Establishing a Culture of Learning

Between March 2001 and March 2002 UNISON ran a Union Learning Fund (ULF)  project, that explored the idea of setting up networks of Lifelong Learning Advisors (LLAs) and Union Learning Reps (ULRs) and examined what work they could do and what support they would need.  The project partners were UNISON Birmingham Branch, Birmingham City Council and the WEA.  As a result, from April 2002 UNISON has again made a successful bid to the ULF, to run a project that aims to establish LLAs & ULRs in Branches in all English regions.

The Establishing a Culture of Learning Project is a UNISON led project, where Branches and Regions will work in partnership with the TUC and WEA in order to identify, recruit, train and support the work of LLAs and ULRs as a new stream of branch activist. 

Regional support to branches will be provided by the Project Field Worker in the first instance, with additional support from the REO, ROs and the Branch Support and Development Team.

The project aims to develop best practice to enable the project’s work to continue in branches in the long term after March 2004.

Some of the main aims of the project are:

r       Branches and the region working together to identify and recruit LLAs and ULRs

r       Newly recruited LLAs and ULRs to be trained by the WEA and the TUC accordingly

r       Branches to be encouraged to set up Branch Education Teams in order to provide support for newly recruited LLAs and ULRs.

r      LLAs & ULRs encouraged to promote workplace learning amongst UNISON members and to recruit members onto relevant courses

r       Cross branch forums of LLAs/ULRs could be set up to provide arena for discussion, issues to be raised and best practice to be developed