unionlearn onward Autumn by unionlearn

AUTUMN 2012

onward with North West unionlearn and North West TUC

Learning at your fingertips

Supporting our ULRs across the region 3 ■ Go On Places – the campaign for digital inclusion continues 4 ■ Adult Learners Week and Learning at Work Day 2012 6 ■ The Union Learning Fund in the region: Liverpool City Council UNISON Schools project 8 ■ Aintree University Hospital Trust UNISON learning project 9 ■ Apprenticeships are union business: Apprentice Ambassadors 10 ■ Unite and McVities Supporting Local Schools with English 11 ■ “Fully functional” – ATL NW addresses the change to functional skills 11 ■ Delivery of First Aid course to ESOL group 12 ■ Cooperation between unions brings learning benefit 12 ■ Public and Commercial Services Union Sign Language Achievement at HMRC in Salford and Stockport 13 ■ Supporting staff through workplace change 13 ■ Seven years of online learning with the Prison Officers Association at Ashworth 14 ■ Diary Dates 14 ■ Invitation to the Regional Conference 2012: ‘Working Together’ 15

onward

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Supporting our ULRs across the region Unionlearn holds regular Network Forums open to all ULRs across the North

Welcome to another edition of Onward. This period has seen a real development of our work on digital inclusion with ‘Go On’ events being held in over ten areas. Unionlearn has played a key role in bringing these events together and in developing the “Go On Places” approach that has been so successful in Liverpool (see page 4). We have also been promoting a “Go On Sectors” approach with the Health Service and hope to work with other sectors to do the same. Our Use-IT initiative (see page 5) will be launched at the end of the year and we hope that this will support unions and communities to get people on-line and benefiting from the £50 a year that it is calculated a family saves by banking and shopping on-line.

Dave Eva, unionlearn’s Regional Manager

Unions and unionlearn continue to face a high level of change. The reduction in public sector finance has meant many of our ULRs and workplace representatives continue to face redundancy, restructure and workforce change. The continued growth in youth unemployment has meant that the link between education and work has become ever more important and graduate preparation/internship/work experience and apprenticeship have taken on a new level of importance. It is vital that unions play a key part in ensuring that we have the workforce of the future at the same time as recognising that a good proportion of the future workforce are ALREADY in work and this is not the time for employers to cut back on training and development. As the new funding arrangements come in to play we will in particular have to look carefully at how adult loans and collective learning funds can be used to support members who need to retrain to remain employable. In this edition of Onward we have used a variety of case studies from around the region to show how unions can provide innovative and effective workplace learning even in the current difficult economic circumstances.

West. We hold these in different locations around the region so that as many ULRs as possible have access to this support. The forums are to update ULRs and other TU reps on the latest developments in union learning, and to

In July a group of ULRs met in Rochdale, and more recently another forum was held in central Liverpool. At both events ULRs heard from speakers and exchanged their experiences and expertise with each other. Some examples of best practice in union learning were shared, some of which are looked at in this magazine. Laura Robertson-Collins who helps to organise these events says: “unionlearn is pleased that these forums are well-attended by ULRs from a wide range of unions and work sectors. Despite the pressures many reps now face in their workplaces, and the difficulties many currently have accessing facility time, it is great that so many ULRs remain committed to updating their own learning so they can support their colleagues and union members at work”. One of the main themes examined at both forums was digital inclusion, including a session on using social media to encourage sharing and communication with union members given by Liz Hardwick a BECTU ULR. Also information on a refurbished

computer offer for TUC members, plus support for learning centres from Jan Bibby of CCCommunications. The Rochdale event also included a visit to the newly refurbished Rochdale Pioneers museum and a talk on the history of the Cooperative movement – 2012 is the UN’s International Year of Co-operatives. Other sessions were held on the Open University offer to TU members from Sarah Wilkinson, and on support from the National Careers Service Telephone Channel from Liam McNicholas, Operations Coordinator at BSS. In Liverpool Julie Mooney of Merseytravel spoke about how ULRs had utilised the Six Book Challenge to encourage reading throughout the organisation, as well as a presentation from Helen Duerden and Donna Lomax about the UNISON School project in Liverpool City Council. ULRs also trialled the ‘Use-its’ – the updated electronic tablets for assessments in the workplace (see page 5)

inform them about different resources and learning opportunities available for ULRs and learners, including information on funding.

We continue to develop our work on equality with considerable interest in our Equality Forum which continues to meet regularly, and to promote this agenda throughout unions and workplaces in the region . The “Test yourself on Equality and Diversity Tool” has been developed and will be part of the Use-IT package to go on tablets and PCs. The Regional Steering Group has been meeting on a regular basis and the last meeting had a health and wellbeing theme with presentations on ‘Dementia at Work’ and the use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy in anxiety and depression. Wellbeing is an issue of growing interest as the connection to learning is made through the Department of Health’s “Five ways to Wellbeing”, one of which is to get engaged in learning activity. The growth of information and resources on the internet also makes wellbeing a good link to digital inclusion.

The front cover shows Marie Reece, Lead ULR at Aintree University Hospitals Trust and Dave Woodward, Education Officer at UNISON’s Sefton Health branch trying out the ‘Use-It’ digital learning tablet

People need a reason to “surf” the internet and the fact that health is a major interest for most people means that they will often try out “going on line” to research a personal interest rather than see it as acquiring a digital skill. The changes to the benefit system provide another incentive and with all benefit applications due to go on-line by 2015 there isn’t long to get people ready!! I hope you find the magazine a useful resource. Your work continues to be greatly valued by us as we are aware of the pressures so many ULRs and other reps are now under. The challenges continue, but please remember that along with your own union, unionlearn is here to support you.

