Y Rhwydwaith Rhagoriaethnetwork of Excellence

Wales TUC Cymru

Y Rhwydwaith RhagoriaethNetwork of Excellence

No. 10September 2016 Medi

Net News

Net news is sent to Union Learning Reps (ULRs) and learning and education supporters in Wales. Its aim is to share learning, course and funding news and encourage union-led workplace learning and learning in families and communities. Please share and please send articles you’d like included to:

BRAND NEW: Wales TUC ULR Development Days

We are pleased to announce the dates for our latest annual ULR development days taking place this November. These events are designed to update you with the very latest information relevant to your role, and keep your ULR skills in tip-top condition.

There will be a variety of speakers and workshop activities, as well as the vital time to network with your ULR colleagues. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.

These events are very important for ULRs, and we would encourage as many of you as possible to attend.

NORTH WALES:Thursday 17th November 2016
Venue Cymru, The Promenade, Llandudno, LL30 1BB

SOUTH WALES:Thursday 24th November 2016
Redhouse, High Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AE

If you would like attend please click on the following link:

If you have any questions or queries about these events please contact Linsey at

Tackling Discrimination in the Workplace – FREE course

The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) are holding an Identifying and Tackling Discrimination in the Workplace course starting in October 2016.

This is a well-established course which has been independently evaluated, with 100% of past course participants agreeing that the course improved their knowledge in this field.

The aim of the course is to provide CAB advisers, Trade Union officials and other Equality Representatives with a free of charge introduction to Equality law.

The course runs 1 day per month for 6 months and focuses on:

the concepts that underpin the legislation
how advisers can support clients and members with discrimination claims
prepare them for Employment Tribunal if appropriate

The course will provide you with a safe and supportive learning environment in which you can improve your knowledge and practice your skills. On successfully completing the entire course, you will receive 4 credits towards a nationally recognised qualification at level 3.

If you are interested in attending this course, please use these links to complete the Expression of Interest Form for either Cardiff or Wrexham.

If you have any questions, please contact Marie Williams on 02920 447710 or

______

Dementia Champions

The Dementia Champion Training taking place in Mold on 18th October is now fully booked. Another session is now available taking place on 15th November in Wrexham and there are plenty of spaces still available.

The Dementia Champion Training is free of charge and anyone interested in becoming a Dementia Champion and gaining the ability/ resources to be able to deliver Dementia Friends sessions should attend.

If you wish to book a place then please visit; On the home page please select ‘Register as a champion’ and then follow the registration process.

CULT Cymru courses this autumn…

First Aid at Work - 1 space left! - 3rd -5th October 2016, Cardiff

This three-day course is approved by the Health and Safety Executive under the Health and Safety Regulations for successful candidates to act as first-aiders in their workplace.

Emergency First Aid at Work - 4 spaces left! - 7th October 2016, Cardiff
The course is ideal for low risk workplaces or to support those who hold the full first aid at work certificate.

Click here to register:

Working Freelance – 2nd November, Cardiff

This workshop is aimed at anyone who would like to explore the practicalities of setting up as a freelancer / sole trader. You willexplore the different business models and provide some useful tips and practical tools to help you to understand what’s required to work as a freelancer.

Pitch Your Ideas – 17th November, Cardiff

Do you work in the creative industries and have an idea or piece of work that you’d like to pitch? This one-day practical workshop aims to help you to create and practise a pitch that will help you present your idea or work in a coherent and business-like way.

Train the Trainer – 14th, 15th & 29th November, Cardiff

Do you work in the creative sector and would like to add to your skills by being able to deliver training? This practical 3 day (level 3, Agored) accredited course will enable you to share your knowledge and skills in a structured and professional manner in your workplace and beyond.

______

What do you think of the Climbing Frame?

Take part in the Climbing Frame Feedback Survey by Friday 30th September for a chance to win a Kindle!
TheClimbing Frameis the website for ULRs, and others that work with learners, to support them in their role. Every year we carry out a Climbing Frame Feedback Survey to hear from site users and we are keen to find out what you like, what you don't like and any suggestions you have to help make the website even more valuable to union reps.

