October 2011

Scottish Union Learning Board meets North ULRs

The Board of Scottish Union Learning convened for the first time in Inverness in September. The Board took the opportunity to invite members of the Inverness and Moray ULR Forums to join them to discuss the challenges and rewards of workplace learning in the Highlands and Islands. Development Officer Pam Urquhart said, “The Board members were impressed with the enthusiasm shown by the ULRs, and by their commitment to working across unions and workplaces to make learning happen.” ------------------------------------------------------------ Cross Union ULR Forum Dates Please see below the details of forthcoming forums in Inverness, Moray, Caithness, Orkney and the Western Isles. You will be advised of venues and agendas for all dates by email nearer the time. If there is no Cross Union ULR Forum in your area, please feel free to come along to the one nearest to you. If you would like to suggest a speaker or an item for the agenda, please contact Pam or Eleanor. Please note: You must have approval from your own Union to attend STUC events. Inverness: 15th December 2011 - 11am to 2pm Caithness: 27th October 2011 - 11am to 2pm in the Naver Business Centre;

13th December 2011 - 11am to 2pm, venue TBC Moray: 14th December 2011 - 11am to 2pm Orkney: 27th October 2011 - 12pm to 2pm

13th December 2011 - 12pm to 2pm Western Isles: 6th December 2011 - 5pm to 8pm The first meeting of 2012 for all Forums will be held on 12th March 2012 from 11am to 2pm by multi-link video conference.

What’s on

The Scottish Union Learning Conference will take place on Wednesday 9th November at the Marriott Hotel in Glasgow. The conference, which will be addressed by Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, Minister for Learning and Skills, includes prominent speakers and a variety of workshops on the themes of learning, inclusion and social justice. Highlands and Islands ULRs are welcome to attend, though as always, you must have the permission of your own union to do so. Contact Ann Garscadden on 0141 337 8134 or by email at agarscadden@stuc.org.uk by 26th October for more information. Dyslexia Awareness Week 31st October – 5th November

This year’s theme is “Dyslexia and Us”. Check out Dyslexia Scotland’s website at www.dyslexiascotland.org.uk. Contact Wendy Burton, Development Officer – Everyday Skills, at wburton@stuc.org.uk for Dyslexia Awareness Packs and ideas on how to raise awareness in your workplace.

Contact

Scottish Union Learning in the Highlands and Islands UNISON Building 53 Shore Street Inverness IV1 1NF Tel/Fax: 01463 248 905

Eleanor Adam Development Officer Email: eadam@stuc.org.uk Mobile: 07876 260 412

Pam Urquhart Development Officer Email: purquhart@stuc.org.uk Mobile: 07702 836 481

E Ann Irvine Admin Assistant Email: eairvine@stuc.org.uk

Mairi MacIver Admin Assistant Email: mmaciver@stuc.org.uk

Support for union bids to reach out with learning Three unions were successful in gaining support for their projects from the Development Fund. “Taking Learning to Remote and Rural Communities” led by UNISON project worker, Philippa Clark, is doing just that with courses already taking place in Brora, Wick and Stornoway. RMT project worker, Dan Henderson, is working with ULRs and providers to make learning happen on seven ferry routes in support of the “Onboard for Learning” project. Dan said, “A main objective of the project is to provide workers with learning opportunities to support their career progression and improve IT literacy levels, particularly for older workers, who may be digitally excluded.” With pilots of ECDL and Maths courses underway, the project is finding innovative ways to deliver learning on the move. The “Developing the Vertex Partnership on Learning” project aims to embed a sustainable culture of learning among the predominantly young workforce at Vertex’s Dingwall call centre and for the home workers which the company is recruiting. TSSA’s Alex Holloway is leading the project and has been developing a wiki site, as well as using social media like Facebook and Twitter to promote courses and engage workers in learning opportunities. British Sign Language and Basic French are among the first courses to be offered, based on the results of recent learning surveys.

Staff Changes at Scottish Union Learning There have been a number of recent personnel changes at the Inverness office of Scottish Union Learning. Eleanor Adam and Ann Irvine joined the Team at the end of May, as a part-time Development Officer and Admin Assistant, respectively. With the departure of Vicky King in August to pursue career opportunities, another part-time Admin Assistant, Mairi MacIver, was appointed in September. All three new recruits have backgrounds in union activism and learning and look forward to supporting ULRs in their new roles.

Forum vital for Western Isles Learning Community Development Officer Eleanor Adam and UNISON Project Worker Philippa Clark visited Stornoway in July to help establish a Cross Union ULR Forum for the Western Isles. Despite enthusiasm for the idea from the ULRs they met, the initial meeting of the Forum due to take place in October, had to be cancelled due to low numbers. Another meeting is planned for Tuesday 6th December. Eleanor said, “Forums work to make learning accessible to all. I understand release is an issue and would urge ULRs to use their right to request time to train to attend.”

(Left) A fond farewell to Vicky.