Best wishes, Dave Eva, unionlearn Regional Manager

ULRs from the PCS union at HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenues and Customs) test out the ‘Use-It’ at the ULR Forum in Liverpool

What the delegates say Robert Waring of the ATL in Lancashire said: “Many thanks for organising / facilitating the fantastic forum today, much appreciated. I found it very useful, to be able to take away aspects of the presentations and use them in my role. I also aim to visit the museum when it’s complete, as I’m sure my colleagues will. I found the history of the co-operative movement very interesting. Please do pass on my thanks to the presenters.” Andrea Lofthouse of Manchester City Council’s Learning & Events Team said: “Thank you very much I really enjoyed attending the ULR Forum in Rochdale it was very informative.”

Marilyn Nolan, Community Engagement Worker for the National Careers Service said: “Thanks for a really informative event – I could only stay for the morning and wish I could have listened to the afternoon sessions.” MARTINE GAYNOR, Branch Learning Coodinator and ULR at Job Centre Plus in West Lancs said: “It was a great day and really informative. I have enrolled as a Digital Champion, so look forward to all that will come through. As soon as you have a date for the next forum meeting, please let me know, as we need as much notice as possible to arrange the time out of work.”

The next Regional ULR Network Forum will be in the South Cheshire TU Ed Unit in Crewe, in the new year on Wed 23rd January 2013. If you have any issues you would like to see looked at in a future forum, please let Laura know. For further information Please contact Laura Robertson-Collins lrobertsoncollins@tuc.org.uk email 0151 236 2321 phone

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ThLiverpool City Councillor Christine Banks visits a ‘Street Gallery’ digital inclusion promotion held by the Nominet Trust, and run by Digital Champions from Liverpool’s Granby Toxteth Development Trust”

Go On Places – the campaign for digital inclusion continues Digital inclusion is increasingly recognised as essential for all sectors of the community and the workforce. Unionlearn have been instrumental in cross-sector campaigns to get people online in many places throughout the region. Working with local authorities, community organisations and housing associations in addition to many trades unions, unionlearn have been playing a vital part in leading these campaigns.

Go On Liverpool: Liverpool has seen the biggest increase in people accessing the internet in the country. ONS statistics show an additional 43,000 people have been online in the period April – June 2012, compared to the same period in 2011. Over a quarter of its residents were offline – that is 104,000 adults, when GO ON Liverpool was launched in July 2011. There was a drop to 84,000 people offline November 2011, and a further drop to 61,000 by the end of June this year. That is 43,000 adults supported to go online in 12 months – a 12.1% reduction in the digital divide. The partnership between many sectors and unions has been essential to promote this, and political leadership was vital. Cllr Nick Small, the Cabinet member for Skills, Enterprise and Employment has backed the campaign and ensured local authority support says: “being online is essential for all now, to access job opportunities, to shop around for cheaper goods and services, to keep in touch with family and friends.” And given that four out of five applications for Universal Credit are meant to be made online when this is introduced next year, digital inclusion is increasingly essential. Universal credit will replace all benefits, including in-work benefits. Are your union reps and your members ready for this? TU Education can deliver a course for union members who are digital champions. Sign up as a champion today at www.unionlearn.org.uk/forms/digitalchampions-trade-union-movement – see page 14 for TU Ed courses

Wirral’s Mayor Councillor Gerry Ellis signs up as a Digital Champion along with young people from the area at the Go On Wirral event in Birkenhead

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Go On Knowsley — The Summer of Sport Like many areas of the North West, Knowsley in Merseyside has a high proportion of residents who do not have access to the internet, and this closely correlates to social and economic deprivation. Thus 52% of unemployed people in Knowsley do not use the internet, and 43% of housing association tenants are offline. Go On Knowsley was launched to coincide with the national campaign by the BBC around the Summer of Sport. The launch aimed to promote the benefits of being a digital champion and the benefits of ‘life online’. Kath Dawson of unionlearn says: “The GOON campaign is an excellent way to raise awareness and get other partners involved. We found that there was already a lot of good work being done in Knowsley borough to tackle the challenges of digital exclusion among local residents. However to achieve increased digital inclusion within Knowsley, working in partnership for a holistic approach which provides well-signposted training opportunities and access to digital services is imperative”. The launch event aimed to raise awareness of Digital Exclusion and how new government reforms will affect the residents of Knowsley; to Identify gaps relating to people not being able to get online and to overcome barriers, and to map the local area,

see what is on offer and how that offer can be extended to include Knowsley as a whole. Also to work with local training providers, workplace learning centres, local libraries and to identify areas of learning where residents can access internet. Joining the launch was Olympic torch bearer Andrew Coleman, 27, from Huyton, who carried the torch in June 12. Andrew, who works in IT at Knowsley Community College, has also signed up to be a digital champion. On the day all attendees signed up to be digital champions and pledge to support the campaign across Knowsley. A number of events have been held in local libraries across the area, and further plans to promote this campaign are ongoing. Bob Taylor, Chief Executive of The First Ark Group, said: “The internet is full of opportunities. Jobs are increasingly advertised online and yet around 52 per cent of all unemployed people in Knowsley do not use the internet. I am delighted to sign up as a digital champion. We need to make people more aware of the benefits and help those who are not confident in using the internet to make that leap.” Barbara Murray from Villages Housing said: “People do not realise the scale of the digital change, some things will be completely online from next year such as applying for benefits. We need to make sure Knowsley is ready.”