Whether you are an experienced Climbing Frame user or are new to the website we really value your thoughts.

Please complete the survey by Friday 30thSeptember for a chance to be entered into a prize draw to win a Kindle. Thewinner will be randomly selected and contacted via email. Access the survey here:

______

Have you tried an eNote yet?

eNotes are a great resource to help union reps keep up to date on key workplace issues. Each eNote is a self-contained module that contains a mixture of text, video and quizzes. They last between 20 and 45 minutes and can be returned to as many times as you like.

New eNotes are being added all the time, eNotes onMental Health and Working with Figures will be available soon.

Current eNotes include:

NEW:Cancer in the workplace
NEW:Pregnancy and maternity discrimination
Mentoring - a guide for union representatives
Union Learning Representatives - introduction
Supporting Learners into Higher Learning
Migration
Fit for Work
Industrial Partnerships
Work-related Upper Limb Disorders
Domestic Violence
Building a Stronger Workplace Union
Facility Time

Apprenticeships
A Living Wage
Equality Law
Supporting Mid-life development
Additional Paternity Leave
Understanding Universal Credit
Climbing Frame
Supporting Learners
Vulnerable Employment
The Sick Note
Bargaining for Skills
A Living Wage

______

WEA Cymru’s latest courses

WEA YMCA CC Cymru: 1 Day Open Courses October 2016, Cardiff

Minute Taking: Friday 7th October – course fee £30

Venue: WEA Cymru Office, 7 Coopers Yard, Curran Road Cardiff CF10 5NB

Safeguarding: Friday 14th October – course fee £30

Mental Health Awareness: Friday 21st October – course fee £30

Venue: Community Union Building, 20 Cathedral Rd, Cardiff CF11 9LJ

Courses will run with a minimum of 8 learners. Course time: 9.30 – 4pm

For more information or to book your place, contact:l: 01495 369869

______

New Learn My Way website launched

Learn My Way is a learning site that has helped over 2 million learners gain basic digital skills in the last 5 years and on 15thSeptember it was given a bold new look.

They have introduced a completely new navigation for the website, simplified course categories and a course layout that embeds learning in the page rather than creating new pop-up screens. The site also works a lot better on tablets and new computers.

If you haven't checked out the new site then get exploring, if you have visited Learn My Way in the past then the new site will remember your previous details so you can resume your learning!

Learn about these subjects:

Using your computer or device

More internet skills
Finding a job online
Improving your health online

Online basics
Online Safety
Managing your money online
Public services online

See all the subjects here:

______

The latest FREE course from the Open University in Wales…

A new free Futurelearn online course starts on 31stOctober that could be helpful for those learning English. It lasts four weeks and involves two hours work each week.

This course is for people who are learning English and who are interested in developing English language skills for employability and workplace contexts. It will help job seekers and young professionals with the English they need.

Each week, they’ll focus on key aspects of English for the workplace. You’ll watch videos and listen to audio recordings of people searching and applying for jobs, preparing for interviews, taking interviews, starting their new job, and working with new colleagues. Our experienced tutor will examine some of the language used and will draw your attention to useful points that will help you improve your English in workplace contexts.

The course does not follow a language syllabus but takes workplace English as its starting point, and offers functional language phrases and real, authentic workplace scenarios. Short quizzes and discussions will help you measure your understanding and practise your English.

Click here for more:

______

Fully Funded Apprenticeships and management qualifications

T2Group have an array of fully funded work based learning programmes.

These Apprenticeship programs are delivered at your site, visiting on a day and time convenient to your workplace, working with you on a 1-2-1 basis irrespective of the number of staff on the programme. The Level 5 Management programme also has several off site workshops to allow candidates to share best practice with managers from different industries. All of our Apprenticeships are available at both intermediate and advanced levels (unless indicated). Our current Apprenticeship programmesare;

Management (Level 5 – Higher Apprenticeship)

Management – Level 3

Team Leading (Level 2 management qualification)

Customer Service – Level 2 & 3

Business Administration – Level 2 & 3

Information Technology – Level 2 & 3

Click here for more:

______

Reading Ahead – order now!

