Yorkshire Area NUM Weekend School Scarborough December 11th to December 13th 2009
The Yorkshire Area NUM Union Learning Project's Dissemination Event took in the Area's Weekend School and hosted a varied agenda.
Following the traditional welcome from the Area and National Secretary Chris Kitchen, Area Chairman/Project Manager Chris Skidmore outlined the progress of the project to the delegates present.
He also gave an overview of the value of the TUC's project nationally and the importance of education to Trade Union Members as well as Branch Officials. Highlighting the well attended Pensions Champions Course at Castleford Community Learning Centre, he concluded by bringing delegates attention to the success enjoyed at Thornycroft, Mineworkers Centre, Pontefract referring to the learning festival & open days organised there over the past few months. The promotional stand manned by Chris and Project Worker, Maurice Kent was well patronised with every delegate able to select books from the quick reads section as well as receiving a gift promotional bag.
The following items were well presented and debated mineworkers pension scheme Issues, by Scheme Secretary, Karen Coupland car Insurance/road traffic accidents by Debra Allen of Raleys Solicitors The state of the newspaper industry and the importance of trade union journals from Yorkshire Evening Post Journalist Peter Lazenby.
Colin Burgon M.P sparked lively debate with his presentation on the state of politics in Latin America and industrial disputes in Britain that have caught the public eye, the school was rounded off by Martin Cantors enterprising presentation of new social media.
National Union of Mineworkers
Yorkshire Area
B.I.S. LEARNING REVOLUTION FESTIVAL
Project Report (Union Learn)
To mark the Business Innovation and Skills (BIS) Sponsored Learning Revolution Festival, the National Union of Mineworkers Yorkshire Area held events across the West Yorkshire region from 28th - 30th October 2009.
Events were held at the Thornycroft Mineworkers Disablement Centre, Pontefract and the Church of the Resurrection, Kinsley. With thanks to the funding provided by the BIS, tutors, advice workers and legal representatives from Raleys Solicitors were on hand to offer taster sessions, presentations and workshops over the three day period of events. With only seven days to prepare the NUM collaborated with the aforementioned representatives to provide sessions in arts and craft, diet fitness and health, welfare rights and wills and probate. This gave people of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to try something completely new or seek advice and information on matters that could have an adverse affect on their daily lives now or in the future.
Prior to the events we were somewhat sceptical, in anticipation that the proceedings would not go to plan. However, with the help of the Regional Development Coordinator Sharon Burke, Father John from the Church of Resurrection, Raleys Solicitors and all the staff at the Thornycroft Centre, the events were a resounding success.
Following the success of the three day programme, a key learning point for us as an organisation is that it is irrelevant how much time and effort you spend organising and promoting an event as it is only successful if you can engage and gain a positive response from your target audience. It is true that we all need certain skills to progress and learn. However, how you steer people's thoughts and minds in a positive direction is the key to success. Learning does not have to take place through set subjects and formal learning. With a combined attendance of over 300 people throughout the three days of events, it is clear that if we introduce the required skills into the learning agenda in a way that people understand they engage in the learning process and develop the skills that they require to progress.
Signed C.SKIDMORE NUM Project Manager
Signed M. KENT NUM Project Worker
YORKS AREA NUM ULF.PROJECT
LEARNING CENTRE SET-UP FROM "INCEPTION TO FRUITION" (JULY 2008- TO DATE) CASE STUDY
THORNYCROFT MINERS CENTRE PONTEFRACT.
IN JULY 2008 BOTH THE PROJECT MANAGER & WORKER UNDERTOOK VISITS TO THE THORNYCROFT DISABLED MINERS CENTRE TO ESTABLISH CONTACT WITH STAFF & MEMBERS ALIKE. IN AN INFORMAL SETTING. THIS EXPANDED TO A FORMAL MEETING WITH THE CENTRE MANAGER MARIA BLACK.
GAVE ADVICE TO 12 MEMBERS WHO HAD EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN THE PROJECT AFTER PUTTING THEIR NAMES ON A LIST PROVIDED BY THE CENTRE MANAGER AFTER SEEING OUR POSTERS.
BY SEPTEMBER WE HAD ATTENDED ON A REGULAR BASIS TO FORGE A RELATIONSHIP WITH MEMBERS ATTENDING THE CENTRE. A FURTHER 12 PEOPLE EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN THE SKILLS FOR LIFE COURSES.
WE GAVE A DEMONSTATION IN THE CENTRE'S IT SUITE AFTER ESTABLISHING THE INTERNET CONNECTION 7 GAVE AN INITIAL 8 MEMBERS AN INSIGHT INTO THE NUM WEB SITE AND INTERNET OPTIONS. 2 MEMBERS ALSO EXPRESSED AN INTEREST IN THE PENSIONS CHAMPIONS COURSE.
AGREEMENT WAS REACHED WITH THE CENTRE MANAGER THAT WE WOULD ATTEND THE CENTRE FOR THE MAJOR PART
OF A WEEK & GIVE DEMONSTRATION OF LAP TOP COMPUTER USEAGE , IN TOTAL 40+ TOOK AN INTEREST WITH SOME FIRM ASSURANCES THAT THEY WOULD HAVE A TRY.