“Learning at your Fingertips” – ‘Use-It’ the electronic tablet for mobile learning in the workplace As pictured on the cover of Onward, unionlearn’s electronic tablet is being re-launched with an enhanced suite of applications, backed up by web resources, that we are developing for use by reps in workplaces. The suite now comprises assessments in Alcohol Awareness; Diet; Digital Skills and ICT; English (reading); Maths; Equalities; Green Skills and Resilience (Stress/Mental Toughness) All these assessments can be carried out in

the workplace by ULRs and other reps, to enable learning needs to be assessed to plan further work , and as learning exercises in their own right. The tablets also introduce electronic learning to those who may not

Go On Wirral — Digital Champions signed up at the Wirral Family Learning day at the Wirral Multicultural Centre in Birkenhead with Merseytravel Saturday 13 October saw the start of the Campaign for Learning’s month long Family Learning Festival. Merseytravel have organised and supported events to mark the Festival for a number of years, working with partner organisations. Over 250 people attended the day with many from Wirral’s Chinese, Asian and AfroCaribbean communities. The Mayor of Wirral, Councillor Gerry Ellis, opened the event with a wide range of activities including art, model making, music, Library services, messy play dough, traditional costumes, Information and advice from Wirral Met College, Wirral Life Long Learning and apprentice opportunities. The Family Learning day involved Wirral Council, unionlearn, Wirral Multicultural Organisation, Merseyrail, Go-ON UK, Workplace Learning Advocates and Community Learning Champions, as well as Merseytravel ULRs and members of the Merseylearn team. Merseylearn’s ICT tutor. Norman Hunter, was present, working with unionlearn to support Go-ON Wirral, recruiting Digital Champions. 31 digital champions were signed up on the day, including the Mayor, five local councillors and lots of young people (see photo) For further information

usually have access to computers. The tablets can be hired from unionlearn – if

Contact John Halligan at

you haven’t tried them yet contact us and we

jhalligan@tuc.org.uk email

will arrange for you to have a go!

07717 531 151 phone

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Adult Learners Week and Learning at Work Day 2012 May 2012 saw Adult Learners’ Week and Learning at Work activities around the region. The week provides great opportunities for unions to work with employers, with all staff in the workplace and also with the wider community, and to give people a chance to learn that they may not normally have. Here are three examples of partnership activities from around the region.

Learning and Laughing at Mosscare Housing in Manchester As part of a week of informal adult learning opportunities offered across Adult Learners’ Week, Mosscare and Unite arranged a range of activities including digital inclusion, a magician, smoothie making, stress-busting, hanging basket making and laughter lessons. In previous years the partnership has provided activities during the week with the digital inclusion and laughter lessons being new innovations this year.

Sessions at Mosscare Housing in Manchester included hanging basket making, smoothie making, stress-busting, a magician, and laughter lessons!

For further information Please contact Janet Valentine jvalentine@tuc.org.uk or 07825 684 526 mobile

The sessions are designed to promote a sense of cohesion with some of the activities also open to residents. The digital inclusion sessions were aimed specifically at older residents in sheltered accommodation and were led by staff who work with residents on a daily basis and were able to share their own online knowledge. The employer was keen to build on already good relationships with residents and promote team cohesion among employees and considered these activities very successful in achieving these objectives. The employer paid for materials for the hanging basket sessions and the laughter lesson tutor, staff were released to run the other

sessions and employees were given time off to attend. Waseem Tahir, Mosscare’s Continuous Improvement Officer and Unite union learning representative (pictured right) says: “The idea behind the Adult learning week is to promote health and wellbeing as well as learning. In the laughter class, staff found out that while children laugh about 400 times a day, adults only average 12. We need to catch up on those missing laughs to lower stress levels, tone muscles and improve respiration.” Staff also enjoyed a magician, Ian Lavin, who showed them a ten minute break could be stimulating and improve concentration. “Wow! The magician was fantastic! We are all blown away with his tricks!” said Marilyn Evans, ICT Manager. For further information, contact jvalentine@tuc.org.uk

Su Grainger conducts the “Singing Our Socks Off” Choir to greet visitors to the cross-sector Learning at Work Day event in the Liverpool Museum

Cross-sector Union and Community Learning event in Liverpool Museum For the 2012 ‘Learning at Work Day’ several unions and community organisations worked together to provide a large-scale learning event for the city in the Liverpool museum. The venue was donated by Liverpool Museum and ULRs from various workplaces utilised facility time to plan and support the event. We offered a day-long range of inter-active stalls (more than fifteen on the day), workshops and lectures, talks, walks and music. This free event was held in Liverpool Museum’s large education room, which gave the flexibility of different learning spaces within this venue as well as access to the rest of the museum to maximize visitors’ learning experiences. Activities included a local history walk, organized by the council’s Adult Learning Services, and a talk by Liverpool John Moores University lecturers on Fred Bower, the stonemason famous for his socialist timecapsule message buried in the foundations of the Anglican Cathedral in 1904 and his role in the Transport Strike of 1911. Also demonstrations on bee-keeping, arts and crafts activities including a project on women’s self-image by artists

form the Liverpool Tate, inter-active learning such as electronic literacy and numeracy skills assessments, digital inclusion activities and promotion of IT skills, and singing with a choir and singing workshops, and a special song commissioned for the day! The event was to promote learning across the city, not for any one organization. Several key agencies involved in learning and skills in Liverpool were involved and worked together to provide a successful and fun day for participants – the City Council, the Universities, unionlearn, several colleges and other providers, the Tate Gallery and the Museum. The event aimed to be as inclusive as possible and engage the local community and staff from local workplaces in interesting learning activities. An emphasis was placed on celebrating trade union and local history and heritage via the activities on offer, and the promotion of the museum as a venue. The ‘Union and Community Learning Group’ was set up as a new partnership to maximize the

