Community and Trade Union Learning Centre

In this issue: Maxine Peake on where her learning journey is heading next; MPs salute Southampton learners; A fond farewell to Tom; Holby star backs online campaign; ….and more 

 

View online interactive PDF

(From top left clock-wise and left to right: 1. Jack Budd, Hayley Phippen and Jake Vinnicombe apprentices on the Olympic site, 2. Learner at Mount Pleasant learning centre, 3. Skills minister John Hayes and Frances O?Grady at the C&TU learning centre, 4. Olympic site BT apprentice Ebere Osujui.)

At the sixth unionlearn Southern & Eastern annual conference today (Nov 1) in London, reps and delegates celebrated a year of learning initiatives and events which have put unions at the heart of skills, staff well-being and community learning.

Barry Francis, regional manager unionlearn SERTUC, said that ULRs have been spearheading the take-up of Skills for life, promoting green skills and green workplaces, putting in place policies for healthy working environments and lifestyles, working with the community, supporting apprenticeships, promoting equality and diversity and have been in the vanguard of digital champions in workplaces across the region. Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know that 90% of jobs require basic internet skills, that the average household can save up to £560 a year by shopping and paying bills online; and over 25 million people are already using Facebook to chat to friends and family?

If you’ve got a relation, friend or neighbour who is missing out on the internet, they’re missing out on loads of ways to make their life easier and more enjoyable.

On the 30th October the clocks go back and we all have an extra hour. Imagine how exciting it would be if we all used this time to help someone get started online….

If no one you know needs help, why not volunteer at a local charity, care home or social club?

Get your guide to what to do in an hour, watch inspirational films as famous faces show how they use the web, and find further local support or places to volunteer by pledging an hour at www.go-on.co.uk/giveanhour.

Not online? Ask someone you know to help, or call to book a appointment here at the Community & Trade Union Learning Centre on 0203 288 5520, internet taster session. Call freephone 0800 77 1234 for your nearest local centre.

Facts and figures

• Inspiring the final 8.7 million people in the UK who’ve never been online would deliver additional economic benefits of more than £20 billion to UK economy (PwC, 2009).
• The main barriers for non-users are lack of understanding of the benefits (64%) and cost (23%).  (BBC research, 2009).
• 30 million daily internet users (ONS 2010) in the UK can help. Family and friends play a key role in helping new users, and a third of internet users are willing to pass skills on to others (BBC research, 2009)
• 3.1 million over 65s see a friend, neighbour or family member less than once a week. (Participle.net)

Hardware deals (Prices correct at time. Please check websites for most recent offer)

Want a computer at home and looking for a low-cost package to get you started?

• £92 from Remploy (www.ecycleonline.co.uk or 08450 268 293)
• From £95 (available to people receiving certain benefits and to charities) or from £165 for others (www.getonlineathome.org or 03719 100 100)
• £299 from XMA  (www.getonline.xma.co.uk or 0115 846 4120)

Get the word out – Pass it on

Twitter: Please follow @Raceonline_2012 and use the #tags: #GoON #GiveAnHour

Facebook: Please ‘like’ the Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/digitalchampions

When including Go ON Give an Hour messages on Facebook, please include @digitalchampions so your update appears on the digital champion wall too.

YouTube: Videos will be syndicated through @Raceonline2012

Due to increasing demand the Community & Trade Union Learning Centre have organised a 30 week course in English which would be classroom based.

The course will run for 2 hours every Monday 10:00am – 12:00pm commencing on Monday 3^rd October 2011. Attendance of the course will be flexible to suit your shift patterns. Read more to find out how to reserve your place

To register for the course you would need to:

• Hold a EU Passport or have permission to work in the U.K
• Employed

We would like to invite you to come along to the learning centre on Monday 19th September between 10:30am – 11:30am to meet your tutors.

If you are unable to attend on the 19^th September but are interested in joining the course, please contact the Community & Trade Union Learning Centre to reserve your place.