AGAIN MET CENTRE MANAGER WHO ASKED IF WE WERE INTERESTED IN BECOMING TRUSTEES OF THE CENTRE TO AID BOTH THE CENTRE IN ITS QUEST FOR CONTINUED GRANT S FROM THE ORGANISATION C.I.S.W.O AND TO GIVE OUR PROJECT A SENSE OF LONGEVITY AND CREDIBILITY. THIS WAS AGREED AND BOTH MAURICE AND CHRIS WERE CO-OPTED ONTO THE TRUSTEESHIP VIA THE TRADE UNION. THET ATTENDED THEIR FIRST MEETING AND EXPLAINED WHAT THE UNION LEARN PROJECT WAS ALL ABOUT AND HOW IT FITTED IN WITH THE POLICIES AND AIMS OF THE UNION.
NOW FIRMLY ESTABLISHED A FORMAL MEETING TOOK PLACE IN NOVEMBER TO DISCUSS SETTING UP A LEARNING CENTRE. WITH REPRESENTATIVES FROM UNION LEARN LEEDS REGIONAL OFFICE IN ATTENDANCE. WE WERE CONFIDENT IT COULD BE ACHIEVED WITH THE LEEDS STAFF SOMEWHAT CAUTIOUS.. WE WENT AHEAD AND CONTACTED LEEDS COLLEGE WITH THE AIM OF SETTING UP A MEETING EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR.
"NEW YEAR NEW BEGINNING"
A MEETING DID TAKE PLACE WITH LEEDS COLLEGE STAFF MARIA BLACK & OURSELVES AND AGREEMENT REACHED WE WOULD ARRANGE 2 OPEN DAYS TO GUAGE INTEREST IN SUPPLYING COURSES FROM THE CENTRE. POSTERS & FLYERS WERE DEVISED AND DELIVERED IN THE SURROUNDING AREA. ALSO ATTENDED ANOTHER TRUSTEES MEETING TO EXPLAIN OUR STRATEGY & HOW THE PROJECT WOULD BENEFIT THE CENTRE. 1 OPEN DAY WAS HELD TO COINCIDE WITH A PROMOTION OF THE WORK CISWO CARRY OUT.THE NEXT 1 WAS PRIMARILY FOR THE UNION LEARN PROJECT WHICH TOOK PLACE IN EARLY FEBRUARY THIS WAS WELL ATTENDED AND THE "FREEBIES" WERE EAGERLY "SNAPPED UP". MORE IMPORTANTLY A DEMONSTATION OF LAP TOP & PROJECTOR
USE WAS WELL RECEIVED WITH FIRM COMMITMENTS TO COURSE ATTENDANCE IN "SKILLS FOR LIFE. 30+ MEMBERS ATTENDED WITH 12 SIGNING UP FOR THE FIRST COURSE COMMENCING AT THE END OF THE MONTH.THERE WAS A WAITING LIST OF 10 MORE MEMBERS +.8 MORE WHO EXPRESSED A WISH TO ATTEND A NIGHT CLASS..
BEARING THIS IN MIND WE HELD A "TEAM MEETING" & DECIDED TO INVEST IN A PRINTER TO HELP WITH THE SET UP OF THE LEARNING CENTRE WHICH WAS DULY HANDED OVER TO CO-INCIDE WITH THE FIRST CLASS TAKING PLACE.
THIS CLASS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED WITH THE NEXT FOLLOWING ON THE NIGHT CLASS STARTED WELL BUT TAPERED OFF SOMEWHAT. THERE IS SCOPE FOR SOME MEMBERS TO GO ON TO THE NEXT STAGE WITH SOME MORE MEMBERS WHO HAVE APPLIED.ALREADY WHO ARE ALREADY PROFFICIENT ENOUGH TO PROCEED TO THIS STANDARD. WE WILL SEEK TO INTRODUCE A FORM OF DEPOSIT (RETURNABLE ON COMPLETION OF THE COURSE) FOR THE NEXT NIGHT CLASS
WHILST EXPERIENCING A SET BACK IN THAT LEEDS COLLEGE HAVE NO TUTORS AVAILABLE TO DELIVER I.T. COURSES WE ARE HOPEFUL THAT JIM SCOTT & TREV SARGISON HAVE RESOURCED ALTERNATIVE REPLACEMENTS FOR COMMENCEMENT EARLY IN THE NEW YEAR.
THE I.T. EQUIPMENT WILL BE REPLACED BY MORE UP TO DATE HARDWARE FROM CASTLFORD COMMUNITY LEARNING CENTRE. (WHICH IS A SPLENDID EXAMPLE OF LEARNING CENTRES NETWORKING & DISPLAYING BEST PRACTICE )
FOLLOWING MEETINGS HELD BETWEEN THE PROJECT TEAM, THORNYCROFT CENTRE MANAGER, & LEEDS REGIONAL OFFICE UNION LEARN TEAM., ADULT LEARNING WEEK WOULD BE MARKED AT THORNYCROFT BY HOLDING EVENTS OVER 3 DAYS DURATION.
THE UNION'S SOLICITORS PROVIDED A WELFARE & BENEFITS WORKSHOP, WITH THE PROJECT TEAM ON HAND TO ASSIST MEMBERS WITH ACCESS TO I.T. SUITE WHICH IN TURN GAVE ACCESS TO WELFARE BENEFITS INFORMATION VIA THE INTERNET. THIS IS NOT ONLY AN EXERCISE IN HELPING OUR RETIRED MEMBERS OBTAIN THE CORRECT LEVEL OF BENEFITS THAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO CLAIM BUT IT ALSO GIVES THEM A SOUND BASIC SKILLS IN I.T.
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