We follow the u3a national guidelines on undertaking research, but, except for our contribution to the Learning not Lonely national u3a research project and the High Street project, our work is carried out independent of the u3a Trust.

Some recent projects are mentioned below. You don’t need any qualification or experience to join us, just a wish to learn skills such as critiquing research proposals, facilitating focus groups, analysing data and, occasionally, writing. It is a very social and friendly group.

Next meeting

The next meeting of the Research Group will take place on Friday 26th June @ 2pm, The Old Gate Inn, Old Dover Rd, CT1 3EL, next to the Park and Ride car park. Free parking available at the pub as long as you register your car on arrival. Anybody who is interested in the group and our activities is very welcome.

Current projects

Psychology study with University of Kent

We have recently been collaborating with researchers from the School of Psychology, University of Kent on a project about memory retrieval in different contexts. Three of our group have been assisting with data coding, while other u3a members have taken part as participants. We are awaiting feedback on the findings from the researchers which we will report via this web page.

Evaluation of the Dalcroze Project

We are working with Canterbury Christ Church University to recruit to a movement and music programme for older people and are helping with collecting data by interviewing participants. This is an international study based at the University of Ottawa.

Mapping and evaluation of dance provision in u3a

We have been collecting data on all the dance classes conducted in the u3a nationally and classifying these by region and dance type. Our aim is two complement the two u3a national reports about the benefits of joining a u3a. We hope to continue to a second phase, which will involve an evaluative component.

Missing Pieces project

We are aiming to take part in the u3a national study finding out more information about listed buildings in and around Canterbury

Some recent projects

Non-renewal surveys

June, 2025, May 2026

We conducted an online questionnaire to find out why members were failing to renew their membership for 2024-25. We followed this up with a repeat survey in 2026. Both reports are available on the national research database, click here .

Groovin' Well: experiences of participants

June 2025

We were invited by Moving Memory Dance Company to evaluate their Groovin' Well workshops by running four focus group discussion sessions with participants from four different venues. To read the full report, click here

Arts engagement and wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic: a survey of Canterbury and District u3a members

July 2023

We conducted an online questionnaire survey of u3a members, followed by a series of focus group interviews to hear about their experiences of participating in arts activities during the national lockdown, with particular reference to any wellbeing effects. To read the full report, click here

Carers Create 2017: carer perspectives of a creative programme for people with dementia and their carers on the relationship within the (carer and cared for) dyad

June, 2020

We partnered with Canterbury Christ Church University's Sidney De Haan Research Centre for Arts and Health to explore the potential benefits of an arts-based intervention for people living with dementia and their carers. To read the report, published in the journal Dementia click here

To access all our reports, available on the u3a national research database, click here

To access all u3a conducted research on the national research database, click here

Some of our other activities

In addition to research projects, we take part in other activities, such as joint events with universities and open days. Some examples are listed below.

Opening Doors to Research

Since 2016 the Centre for Health Service Studies (CHSS) Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) department at the University of Kent has been running the Opening Doors group. Its purpose is to ensure the public is involved in all stages of a research project, so that it remains relevant. Some of our u3a members have been part of the group which meets regularly.

Showcase 2017

In May 2017 Canterbury u3a members joined University of Kent staff and postgraduate students for a research showcase event. To read more click here

South East Regional Research Conference 2017

This event was held at Royal Holloway, University of London on 5th July 2017 and was attended by group participants.

Showcase 2019

In May, 2019 the u3a and University of Kent presented another joint research showcase event. To read more, click here

u3a open days

In 2024, 2025 and 2026 we have had a stand at our open days held in May.

Open Day May 2025

Open day 2026