Shared Learning

Off the Shelf Festival of Words – 10 October – 10 November 2025 

Off the Shelf celebrates its 34th year as one of the largest literary festivals will take place in venues throughout the City. The full programme has now been published with over 60 live and online events can be found at https://offtheshelf.org.uk/

10 October 2025 at 12:30 pm Millennium Gallery:

Professor Roger Clough, Oldenland, in conversation with Emeritus Professor Alan Walker ex Co-Director of the Healthy Lifespan Institute (HELSI) How do we learn to be old? How do we spend our later years in a meaningful way that makes sense of who we have been and who we are now, empowered to not lose who we are but to say ‘I am still me ‘.

Sheffield Heritage Open Days 12 – 21 September

This is England’s largest festival of history and culture and virtually all places and events  are free. To explore this festival go to www.sheffieldhods.com

Elderly people are being excluded from Medical Research

People aged over 75 are being excluded from health research due to arbitrary age cut-offs, potentially stalling the development of life-saving treatments, leading charities and research institutes have warned. Some clinical studies restrict participation for older people due to concerns about the potential frailty of participants and a belief that age may reduce the effect of the drug or device being studied. To read more click on this link.

Get involved in u3a Eye

National u3a are running a rolling photograph project for members to send pictures of their surroundings. They post a different theme every two months. One photo per person per theme and must not include people. This is not a competition, and it is not only about photographic skills but more about interesting photos and interpretations of the theme. At the end of every deadline, the Judges will choose and publish up to 15 photos in the online gallery. For more information and to submit your photos go to

https://www.u3a.org.uk/learning/learning-ctivities/u3a-ye

U3a Festival 24

U3a Online Learning Events

U3a have a number of fascinating online events which can be accessed here.

U3a Radio Podcasts

The u3a radio podcast, showcases the amazing things happening across the movement. It’s created by a team of u3a members who all have radio experience and features interviews with members, interest group leaders, Trustees, national volunteers and Subject Advisers.

The entire series is available to listen to on our YouTube channel, and on Spotify, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts .

The team are always looking for more stories  and if you’d like to contribute click here.

University of Sheffield

The University has a free interactive research streaming platform that enables anyone to discover and explore research being undertaken by the University. The site covers research on Arts & Culture; Environment & Sustainability; People & Places; Science & Technology. To access this service: Home | The University of Sheffield Player

University of Sheffield Sustainability Symposium 2024

The University of Sheffield brought together a wide range of researchers, leaders, and activists to discuss the key multidisciplinary sustainability issues, including air quality, decarbonising homes and the future of aviation.
Read a  summary here or watch a full recording of the event here.

52 ways to reduce your plastic

Not sure where to begin? Check out this handy guide, packed with great tips and hacks to help you get started.

