Retired Living – “A World of Opportunities”
In the July edition of Park Home & Holiday Caravan (PH&HC) magazine, they did an article on some of the websites, clubs, societies and associations that would appeal to sociable, young at heart residents, in association with Barton Group. The article is below! To find out more, see the PH&HC magazine!
“University of the Third Age
“According to its website, U3A (University of the Third Age) is a UK movement of retired and semi-retired people who come together to pursue their educational, social and creative interest in a friendly and informal environment. The U3A movement is non-religious and non-political:
- Membership of a U3A is open to all in their third age, which is defined not by a particular age but by a period in life in which fully time employment has ceased.
- Members form interest groups covering as wide a range of topics and activities as they desire; by the members, for the members.
- No qualifications are sought or offered. Learning is for its own sake, with enjoyment being the prime motive, not qualifications or awards.
- There is no distinction between the learners and the teachers; they are all U3A members.
- Each U3A is self-funded with membership subscriptions and costs kept as low as possible.
- Formed over 30 years ago, there are now over 1000 U3As across the UK, with thousands of interest groups between them and more than 400,000 members nationally – and they are growing every day.
“A full list of branches can be found here – www.u3a.org.uk/regional-u3a-websites.
“Retirement Expert
“A website called www.retirementexpert.co.uk has host of ideas for clubs and activities – it even has a section on dating! This is what they have to say on the subject of looking for a romance later in life.
“”As more elderly people are becoming more knowledgeable and confident in their ability to use the internet, it’s only natural that they’ve also embraced the concept of internet dating, which is an area which has become increasingly popular in general. Like any form of dating such as an introduction agency, you’re always going to get people who aren’t always what they say they are, and you’re highly likely to encounter quite a few frogs before you come across a prince (if you’re a woman), not to mention a host of exaggerated claims about looks, employment and background. However, as long as you follow some basic safety precautions, internet dating is no less safe than any other form of introduction service and can claim quite a few successes in putting two like-minded souls together who might never have met without going online. There are also a lot of niche dating agencies that cater for older people or for those who have specific interest so don’t be in a rush to get started, do some research first. You may end up getting lots of responses if you’re lucky, some of which you’ll want to pursue further, many of which you won’t, so be sure to open a new email account when it comes to giving your email address out solely for this purpose so the responses don’t interfere with your usual mailbox.”
“Entire Section
“Retirement Expert also has an entire section devoted to finding clubs and activities that are perfect for active retired people. It points out: “One thing newly retired people can sometimes find hard to come to terms with is the amount of free time they suddenly have on their hands. Suddenly going from a structured busy work day to a day where you have to find something to fill the time can be quite a culture sock.” As it points out, there is only so much gardening you can do, and the social interaction of work is not always easily replaced. Joining a club is a great way to meet people with the same interests. Even if you can’t participate, being surrounded by people who share your passion is the next best thing.
“Finding a Club
“Libraries have leaflets and advertisements for nearby clubs and activities. Or, try the ads in your local supermarket and newspapers for clubs advertising meetings; most will be open to new members. Look out for:
- lunch clubs
- drop-in clubs
- local community OAP clubs
- seniors swimming
- local history groups
- writing group and book clubs
“Local schools and colleges offer a host of classes – so don’t let age or reduced mobility stop you taking up a new challenge.
“Classic Car Clubs
“This might be more of one for the “boys”. After all, who hasn’t got a favourite car from the past? It may be an unaffordable dream or just a classic that you love. Either way there will be a club full of enthusiasts who just love being around classic cars and vintage cars. Better still you don’t need to own one to get involved – all you need is the shared passion for “messing around with cars”. From Austin to Zastava you will find an A to Z of clubs here www.classicandsportscar.com/clubs-listings . Meanwhile, Classic and Sports Car magazine is available from newsagents and it contains details of car show across the UK – a great opportunity to meet fellow “anoraks” and “petrolheads”.
“The Ramblers
“The Ramblers is both a club and a campaigning organisation that do their best to ensure that both the urban and rural landscapes are kept open and safe for walkers of all ages. And who can argue with that? Its website is www.ramblers.org.uk and is a perfect starting point to find new friends and get involved. The website claims: “All of our groups exist to help people get out and about and enjoy the benefits of walking. There are more than 500 local Ramblers groups around Britain – most likely there’ll be one right next to where you live. Going along on a few walks is the ideal to get to know your local group. There’s a group for everyone. Most often our groups cover a geographical area such as a town or local district, but we also have groups who focus on shorter, easier walks. Joining a group is great for your social life. By doing an activity you all enjoy you’re likely to meet people who you’ll get on well with and be able to have a laugh with – and you could end up making long-lasting friendships”
“Saga and Silversurfers
“Most people have heard of Saga, but maybe not Silversurfers. Saga is a portal of offers and services designed for the lifestyles and needs of people who are 50 plus. But its website www.saga.co.uk also contains all sorts of ideas and gardening. Silversurfers is not a club for veteran “surf dudes”; it is similar to Saga but with much more emphasis on its community – there is even a book club. This is how Silversurfers puts it: “We have a wonderful community at Siversurfers, with thousands of members actively involved and enjoying participating in our forums, chat, showcase and speakers’ corner. At the heart of the Silversurfers community is our philosophy of trust, honesty, friendship and enjoyment. Find out more at silversurfers.com .”
“So, there you are … Whatever your interest are, there is bound to be club where like-minded people meet – either in person or online!”
We hope this article “has provided a starting point for you to find a fulfilling social life!”