Please find below the Third Age Trust's advice regarding non-members attending u3a events.

A critical component to insurers accepting the Public Liability risk for the u3a is that it is a membership organisation with all members signing up to, and complying with, the terms and conditions of membership. To this extent all individuals who want to participate in u3a should be members in order this principle is upheld and to avoid any potential problems with claims. Underwriters do accept that within an organisation the size and diversity of the u3a that there will be exceptions to this principle, the most common scenario being where an individual attends two or three u3a “taster” sessions before deciding if they want to join. Insurers also accept there may be occasions where an individual volunteers to help the u3a, perhaps a spouse of a partner setting out some chairs for a u3a event or helping with an exhibition stand etc. There might also be circumstances where an individual is granted a temporary membership, e.g. an individual who is prepared to give a talk on a subject but does so voluntarily and not in the course of their business.

Temporary membership is at the discretion of the individual u3a, if the constitution allows it, and must not be abused. Regular and widespread deviation does undermine the basis upon which insurers have accepted the risk and could cause problems with a claim and certainly with future placement of the insurance. Temporary membership must not be afforded in order to fill a coach for a particular trip etc, or granted to a spouse who selects which u3a trips to participate in, or used to boost numbers to get the cost of an activity down etc, etc. If an individual wants the benefit(s) of u3a activity, even just a particular outing, they should become a permanent member. The public attending a u3a event are different, bring no membership issues of course and are “third parties” to the u3a. Again, insurers understand the u3a across the country will stage various concerts, events & exhibitions etc where members of the public are invited as an audience which is fine. Attending a u3a event is different to participating in u3a activity.