Rayleigh University of the Third Age (U3a)
Analysis
Rayleigh University of the Third Age (U3a) is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in Essex. It was registered in February 2010, 16 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, arts/culture/heritage/science, amateur sport and recreation, which this site groups under arts, culture, heritage and science. It says it acts as an umbrella or resource body.
In the financial year ending December 2025, Rayleigh University of the Third Age (U3a) reported income of £30k and spending of £29k, spending 96% of its income. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £21k to £30k (+45%), an average of +9.7% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2022, when income rose by 45%. Over the whole period it spent 96% of the income it received.
Among 17,634 England and Wales charities whose main cause is arts, culture, heritage and science and that reported income, Rayleigh University of the Third Age (U3a) sits at the 59th percentile: it is larger than about 59% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 52nd percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include The Great Comp Music Trust (£30k), Anonimi (£30k) and Wirksworth Music Centre Charitable Trust (£30k).
Income and spending
Where the income comes from
- Other 100%
In the charity's own words
Rayleigh U3A encourages men and women who are retired or semi-retired to pursue their interest in a wide range of educational subjects and leisure activities and can also use their own skills, knowledge and expertise to help fellow members by starting an interest group. Group activity meetings are mostly held during the daytime in members' homes.
Similar-sized charities, same cause
| Charity | Location | Income |
|---|---|---|
| The Great Comp Music Trust | Sevenoaks | £30k |
| Anonimi | UK | £30k |
| Wirksworth Music Centre Charitable Trust | Matlock | £30k |
| Hanney War Memorial Hall | Oxfordshire | £30k |