To reserve your place, please contact the Community & Trade Union Learning Centre on 0203 288 5520, or email ctu@tuc.org.uk

I look forward to hearing from you.

Jane Warwick

Learning Support Officer

Aim: To help union reps

become aware the main changes in ESOL* funding and their impact

develop ideas for workplace responses Read the rest of this entry »

The TUC today (Tuesday) announced the winners of the prestigious ‘Reps of the Year Awards’ at the 143^rd annual Congress, which is being held in London for the first time since 1902.

The awards recognise the outstanding achievement of union reps in representing women and young workers, learning at work, union organising and improving health and safety conditions in the workplace.

The winners received their awards from TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber at the TUC’s headquarters in Congress House.

The 2011 winners are:

Congress Award for Youth

Nick Parker, PCS (from Lincoln)

Learning Rep Award

Jonathan Waterhouse, USDAW (from Gorton, Manchester)

Organising Award

Anas Ghaffar, USDAW (from Slough, Berkshire)

Safety Rep Award

Clifford Mayor, UCATT (from Wigan)

Women’s Gold Badge

Evelyn Martin, GMB (from Stoke Newington, London)

Commenting on the awards TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said: ‘Millions of workers up and down the country have benefited from the fantastic work done by union reps in thousands of branches.

‘These reps put in a lot of time, hard work and effort to help their colleagues. I am delighted that their achievements have been recognised at Congress and they fully deserve the applause they receive from delegates.’ Read the rest of this entry »

 This course is designed to help experienced trade union representatives broaden their knowledge of the past, present and future role of trade unions.

 

The course will develop a greater understanding of trade union values, policies, and workplace issues enabling reps to become more effective as workplace representatives. The course will extend the capacity and skills of learners, whilst improving the confidence of learners to access higher education opportunities.

Download information leaflet [PDF]

• Who is the course for?
• When does the course start?
• How long is the course?
• What will the course help me to do?
• What subjects will be studied?
• What are the entry requirements?
• What qualifications will be awarded?
• Can I get time off to learn?
• Can I get time off for online courses?
• How much is the course?
• Further Information
• How do I apply?

Read the rest of this entry »

Waseem Tahir started his career as a cinema projectionist and worked in the cinema trade for six years before he was made redundant. He used this as an opportunity to develop his skills, initially working in a customer services role at Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council and moving on to coordinate several different projects during his two and a half years within the Council. Read the rest of this entry »

Industrial Protest and the Law

A History of British Trade Unionism

This introductory course will examine the state’s legal response to trade unions and the struggles of working people from 1750 to the present day, placing industrial protest and the changing law in their economic, social and political context.

The course will look at early attempts to form trade unions during the period of illegality from the 18^th century to the early 19^th century, the formation of mass unions from the end of 19^th century, and the use of the courts by employers to frustrate industrial action. It will also survey the changing fortunes of the trade union movement during the 20^th century, when from the 1960s an apparent ‘right’ to strike was challenged by successive governments, resulting in the current legal restrictions introduced in the 1980s and 1990s.

Tutor: Jim Horton
Date: 6 consecutive Thursdays, 6.30pm to 8.30pm – starting 03/11/2011
Venue: WEA Learning Centre,96 – 100 Clifton Street,LondonEC2A 4TP

Contact: Monica Gort  – Tel: 020 7426 1976
Email: mgort@wea.org.uk
Fee: £42,  or free on proof of income related benefits
Course ID: C2415809

Enrol: via www.wea.org.uk or 0800 328 1060

Registration is now open for Age UK’s fourth annual itea and biscuits week. The campaign is dedicated to supporting people in later life to learn, over a friendly chat and cup of tea, about the benefits that digital technology can really offer them. Last year around 10,000 older people took part in events that helped them to develop the skills and confidence to get started on their digital journey and this year with your help we can reach even more. Read the rest of this entry »