Lancaster University's Department of Continuing Education has a long tradition of engagement with older learners. Its latest innovation aims to reach out to older people sometimes suspicious of the "university on the hill". This article discusses how Lancaster University develops a "Senior Learner' Programme", which is continuing as one of the department's widening access and participation initiatives. The students' ongoing commitment to the programme, to their own learning, and to each other, demonstrates that the structure being put in place uncovered and enhanced a real willingness on the part of older people in the Lancaster University "travel-to-learn" area to be part of a "learning community".