“Action Stations” for Adult Learners Week at Stations across Greater Manchester with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service Learners’ Week a series of events were held at HQ in Swinton, the Training Centre in Manchester and the fire station at Leigh. Learning opportunities included enrolments on various external formal programmes (funded by unions and employer), supplementary pre-retirement support on self-employment (arranged by unions and funded through Unionlearn) and promotion of internal training and succession planning activities (employerfunded).

Organised by Paul Smith FBU ULR with UNISON support most of the activity days were open days involving the unions, unionlearn, providers and the employer. Additionally a session was run for pre-retirees on self-employment opportunities. Across Adult

Employees enrolled for and took part in a range of opportunities all of which were either directly or indirectly beneficial to their work. The Fire and Rescue service provided time off for union reps to take part in events, time off for staff to attend events and courses where appropriate and refreshments at open day events.

capacity of workplaces in Liverpool to deliver a large and vibrant cross-sector Learning at Work event. The Group includes Merseytravel, unionlearn, Liverpool City Council’s Family Learning Department and Adult Learning Services as well as the University of Liverpool, Wirral Metropolitan College’s TU Education Centre, Liverpool Museum, and ‘Go ON its Liverpool’ digital inclusion campaign partners. Liverpool Museums donated the venue, all above employers allowed staff time to provide support on the day. Donna Lomax of the City Council’s Union Learning Project, which is led by UNISON, said: “We had many people interested in joining book clubs and participating in future Big Book exchanges across the council. I have a number of contact details for people who would like to attend future Unionlearn book exchange events and am arranging to pick up their generous book donations in the ALS van! A couple of people were interested in becoming ULRs and I have passed their details on to the union and given them my contact details.”

Nominations for Adult Learning Week Awards 2013 centre that has been supporting learning activities and witnessed the impact learning has had on your NIACE are looking now for visitors. Perhaps you are a learner nominations for the Adult Learning who thinks your learning provider awards by 13th December 2012. deserves an award.  As well as The closing date for nominations is the overall inspiring learner and Thursday 13th December at 5pm. inspiring project awards there are also a number of special awards. Why Should You Nominate? Everyone nominated for an Adult Apart from the confidence boost Learner’s Week Award will receive your learner will get from being a certificate of achievement in nominated and the awareness of recognition of their learning, and your learning project that will be winners will be presented with their raised from being associated with these awards, your inspiring learning awards at national and local awards ceremonies during Adult Learners’ story will remind decision makers Week (18-24 May 2013). just how important adult learning is to the health and wellbeing and How Can You Nominate? You can development of our communities. make a nomination by completing Adult Learning Week next year is the 18th – 24th May.

Who Should You Nominate? You don’t have to be a teacher or learning provider to nominate someone for a learner award. Perhaps you are a support worker who has noticed huge improvements in the health of your client since they joined a knitting group or started an IT course. You might run a community

and submitting the form at www.alw.org.uk/nominations If you would like hard copies of the nomination forms or support with the nomination please contact the NW outreach coordinator – Helen Stephens at Geni-i Creations Ltd T 07704157872 E info@geni-i.co.uk

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The Union Learning Fund in the region: Liverpool City Council UNISON Schools project Working in one of the most deprived areas of the UK, Liverpool City UNISON used a small grant from its ULF to be able second Donna Lomax, a part-time school assistant In St Theresa’s School in Norris Green in Liverpool, to work as a ULR.

Set up in 2011 with ULF funding obtained by UNISON City Branch, the project developed from a previous council-wide ULR project which had a fulltime ULR supported by unionlearn’s regional fund. When this funding finished in March 2011 the focus was put on developing smaller–scale ULR secondment in an area with particularly disadvantaged learners. The project focussed on 6 north Liverpool primary schools, to engage school support staff and parents in learning there. Courses in functional skills, English and Maths, plus short courses in dyslexia awareness, phonics refresher and others all provided in consultation with each school staff. The Council’s Adult Learning Services was used as provider, who could work flexibly around each group. The project was supported by City Council, as well as each individual school. The project targeted both parents and school support staff , for example, teaching assistants and dinner supervisors , and provided learning on-site or off, depending on preference of the groups. One challenge was originally to engage schools to support and give staff timeoff for learning, then to encourage those to participate.

