. There's Flower Arranging, Intermediate Italian, Gardening, a Sewing Workshop, Cycling, Life Stories Writing, Golf, French (intermediate), Ard Rang Gaeilge, Family Tree and many more classes.

As Suzette Sweet, Vice Chair of Newry U3A said: "You can walk into a classroom,  sit for 10 minutes or half an hour. If you enjoy it, put your name down and if you don't, then go on to something else. But you will find something else."

Sweet takes a Craft class where you end up taking home some fantastic items you have created yourself. "I encourage people to go onto the beach and pick up driftwood. We can make that driftwood into tiny little ring holders or a six-foot lamp, and anything and everything in between."

She is majorly enthusiastic about the organisation: "I'm what is called a U3A bore. My grandchildren and my children say 'Let's see how long it is before Mum mentions U3A'. I am on the promotion team with Anthony, and we do promotion work, and it is fabulous because we talk people into coming to see what we're doing.

"And there's lots - It's not just the classes, It's what happens outside the classes. What we're aiming to do this year is have outings to theatres and places like that. Because we have moved from one premises to another, a lot of those activities haven't been re-established so we're aiming to start those off again. It's hilarious going by coach to see a show up in Belfast."

This week they had their registration event at the Newry Gateway Club and they were overwhelmed with record interest, the power of Facebook playing a major role. Sweet is keen to point out that if you missed the registration days, it's not too late. All you have to do is call down at the office in the next week or so and sign up. The office is at 28 Cornmarket in Newry and is open from 10am to 12pm Monday to Friday for registration. It costs £25 to join and just £1 a class. All they ask is that people organise their membership in good time, before classes begin on 14 September.

Countering loneliness is one of the reasons people join. "They wake up one morning and decide, oh, I'm fed up sitting in front of the television. I want to do something. They come and as soon as they walk through the door, half the time they bump into a neighbour or someone they casually say hello to and then it's instantly a friendly atmosphere. Everybody knows everybody, and we are one big family." said Sweet.

"The most important thing about U3A is the taking part." she explains.

There is an abundance of compassion for people going through things in their lives but it's what follows is the major therapy.

Sweet continued: "We are all older people, there's illnesses and things that happen in the family, and so compassion is important, but then helping people turn around and getting on with life.

"People are there to say, 'Oh, I'm so sorry', but the next few minutes, you're laughing. Always laugh."

The social element and companionship is an all important part, and you are always learning something new and increasing your knowledge. The Walk and Talk class is very popular and sometimes 25-30 members head down the Newry Canal towpath.

Sweet is the perfect person to promote the organisation. - "I love U3A" she concludes.

And that sums it up - It really can change your life for the better so get involved!