Projects	Project Organiser
Sheffield Urban Trees Survey – Open Until 31 October 2025 Researchers at the University of Sheffield invite you to take part in an online survey exploring how we perceive tree species, as well as documenting which trees are present in local gardens. For help with identifying common trees the following resources will be helpful:  Tree guide UK The Natural History Museum’s UK tree identification guide The Woodland Trust’s British tree guides   The University have published an article on the findings from the first survey https://sheffield.ac.uk/news/over-120-different-tree-species-found-sheffields-gardens   To take part in this project, access the survey on the attached link  Sheffield Urban Tree Species Survey 2025 – University of Sheffield   If you need more information, contact Abigail Catterall at avcatterall1@sheffield.ac.uk   The RSL link for this project is Gordon Dabinett.
Eating Behaviours and Weight Management in Older Adults – on going to October 2025 Researchers are seeking adults who are 60 yeas of age or older to take part in research to understand how eating behaviours are measured. This is normally assessed using questionnaires (known as measurement tools) and they want to understand how effective these tools are, how easy they are to understand, and whether they are relevant to our experiences. Before the study, you will be asked to complete an online screening questionnaire. If accepted, you will be asked to participate in one of the small focus groups with up to 8 other people. The focus group will last up to 60 minutes and will take place at Sheffield Hallam University or in a community setting (e.g. community centre or library), whichever is most convenient. For more information click here or to take part in this research click on http://bit.ly/4kRFNct For further information contact Sam Greenstreet s.greenstreet@shu.a.uk. The RSL link for this project is Naomi Lewis
Research into Batchelors – on going until September 2025 Did you or someone you know work at Batchelors’ in Sheffield up to the 1980s? Researchers are gathering memories from those with any connection to this company which was led by the pioneering and historically overlooked Ms Ella Hudson Gasking. From the picking belt to seaside trips, they want to hear it.   Contact Carly carly@wearechol.co.uk  www.wearechol.co.uk   The RSL link for this project is Martin Harvey
The University of Sheffield Bibliotheque Britannique    The University of Sheffield will be needing your help with their project Bibliotheque Britannique, which is trying to build an AI tool to create access to this historic resource. What is this Bibliothèque britannique project? 1.     Bringing Forgotten History to Life: Bibliothèque britannique contains over 70,000 pages of material, including the first French translations of works by iconic authors like Jane Austen and Walter Scott. The project aims to make this content more accessible and to enrich our understanding of European intellectual history. 2.     Cutting-Edge Tech for Humanities: This project is at the intersection of digital humanities and artificial intelligence. By using advanced AI tools and large language models (LLMs), it opens up new possibilities for research and knowledge sharing, making it easier for scholars, educators, and even the general public to explore our shared intellectual history in a modern way. 3.     Relevance to Today’s World: Bibliothèque britannique wasn’t just a literary journal—it played a key role in shaping political, economic, and social discussions, much like the role of media and publications today. It helped promote scientific ideas, education for women and the middle class, and even shared revolutionary concepts like vaccination or climate science. Its lessons can inform our ongoing debates about nationalism, education, and knowledge accessibility.   The RSL link for this project is Gordon Dabinett
Help Develop a Digital Doctor – On going until September 2026   This exciting research wants to measure the thinking ability of volunteers using a computerised doctor called “CognoMND” which is a human looking image on a computer screen that will ask questions about your health. The data will be compared to those living with Motor Neurone Disease (MND). If CognoMND proves to be a good tool it will hopefully be used in the future to help assess cognitive and behaviour symptoms in people with MND. To find out more about what is involved read both the Information & Participant Documentation sheets. Information sheet 1. Information sheet 2. In you are interested in taking part you can do so by either                  Email: The Researcher Leslie Ing –  l.ing@sheffield.ac.uk or contact a member of the Research team on 0114 215 9112. The RSL link for this project is Gordon Dabinett
Investigating the Role of Mobile Apps in Supporting Tinnitus Sufferers – On Going   Researcher Abubakar Mairiga is seeking feedback from individuals who are trying to manage their tinnitus with an app or other form of support such as social media or web groups associated with tinnitus support applications. His findings will help inform health professionals and app developers on: 1.     Promoting app features that align with user expectations 2.     Educating patients on using mobile apps effectively 3.     Addressing usability and accessibility concerns for broader adoption   To initially participate in this research complete a short survey   https://forms.office.com/r/LH59NYx24p For more information & support with tinnitus https://tinnitus.org.uk/ The RSL link for this project is Martin Harvey.
Ancient Woodland Inventory Update – on going Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust are leading the Ancient Woodland Inventory Update for South Yorkshire. They are looking for members to undertake surveys of potential ancient woodland sites across South Yorkshire, looking at botanical and archaeological evidence. They are also looking for individuals who would be willing to undertake archival work, doing a combination of online research, looking at old maps, and potentially in-person visits to archives in South Yorkshire. Training materials will be provided. For more information go to  Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust. If you are interested email volunteering@wildsheffield.com  The RSL link for this project is Martin Harvey