Norris Green is a deprived area with higher than average levels of unemployment, and all improved skills for staff and parents also benefit children’s education and thus schools’ attainment. Schools also benefitted from other links set up, such as to local libraries, as well as events such as World Book Day. The schools provided time–off for learners away from classroom; a venue for learning where appropriate and support for project and promotion to other schools. Phillippa Agate – Head of St Cecilia’s School in Liverpool says: “Donna carried out a skills survey of our staff and from this they have all received training in phonics and numeracy. She has brought in Adult Learning Services to deliver training support to our staff and they are in the process of developing their skills and gaining a qualification equivalent to grade C in GCSE” “Donna has fully engaged with us here at St Cecelia’s since we met in February (2012) and I can honestly say she has shown total commitment to myself and the staff. Every time I have asked for help Donna has delivered, nothing has been too much for her”

One of the Learners: Case Study – Gene Agger Gene has worked as a teaching assistant at St Cecelia’s School for 15 years. She said: “I really enjoy my job and thought it was great when Donna came to talk to us about some of the free courses we could do in work time in the school.” “I have done both the phonics refresher course and dyslexia awareness sessions. These were really useful for helping with working with the children. I also did the functional skills maths course which was great as it has been a long time since I studied maths! This was also really helpful for supporting years 5 and 6 with their maths and gave me more confidence in my own skills. These courses have helped me to understand the difficulties that the child might be faced with when learning, plus I have gained helpful tips to help the child more” Teaching Assistants often lack access to training as many professionals in schools are already highly skilled, and so little

training is provided. It is difficult for TAs to get time out of the classroom for their own learning. Some members of the group are now going on to do GCSE maths evening classes as a result of the functional skills maths classes they did on the Friday mornings in the school. Having taken the Maths SFL and Phonics and Dyslexia short courses, Gene is now going on to do SFL Maths Level 2. Gene is also considering training as a UNISON steward due to this positive experience of being supported by her union representative! Gene says: “By doing these courses we have all benefited from them plus we feel that the school has also benefited. I enjoyed the courses especially because we were on site plus in a familiar group of work colleagues who all helped and encouraged each other.”

Above, left to right: Roz Cheetham, Unison Branch Chair, Marie Reece, Lead ULR, Peter Ballard, UNISON Branch Secretary, Nicola Johnson, Learner of the Year and Catherine Beardshaw, Chief Executive of the Aintree University Hospital Trust

Aintree University Hospital Trust UNISON learning project This

union learning project is UNISONled and was for several years part of our LASFAF, and has more recently received national UNISON ULF money. The project is now supported by UNISON at branch level with employer support. The project has built very strong links between the hospital trust as employer and the union in engaging and supplying training opportunities.

The main learning opportunities have been Level 2 and 3 Apprenticeships in Healthcare Support, Customer Service and Team Leading, also sign language and ITQ. A full-time ULR has been in place since October 2008, and Marie Reece has been carrying out this role since early 2010. Marie was funded fully by LASFAF but since this finished the Trust and UNISON have continued to support this role. Marie has worked closely with the Trust’s Learning and Development Team throughout this time to engage ‘hard to reach’ learners, including domestics, porters and kitchen staff to help bring learning to all employees.

Work is in partnership with the employer to benefit all employees and bring learning opportunities to as many staff as possible. Many workplace changes are ongoing including privately contracted staff coming back inhouse (for example the cleaning services) and a merging of two hospital trusts, as well as funding cuts and technological changes. Learning was seen by both union and employer as crucial to supporting all staff through this time of change in the NHS. This employer had the highest number of apprenticeships in the NHS in the North West Region last year, largely funded via the NHS Skills for Health. Other benefits of the learning project noted include greater confidence and increased enthusiasm for learning for staff, and higher morale and greater enthusiasm for work. The numeracy and literacy element of the apprenticeships has also had significant impact on some staff who had low level skills in these areas.

Time-off for learning was provided especially for adult apprenticeships for learners with no previous qualifications. Management support for learning has been strongly promoted by the Trust’s Chief Executive. Marie Reece lead ULR says: “The union involvement in the learning agenda at the hospital has meant opportunities for staff and members who would not have had these otherwise. Numerous colleagues have reported increased confidence in their work and a renewed commitment to it as they feel supported by their employer” “Many learners especially mature women have had a negative experience of formal learning at school and have not returned to it since. The personal support of the ULRs at the Trust has meant we have engaged and recruited such learners, and kept them supported to achieve their qualifications”

Learner Case Study – Nicola Johnson Last year Nicola, a domestic assistant at the hospital, undertook and achieved an Apprenticeship in Health and Social Care (Level 2), including the Skills for Life qualifications within this. Nicola also obtained an ITQ (Level 2) as an additional NVQ at the same time. Nicola has the double achievement in being one of the NHS ‘Highly Commended’ students for the NW region and was selected as West Cheshire College’s ‘Student of the Year’! Nicola believes that employer and ULR support meant she could achieve this, including paid time-off for taught learning hours; ULR support throughout, including recruitment to the course, and that her current manager is very supportive. Support from the college tutor was also crucial. Nicola had left school without academic

qualifications 25 years ago – and had not undertaken any formal learning since then, so was very worried about going back to learning because of bad memories of school and fear of failure. Nicola works as a domestic in the hospital and has a family to care for so only had limited time for study. Nicola has achieved the academic qualifications associated with the apprenticeship and more, because her confidence soared once she started to achieve. Nicola would now like to undertake a further NVQ in Customer Service and her manager is encouraging her in this. Nicola is also hoping to train as a trade union rep as her experience of being supported by UNISON has been so positive. Returning to learning at all was a great challenge and Nicola needed a lot of

encouragement from her ULR to get her to enrol. Balancing home, work and learning was also a challenge but Nicola’s children are very proud that she was back at college. Nicola’s ten-year old son accompanied her to receive the college award and this was presented by Dame Kelly Holmes - which he was thrilled by! Nicola points to the improved communication skills she has developed, especially with patients, as a result of the increased confidence and skills she has achieved though her learning. She also has improved understanding of technical issues such as infection control which are crucial in the hospital Nicola says that she would “recommend to anyone to take a course and see how your confidence will grow. With a little push you will be amazed with what you can achieve!”