With autumn in the air, this is a reminder that print materials and incentives are now available to order for the second year of Reading Ahead.

Choose Six Reads….

Reading Ahead is a great way to help your colleagues build their skills and encourage them to find time to read for pleasure. The new impact report for Reading Ahead shows that the programme boosts confidence, enjoyment and skills - all crucial for success in the workplace. Locations across the country, from hospitals to supermarkets and transport companies, are taking part.

Place your order now to take advantage of early bird prices and get your materials in the next couple of weeks. Bilingual materials for Wales are also available and will be provided based on the postcode of the order.

There is also a training day on 6 October - find out more and book here!

______

2016 WGU Taste of Uni week!

Wrexham Glyndwr University would like to invite you to theabove. The dates for this week long event will be:

MONDAY 17th – FRIDAY 21st OCTOBER 2016.
Each day will consist of subject specific taster lectures to give people an insight into the content of the course(s) they are interested in, helping them to decide which is the right course for them. They will also provide information, advice and guidance on the application process, entry requirements, finance and their student support services. Furthermore, there will be an option to take a campus/ nursery tour at the end of the day to look at the different facilities available to you at WGU.
To attend this event, you must confirm your attendance prior to the event via thebooking forms.

Please note, they may also be able to help with transport if enough people are planning on attending from any one area/organisation. Please contact Sarah Gaffney for more information:

______

Unionlearn’s Learning Rep Magazine

Is now available to download or read online here

Unionlearn is now 10 years old and featured articles include a report on the recent unionlearn annual conference, an in-depth interview with Kevin Parson who is the Project Manager for the National Association of Stable Staff's (NASS) Union Learning Fund project, new Apprenticeships Toolkit, Numeracy Challenge and much more!

Quick Reads

The Quick Reads books are ideal to use to take part in any Reading Challenge or just to encourage colleagues back into reading. Two English and two Welsh titles became available in March of this year and it’s worth asking your WULF project manager if they have any spare from previous years too. Use Quick Reads books to set up a book swap or lending library. Short, easy to read yet written by well-known authors and with interesting titles and stories they are books designed to encourage the shy reader to start or the ‘out of the habit’ reader to enjoy reading again.

Need a new computer or laptop?

Don’t forget about Computer Recyclers UK. Many ULRs have used their services to buy desktop computers from £99, laptops from £149 and even the Microsoft Surface from £129. Contact them on 01443 434675 or visit their website at: Click on the words ‘Get Online At Home’.

In case you missed it...

Does your union have a WULF project? All of these do. Contact to be put in touch with your project manager.

ASLEF, BECTU, BFAWU, COMMUNITY, CWU, FBU, GMB, NAPO, NUJ, NUT, PCS, RCM, UCATT, UNISON, UNITE, URTU and USDAW

Contact WTUCLearn

Website:

Face book

Twitter:

And, you can find lots of tweets about the social media courses here:

Suggest articles for Net News, ideas for the Network Development Days or leave comments at:

Potential Redundancies?

Workplace Learning Advice Needed?

The Wales TUC development officers in your area have excellent advice, guidance and information that can help – especially if contacted early. Contact them via our website:

The ULR Network of Excellence ULR Development Days

To keep you up to date with news, developments and resources that will support learners in the workplace.

If you are a ULR, union rep or union member interested in learning and you would like to be added to the circulation list and/or send in a contribution to the newsletter then please contact: Wales TUC ebost/e-mail:

Ffon/Tel: 02920 347010

Same details when you need to unsubscribe.Diolch yn fawr, thankyou.

Wales TUC Cymru 1 Cathedral Road/ 1 Heol yr Eglwys Gadeiriol Cardiff/ Caerdydd CF11 9SD