Prostrate Cancer Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) Group – on going Have you or a family member been affected by Prostate Cancer? If so Sheffield Hallam University and Sheffield Teaching Hospitals are asking you to help them with their research by joining a PPIE. Membership would involve: ·       Discussion of current and proposed research ·       Help develop materials for research programmes ·       Ensure research is designed and the results shared in such a way that is best for patients and the public ·       Attend 3-4 meetings a year.   For further information contact Alison Scope sth.stamina@nhs.net 0114 253586  The RSL link for this project is Gordon Dabinett
Clinical Research & Innovation Office and Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre – On Going A partnership between Sheffield Teaching Hospitals & the University of Sheffield has created the Clinical Research & Innovation Office who have many PPIE Groups which members can join. For more information go to www.sheffieldclinicalresearch.org/for-patients-public/how-to-get-involved/ The NIHR Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) is part of the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and hosted by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in partnership with The University of Sheffield. They are dedicated to improving the treatment and care of people with long-term health conditions To find out about the PPIE Groups aligned with Sheffield BRC click here.   The RSL link for this project is Martin Harvey
U3A Memory Project – on going  This national u3a project is aiming to create a collection of photos from World War 2. These could be relatives or close personal connections or an actual grave. For more details about this project and to submit your photographs click on  https://www.u3a.org.uk/learning/learning-activities/help-us-remember  The RSL link for this project is Martin Harvey
Add your pictures to Historic England’s Register of Parks and Gardens- on going It’s 40 years since the first 27 parks and gardens were added to England’s Register of Parks and Gardens. To help celebrate, Historic England invites you to participate in their Missing Pieces Project and share your images and stories of a park near you. Sheffield has eleven landscapes on the register. Some already have a few contributions from the public, but several have none or only limited images from the Historic England archive. Fill in the gaps by logging in and submitting your own pictures and comments, historic or up-to-date. The RSL link for this project is Martin Harvey
Their Finest Hour – on going Their Finest Hour is a free online digital archive https://theirfinesthour.english.ox.ac.uk/  featuring amazing stories and objects from the Second World War. Please read the submission guidance here before submitting an entry to the archive.   The RSL link for this project is Martin Harvey
Sheffield University, Healthy Lifespan Institute (HELSI) – on going HELSI www.sheffield.ac.uk/healthy-lifespan aims to transform the experience of aging by developing interventions to slow down the rate of ageing to increase resilience to age related diseases. u3a Sheffield are delighted to have formed a partnership with HELSI which will enable their researchers to incorporate the experiences and expertise of u3a members. For more information about this exciting partnership click here. The RSL link for this project is Gordon Dabinett
Ageing in the North  Report   A study from the Northern Health Science Alliance (NHSA) found that older people in the North of England are more likely to be poorer, less healthy, physically inactive, lonely and live in poor housing compared to those living in the South, according to a the Co-author Prof Alan Walker HELSI, who said that “the report paints an alarming picture of how inequality has eaten away at the quality of life of so many older northerns. In almost every aspect we investigated, there is a yawning gap between the North and the South, from their income and health to their housing, social care and sense of isolation” and found that; –   ·       People in the South are more likely to retire, while people in the North are more likely to leave the job market because of poor health ·       Between 2012 and 2022 the rate of poverty among over 65s in the North East and Yorkshire and the Humber by 10%. ·       Northern adults over 65 are 27% more likely to experience food insecurity than those in the South. ·       1.47m northern homes are considered “non-decent”, with over a third housing residents over 60. ·       The North East, North West,,Yorkshire and Humber were home to the highest proportion of people aged 65 and over living in care homes.   To read the report go to https://www.thenhsa.co.uk/app/uploads/2025/06/AGEING-IN-THE-NORTH-REPORT-EM.pdf
HELSI Research Prize 2024 Last year’s prize has been awarded to the architectural student Emily Haycock, for her research, Alternative Modes of Living for an Ageing Population in the Rise of Multigenerational Living. Emily will present her finding at a future Friday lecture. To find out more about her research click here. The 2023 winners, Ameli Vidanearachchi and Haoyang Liu, presented their u3a dissertation prize research findings at a recent showroom lecture.  Ameli, from the School of Architecture received a prize for her dissertation titled “nurturing roots through intergenerational living” which detailed plans for social housing initiative for older adults in Neepsend, Sheffield. Haoyang, a PhD student, presented a talk about using remote monitoring technologies in mental health assessment.