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USDAW and McVities Supporting Local Schools with English

“Fully functional” – ATL NW addresses the change to functional skills Association of Teachers and Lecturers supports those working in both teaching and non-teaching roles in a wide range of settings including

Apprentice Ambassador Ian Crook

schools, adult and community learning, training

Apprenticeships are union business: Apprentice Ambassadors

providers and further and higher education. The ATL national Union Learning Fund project focuses on professional capability and development, and activities include a range of CPD sessions on topics such as voice care and classroom management, running conferences

Supporting apprentices and promoting apprenticeships continue to be vital areas of work for trade unions. Apprenticeships are a gateway to employment with qualifications for young people. They can also provide an opportunity for ‘older’ workers to up-skill and gain accredited learning where funding is available for those aged 25 plus. Unionlearn’s ‘Apprenticeship Ambassadors’ Project aims to encourage young people to look at apprenticeships as an option from age 16 on. The lack of information provided to young people at school had become apparent from our ‘Voice of the Apprentice’ workshops in London. Here young adults also explained that they are more likely to relate to peer communication than to older people from different establishments. The apprentices at these events felt that the present system of career advice failed to switch them on when discussing career paths, and they did not know that there were so many apprenticeship careers to choose from. In order to combat this lack of information, Unionlearn worked with 14 employers across the region to engage 22 of their apprentices in training session in communication and presentation. Several unions including PCS, Unison, GMB and Unite were involved and the project was funded with ESF money. Three of the employers then released their Apprentice Ambassadors to visit schools over the summer term: the National Apprentice Service, Rocket Training, and Wirral Partnership Homes. The project aimed to ensure employers released the apprentices to deliver a presentation about their learning journey and the benefits of becoming an apprentice to Year 10 and 11 students across the NW. Priority was to get employers on-board as they would have to give paid time off and release apprentices in order for the young adults to be able to deliver their presentation. Identifying apprentices interested in sharing their story and with the confidence to deliver that story with others was a challenge, as was encouraging employers to attend the

launch, and then getting schools on board. Working with our partners especially the local authorities helped with this. One benefit of participating for the employer is the kudos of promotion via word of mouth from young employees working there. The organisation can look at recruiting young adults through apprenticeship schemes taking on a corporate social responsibility and an active role in their local community.

Meet some of the Ambassadors Lisa Hilton: Lisa (pictured right) was already a 22-year old graduate, and a single parent, when she became an apprentice electrician for a housing association. Although her degree is in Applied Psychology, Lisa felt the lack of job opportunities available on graduation meant she wanted to look at other options. Lisa loves her role training as an electrician and works four days a week gaining practical experience and attends college one day a week (also paid) to learn the technical skills she needs for the job. Lisa does not regret going to university, although she admits that had she started her current job at 16, she would already have been qualified for three years now. Lisa says: “If I could go back in time and tell my 16 year old self to give an apprenticeship a decent amount of thought, I think I probably would. But my 16 year old self probably wouldn’t listen – she was far too stubborn!”

smoothly and to assist the rest of the Accounts team with any necessary projects or activities. Ian says: “The best part of my job is the satisfaction of knowing that the work I am involved in is responsible for creating apprenticeship opportunities within my local community. I decided to become an Apprentice Ambassador because I wanted to promote Apprenticeships to others and tell them how great my experience has been.” For further information Please contact Kath Dawson kdawson@tuc.org.uk 07717 531154 mobile

and briefings and developing support materials. The project has also secured an agreement with Edge Hill University to offer members a range of discounted qualifications and CPD modules

The Jaffa Cake – by Mitch Massa

A study has found that a fifth of teenagers leave school so illiterate and innumerate they are incapable of dealing with the challenges of everyday life. Thus an initiative was launched jointly by the Trade Unions onsite learning centre and Manchester McVities senior team and a decision was made to approach local school, St Ann’s. The challenge was for students to write a small story around a day in life of a Jaffa Cake.

Ian Crook: Ian (pictured above) also became an apprentice having tried another career first. Now an apprentice Employer Accounts Administrator, Ian works for the National Apprenticeship Service since December 2011, currently studying for an Advanced Apprenticeship in Business Administration at Liverpool Community College.

The purpose of the initiative was to support local schools and inspire children to improve on their literacy skills. The benefit of the project to the employer is the public relations and community relations benefits to McVities of engaging a local school. McVities donated staff time to run this initiative and the facilities for it to take place

Ian decided to become an apprentice as he was growing disillusioned at the lack of opportunities in his previous retail job. His role within the Employer Accounts Department is primarily to ensure that the office runs

Seven of the best story writers were awarded a Golden ticket for a visit to the learn4u centre and a tour of the Jaffa plant with winner Mitch Massa receiving book tokens. Apprentice Ambassador Lisa Hilton

Hi I’m Jami the Jaffa cake and I’m going to tell you about the day I was born. 7:00 am – I’m really excited because my mum, dad, brother and sister all have been made and now it’s my turn.” I just got my bottom bread layer; some call it the best bit”

which can be accessed by distance learning. The project assists members and colleagues in adapting to change, an ever present feature in education. A recent example is the move from skills for life to functional skills within post-compulsory education. In recognition of this change and its potential impact, North

7:30 am – Everybody said that the jelly is the brain and seeing as though I just got my jelly, I feel as smart as a hob nob

West regional ATL learning organiser Laura

8:00 am – I’ve just got told that I’m soon going to get my chocolate, the most scrumish, delicious, delightful part of the lovely Jaffa cake

Oldham College in August which explored the

9:00 am – Whole family together now off to the shop, just got delivered, so exciting, into the store, got put into the back so going to be a while, but because Jaffa cakes are so yummy I know I will be at the front in no time. 9:15 am – Finally got to the front, I wonder who will buy us, it turned out this old woman picked us up, checked us out and we were off to her house, I would be guessing we would be in there until the next coffee time which was 3 o’clock 3:00 pm – I guessed correctly, she made her coffee and us out of the cupboard and sat down watching Corrie, she slowly opened the sealing and looked straight at me. Then suddenly she coarsely reached her had into our box and with her scaly skin she picked me up, I struggled but no use she put me into her mouth and tore right through my juicy jelly. And that’s the life of Jami the Jaffa cake.

