A Salford non-profit for retirees celebrated it’s 40th anniversary and shared what makes it so special for the community.
Salford u3a is an organization that has been working for 40 years to ensure the elderly residents still have plenty to do after retirement.
The community ran non-profit is a Salford based branch of a bigger organization that operates throughout the UK, with origins in France.
Celebrating 40 years the organization, Salford u3a has been continuing hosting various events across Salford and the Greater Manchester area, boasting around 530 members as of October 2026.
The group has served many elderly and retired members in the Salford community and provides an extra outlet for people who may usually be isolated to find new friends and new passions. Salford u3a has around 55 different groups for members to be able to join in on and engage with activities, ranging from languages and trips to games and fitness.
John Halstead, the chairman of the non-profit and head of the creative writing group said the group has seen a lot of widows and he can see “how that organisation helps them”.
He continued: “Some people don’t have a family, or they may have their own family but those families have got their own family. Taking mum or grandma out becomes a bit of a chore. Whereas now, they can come out to us any time.”
John spoke about his own experiences with Salford u3a: “I’m a retired policeman. One day I look out the window and all I can see is sheep, I didn’t do anything for four weeks.”
After his retirement, Halstead moved to Salford with his wife. Struggling to find ways to fill the time in his retired life, John was told about a local group for retirees and started doing some research.
“I did some research found Salford u3a. I was made a member without going to any of the groups then contacted a couple of group members and of course the first session I went to was going to and they they’re meeting at a pub on a Wednesday morning after 10.”
His first session was a group where members would meet and discuss classic pop and rock cuts from the good old days, something allowing for a sense of community and bonding between people who were previously strangers.
He said: “You get get a theme and send in song, I thought I knew a bit about pop, not so much about rock from the 60s, 70s. He wiped the floor with me. He knows everything, who the backing singers were, who the sound engineer was.”
The group served as a way for John to be able to join in on local activities and have fun with people he previously didn’t know. After a few years, he had already risen to the chairman role.
The non-profit has been operating in Salford and has allowed for further community and events to bring a sense of togetherness to isolated people.
