CWU Training Courses

[Big Daz]

Alvescot lodge building for those who are not aware also doubles up as the CWU education department base as well as a simple residential learning and training centre. Its running costs have been reduced considerably and their is some food grown on site. It was purchased by the POEU and therefore eventually following the merger between UCW and NCU became the property of CWU.

[Ahebban]

I have attended a number of courses at Alvescot Lodge and it would be a sad loss to the CWU and its members if the Lodge were to be dropped in any cull exercise mooted for the future. The tutors are invariably employed and paid by Solihull College or are Area Reps who assist on relevant courses as and when required. The Lodge operates with the minimum number of staff required to perform its functions without skimping the very high standards of education and safety etc. that are the watchword at Alvescot Lodge.

As others have pointed out the geographical/business mix of people that attend courses always make for interesting discussion at lunch and/or in the bar. During courses I have seen colleagues representing BT and RM, mail centres, RDCs, drivers, engineers, delivery etc. Reps and sub-Reps from all points north, south, east and west of the UK, not excluding Northern Ireland. You come to appreciate that your are not alone in the difficulties faced in your office, sector, area etc and that it is only by working and learning together that the CWU can be an effective counter to the managements of RM and BT.

Not all courses attract Paid Leave either. Course attendees do have the option for claiming expenses from their respective Branch, most of which you are encouraged to plough back into the Bar of an evening to help sustain the Lodge! The Bar is open from 7pm until 11pm. The Lodge is always in need of extra cash with various appeals on the go at present: for example, chairs (for classrooms) and the Memorial Garden (currently under development). The Lodge is eco-friendly, recycling is encouraged, etc - RM and BT still have a long way to go to make its own facilities comparable to Alvescot in cost-efficient heating, lighting etc.

The typical 5-day course runs from Monday-Friday : Monday and Friday are shorter days allowing for arrivals and departures - Tues, Wed, Thur are 9am-6pm (1 hour for lunch and 2 x 15min tea breaks). Depending on the course, it will be broken down into various group-based activities and all are expected to contribute to the group findings. It is optional as to whether you do further research etc on activities/subjects in the evenings. People are encouraged to attend the Bar and Recreation Areas as it encourages friendships, debates and discussions across a wide range of issues over the week. Everyone exchanges emails/mobile numbers encouraging people to keep in contact.

I would certainly recommend anyone interested in the affairs of the CWU, looking to represent members at their office, or to improve on their current skills to make use of the Courses available through the CWU Education and Training Centre.
Oh, I almost forgot - be prepared for the odd sleepless night as Alvescot Lodge is situtated under the flightpath of aircraft leaving RAF Brize Norton - sweet dreams are a luxury and not a given!!!

[MinisterofCucumber]

The worst thing the CWU could do would be to get rid of an independent education department.

The Education Department provides courses that are TUC approved. It is a link to the outside and it helps ensure that we don't forget what we were set up to do.

[DGP1]

Maybe the CWU could train some of their senior members in the fine art of diplomancy..............towards their members

[BELIAL]

the fine art of diplomancy..............towards their members

Is that one of your more obscure fetishes DG ?

[DGP1]

the fine art of diplomancy..............towards their members

Is that one of your more obscure fetishes DG ?

I didn't think ANY of my fetishes where obscure..............apart from finding Moya quite sexy

It's another problem with the Belfast branch and it's better left there otherwise I'll get into real trouble.

[BELIAL]

Is that before or after you get caught hiding under my bed?

[DGP1]

Is that before or after you get caught hiding under my bed?

I don't hide UNDER your bed

[Big Daz]

Moya, Sexy?

Has your Sunday pint been spiked?

[keithposty]

before people start slagging off alvestcott, may i recomend you go yourself.

everyone of us is the union so dont forget that.

how the hell people think they can reprosent a member without no prior traning is beyond me.

i am a 20 year rep and have only recently done a UNION SKILLS ONE COURSE AT ALVESCOT.
next it will be 2 and three.

you will find that royal mail managers will be asking
ARE YOU QUALIFIED AND ASKING FOR ACREDITATION TO REPRESENT STAFF.

EDUCATION IS THE KEY

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Are there any courses that ordinary members can take - either residential, correspondence or local - If there were I would think the Union would benefit from it greatly. Before RMC, and even now most ordinary members are suffering from a lack of knowledge - their own and reps. I myself and I think others would appreciate a course even just a basic one that helps us educate ourselves and our members. Its not information or education which holds back inclusion and actvisim, rather its the lack of it.

[keithposty]

i have a branch meeting this week and ill ask the question about non reps doing certain courses

this is a very good idea as it may premote union membership

[fishtank]

The question isn't whether the work done at Alvescot is valuable....no-one in the union doubts this.
The question is whether this work could be done more efficiently at a more local level using branch facilities or local colleges.
It would be easier and less disrupting to reps if these courses could be done locally on a day release basis and more importantly reps would be able to increase their skills on an on-going basis rather than just when they could get to Alvescot.

[keithposty]

the problem i can see is alvescott learning is done with solihull college.
the two are inter linked by some sort of contract i would imagine.
the majority of courses i do are from the college staff , not alvescott staff

funding is paid for at the end by the goverment and as solihull college has the contract, a second college is not an option.

but the branch provide rail tickets, and full board

[DemonPostie]

The question isn't whether the work done at Alvescot is valuable....no-one in the union doubts this.
The question is whether this work could be done more efficiently at a more local level using branch facilities or local colleges.
It would be easier and less disrupting to reps if these courses could be done locally on a day release basis and more importantly reps would be able to increase their skills on an on-going basis rather than just when they could get to Alvescot.

I just got back from my course, and I can promise you you could NOT do it anywhere near as effectively based out of your unit or branch. The amount of information crammed into us over the five days really needed the isolation and great dedicated facilities that they provided. I can't imagine doing such an intensive course anywhere else, or in any other format...