Boyd and national officer for further education, Norman Crowther, arranged a conference at implications of functional skills for practitioners and learners. The conference heard from College management on the directives providers are receiving from Government around the changes, and from unionlearn national development co-ordinator Judith Swift who outlined work with awarding bodies to give learners the best chance to benefit from the changes. There were also workshops on specific elements of functional skills delivery and on the successful embedding and contextualisation of functional skills, so that their delivery is effective whether being taught in isolation or as part of wider programmes. The union has been so enthused by the members’ proactive response to this issue and the success of the conference that further similar events are now being planned elsewhere in the region in the coming months.

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Delivery of First Aid course to ESOL group

page 13

Cooperation between unions brings learning benefit

Barry Young’s daughter’s involvement in

Stephen Percy is one of several

the RAF ATC in Radcliffe was what initially

learners benefitting from

instigated Barry’s interest in volunteering his time as a committee member. It was this

co‑operation between unions

intervention that spurred Barry into his role

in Stockport. As a result of an

as ULR for UNITE at his workplace in the ‘First Manchester’ Bolton depot. Through these combined roles he now runs informal First Aid workshops including to the First Manchester ESOL Saturday morning group. Utilizing the skills which Barry developed on a Level 4 PTLLS course via the unionlearn partnership with Bolton University, Barry successfully delivered an emergency First Aid course to members of First Manchester’s Saturday morning ESOL class. A group of 15 learners enjoyed Barry’s short course on what to do in emergency situations, ranging from how to dress wounds with compression

agreement between local branches of the Communication Workers Union and Public and Commercial Services Union, Stephen, who works for HMRC in the town, uses the local CWU centre which is managed by North West CWU AMAL Branch Lead ULR and unionlearn NW Age Champion, Graham Kingston.

Stephen has been taking advantage of the centre’s language resources to develop his skills for both personal and work use. Previously worried about returning to learning after a long time, Stephen said “Initially I was unsure about getting back into study but the blend of resources (online, audio and written) and flexibility of delivery within and outside the centre meant I was able to manage my time and learn at my own pace”. Graham added “Our involvement in the unionlearn NW and NESTA project “Age Unlimited” encouraged us to look at how we can promote and deliver learning and skills more effectively to those approaching or over 50 years of age. We already knew that languages was a popular topic with all ages, but traditional classroom models don’t engage older workers quite so well because they can be too restrictive in terms of timing, resources and methods. In the learning centre we can offer individual packages so that learners can progress and develop at their own rate and with a blend of resources that suits their own needs.” As a result of the positive experiences he has had, Stephen is now determined to progress with languages and possibly other learning in future.

bandages to virtual CPR practice sessions.

Public and Commercial Services Union Sign Language Achievement at HMRC in Salford and Stockport Thanks to the PCS union, five learners at the HMRC in Salford have completed Level 3 sign language, these learners started level 1 sign language in September 2009 and went on to complete level 2 and now 3. Three learners started level 1 in September 2010 and have now completed level 2.

All of the learners are interested in sign language and have carried out the learning in their own time over their dinner hour at work. The learning takes place for an hour each week from September to July, when the learners take their exam. The tutor is a member of staff in PT International who also works for the Open College of Sign Language and gives up her own time to teach a language that she loves to others. She has also arranged a few trips out for the staff to visit a deaf club and a deaf church service as well as arranging a pub lunch with the class and her own deaf parents. Rebecca Mather PCS ULR at Trinity Bridge House in Salford says: “we have one class on a Tuesday (now level 3) and one on a Wednesday (now level 2). Taster sessions were held first off to get people’s attention and gauge interest. From the high number of initial interest to when we had actual timeframes and costs the numbers went down however the fact that the staff who did take up the course have now moved onto level 3 and level 2 shows that they were committed. This was an enjoyable way for staff to begin to learn, it is very active and the pressure of writing and testing isn’t really a factor.” The course was arranged due to interest received from a taster session at Learning at

The novel approach to delivering new

Work Day. Some learners want to learn sign language just for themselves and their own interest, some to help them to communicate with someone they know or others. The tutor is hearing but her parents are deaf and she has grown up around deaf people and is very passionate about signing and deaf culture. Therefore she was more than willing to pass on the skill to those who wanted to learn. There were also members of staff from Stockport HMRC who attended the Salford Learning At Work Day and wanted to learn sign language, so the ULRs negotiated and secured time off for the tutor to go to Stockport once a week, and three PCS staff from Stockport have now completed level 2 also. The employer provided the learning centre facilities plus ULR time. The course has given the staff the opportunity to develop a completely new skill and has also opened them up to and given them a better understanding of deaf culture. Rebecca adds that “There is an exam at the end in which the staff have to learn certain things to sign which proved to be a worry for some of the learners, especially those who hadn’t done any learning and especially examinations for years, however the fact that they passed gave them a boost in confidence and for some an appetite for learning.”