Recently Completed Projects

The Impact of Hearing Loss on Conversation 

Members completed an online survey to help researchers at the University of Sheffield understand the experience of hearing loss or communicating with someone who was 55+ years old and had a clinical diagnosis of hearing loss in both ears or had no hearing loss but regularly (at least once a week) interact with someone who was at least 55 years old and had a diagnosis of hearing loss in both ears. 

Research into the Impact of Work Related Transition

This research looked at members who, in the last 5 years, had experienced a work-related change such as retirement, career or role change, or moving from full to part time hours and have experienced a negative impact on their wellbeing. Details of what was involved read the Participation Information Sheet. 

Evaluating User Experience of Emerging Technologies 

40 members aged 60+ took part in research to ascertain their experience of using AI & Virtual Reality, to help improve its design so that it is more accessible and inclusive. Participation involved using this technology for 20 minutes followed by a face to face interview. For a comprehensive analysis of what was involved read the Participant Information Sheet.  Pengen Ma from the University of Sheffield will use this research as an integral part of her PHD.

Skin Research 

We assisted Sheffield Dermatology Research  sheffielddermatologyresearch.com with their analysis of how the micro structure of the skin differs in a diverse group of people with and without eczema.

Family Photos and Family Histories

This 2022-2023 national u3a project explored the way families document their lives and experiences through photography.  u3a members were introduced to the interrogation of key photographs and modelled how this process could be repeated in their own u3a groups. u3a members were trained to share insights into the practical digital management and dating of photographs via fashion details. The following book was written as a result of the project and will be free to access from February 2025 onwards: Inheriting the Family: Objects, Identities and Emotions: New Directions in Social and Cultural History Katie Barclay Bloomsbury Academic

A study to transform an NHS wearable into a rehabilitation device

Alexander Jakubiec, a research associate at the University of Sheffield, asked members to assist him to assess the fall risk using a smart insole. The study involved a short questionnaire, followed by seven normal day-to-day activities. For detailed information about this project please click on the attached participation information sheet.

Results of the Big Plastic Count

A quarter of million people participated in this survey which showed that UK households are throwing away 1.7 billion pieces of plastic every week! 
Watch this video results video to find out more about this shocking survey.
To see the results website.

Laughing Through Retirement

Adam Carter, a researcher at Sheffield University, sought 4 families with a family member who was within 6 months of retiring, or who has retired in the last 2 years who could contribute to a project exploring the role of humour in stressful family situations.

Multi-tasking and Speech

The aim of this research was to provide a basis for future research to find new assessment and treatment methods for adults with a speech disorder caused by neurological problems. The project sought participation from members who were 55 – 75, in generally good health, who did not have a speech impairment, so that they can be compared with people who did. The researcher from Sheffield University is now in the process of writing up his report.

Planet Wellbeing

Sheffield Hallam University asked members who live independently and experience feelings of loneliness, who also have home internet access, to help investigate how virtual reality can be used to improve mental health and reduce loneliness. Participants were asked to use digital technology to carry out basic movements to perform fun and engaging activities with other people, in virtual reality. 

Nutrition and Healthy Ageing

It is estimated that by 2050, 22% of the global population will be aged 60 or over. Dr Meesha Warmington, from the University of Sheffield School of Education, asked members aged 60+ to assist in research to understand how nutrition impacts on health and wellbeing. Her report will be published later in the year.

Help design digital information services

Sheffield Hallam University Associate Lecturer Meekha Tuladhar carried out research with the aim to improve the design of digital information and internet services for those aged 65 and above. Her aim is to make sure that services such as, internet shopping, booking sites and online banking etc are easier to use. The first phase of her research has now been completed. The next stage will be observation of respondents using computers. 

Older People Working Part Time

Our research with Sheffield University, looking at how managers and union representatives, within the health, retail, banking and finance sectors, have managed or represented older people who work part time has recently ended. The researcher Rachel Crossdale is currently in the process of writing up her research on how workplace policy procedures affect this category of workers.

Completed Projects