For further information

information, and critical language-building skills, were supported by First Manchester’s

Please contact Jeff Latham jlatham@tuc.org.uk or 07500 041253 mobile

own TESOL qualified Unite ULRs, Stuart Smith and Bob Holt. The course was funded via First Manchester Collective Learning fund & Unite teh Union. The employer provided paid facility time-off for the ULR, and the course equipment and facilities.

Supporting staff through workplace change

The benefits to the employer include raised awareness of staff in what to do in an emergency situation and confidence of staff in

DWP ULRs in Greater Manchester have been busy improving their understanding of employability skills in order to assist colleagues facing organisational change.

emergency situations. One of the main barriers that Barry faced was

Using legacy “career-changer” support materials developed by unionlearn NW and the University of Bolton as part of the North West Universities Association Higher Level Skills Partnership, a “train the trainer” workshop was run in Salford Quays to give the ULRs an overview of the materials and offer hints and tips on how to use them to support those looking for redeployment or new roles.

having the confidence to teach on subject knowledge area. He now hopes to undertake a ‘Teaching First Aid At work’ qualification though Air Cadets.

The materials cover a range of employability-related areas such as confidence building, looking for opportunities, CV creation, applications, interviews and presentations, adapted from original student materials to better reflect the needs of older and more experienced people (who in fact comprise the majority of the University’s student body!).

Barry says that the whole community benefits as the taught skills are used at home and in social settings as well as the workplace and that “Support from other ULRs in the network to get this up and running has been key”. Stephen Percy and ULR Graham Kingston in the CWU Learning Centre

Updating and expanding the issues covered in the materials, the workshop also looked at additional skills which career changers might find useful, including digital skills for researching opportunities and social networking. Although the ULRs had been proactive in raising the issue, support activity could not start until the workplace situation was certain. In the meantime, project funding had ceased, meaning that no direct support could be offered to those affected. However, thanks to the Higher Level Skills Partnership project’s emphasis on sustainable models, an “arms-length” approach was taken and a workable solution found. Walter Heaven, ULR Co-Ordinator said “Many thanks for this excellent session which has been a very positive intervention during a worrying time for our members.”

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Seven years of online learning with the Prison Officers Association at Ashworth Seven years on, the POA Union Learning Zone based in the Mersey Care NHS Trust’s e-Café at Ashworth Hospital continues to provide benefits to learners through online learning.

The Learning Zone is the regional centre for union learning representatives (ULRs) who are based across a wide geographical area in the North West. As well as the Trust the Learning Zone covers 17 prisons altogether, with over 450 learners accessing the centre on a regular basis and services staff, family members and users from the hospital. The project is based in the ‘e-cafe’ in Maghull and is led by Lorraine Lewis , supported by a partnership between Mersey Care NHS Trust, POA Learning and multi unions and unionlearn. A vast array of learning opportunities are provided by this project including learning centres, computers, broadband, printers, laptops, peripatetic ULRs, literacy and numeracy courses, Skills for Life, functional skills, apprenticeship programmes, IAG, NVQ programmes in Business Admin, Customer Services and ITQ which is portfolio based, set on the level of ability, job role and desired progression, languages, deaf awareness, and remote learning packages.

The partnership benefits both the health trust and the union, improving the work-life balance of staff and helping provide a more skilled workforce. Learning Zone Manager, Lorraine Lewis, said: “UK Online has always been about promoting quality of life through IT and new technology. Especially with tool such as the “Myguide” online resources designed for learners getting started on the internet. It provides a free email account and free bite-sized computer courses. These range from the online basics of using a keyboard and mouse, email and internet safety through to online shopping, banking, job hunting and even digital photography and music. The online skills that are learnt are life-long and can enhance the quality of life of individuals.” “It is also an opportunity to introduce older age groups to young people, building bridges and as a result breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive dialogue between the young and old”

Dear Colleague, You are invited to attend our ‘Working Together’ conference taking place on Tuesday 4th December 2012, 10am registration for 10.30am start, at The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Mike Gregory Way, Warrington, WA2 7NE.

The conference will bring together Union Learning Reps, Workplace Learning Advocates and Community Learning Champions, and will be an opportunity to share good practice and look at current issues around learning and skills.

To register your interest please provide the following information to Visha Chander at

diar y dates

vchander@tuc.org.uk

Learning Centre Network Event Fri 30th November 2012

ULR Forum 9.30 am – 4.00 pm Wed 23rd January 2013

MerseyCare NHS Trust The Learning Zone Ashworth Hospital Parkbourn Maghull Liverpool L31 1HW

South Cheshire College, Crewe

The Prison Officers Association project will be hosting an event for all involved in learning centres on 30th November 2012. This will include sessions on ‘Tribal E-Learning’; the Go-On

To register your attendance please email Visha Chander at vchander@tuc.org.uk

TU Ed Courses at unionlearn, Liverpool Apprenticeship Awareness 6th – 8th Feb 2013 Orleans House, Edmund St, L3 9NG To register your attendance email David McMonnies at david.mcmonnies@wmc.ac.uk

functional skills and the Open

Digital Champions 9th – 11th January 2013

University offer.

Orleans House, Edmund St, L3 9NG

To register your attendance please email Visha Chander at vchander@tuc.org.uk

To register your attendance email David McMonnies at david.mcmonnies@wmc.ac.uk

Projects for digital inclusion;

Full Name Organisation Union membership