CWU EDUCATION & TRAINING PROGRAMME: 2010

[Big Daz]

CWU EDUCATION & TRAINING PROGRAMME:
JANUARY – DECEMBER 2010


I list below the CWU Education Dept. residential programme for JANUARY - DECEMBER 2010. This has been reproduced to assist Branches in making the necessary arrangements for students. Applications can be made at any time. Letters to Branches, paragraphs in the Branch Officers Bulletins and on the Web will be issued periodically, giving more information about each course. Successful applicants will not receive any paperwork until after the closing date for applications.
Reference to “TBC” (To be confirmed) denotes dates where courses will be scheduled that are currently subject to ongoing course development with various CWU Departments.

COURSE VENUE
JANUARY
4 – 8 TUC TUTORS BRIEFING ALVESCOT
11 – 15 ADVANCED SKILLS PART 3 ALVESCOT
18 – 22 UNION SKILLS III ALVESCOT
25 – 29 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY (WEEK 3) ALVESCOT
FEBRUARY
1 – 5 TUC DIPLOMA IN CONTEMPORARY TRADE UNIONISM (WEEK 3) / EMPLOYMENT LAW (WEEK 3) ALVESCOT
8 – 12 HEALTH & SAFETY STAGE I ALVESCOT
15 – 19 UNION SKILLS I ALVESCOT
22 – 26 ADVANCED SKILLS PART 1 ALVESCOT
MARCH
2 – 4 UNION SKILLS FOR UNION LEARNING REPS ALVESCOT
8 – 12 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY (WEEK 4) ALVESCOT
15 – 19 TUC DIPLOMA IN CONTEMPORARY TRADE UNIONISM (WEEK 4) / EMPLOYMENT LAW (WEEK 4) ALVESCOT
22 – 26 ADVANCED SKILLS PART 2 ALVESCOT
29 – 31 BRANCH SECRETARIES TRAINING (Easter - Good Friday)
APRIL
6 – 8 ORGANISING AMBASSADORS STAGE I (Easter – Bank Holiday Monday) ALVESCOT
12 – 16 UNION SKILLS II ALVESCOT
19 – 23 HEALTH & SAFETY STAGE II ALVESCOT
26 – 30 ADVANCED SKILLS PART 3 ALVESCOT
MAY
5 – 7 FINANCIAL SECRETARIES/TREASURERS TRAINING (Bank Holiday Monday) ALVESCOT
10 – 14 UNION LEARNING REPS STAGE I / EQUAL RIGHTS PART 1 ALVESCOT
17 – 21 UNION SKILLS III ALVESCOT
24 – 28 ANNUAL CONFERENCE / POSTAL AGREEMENTS & PROCEDURES ALVESCOT
JUNE
1 – 3 3 DAY CHAIRING MEETINGS (Bank Holiday Monday) ALVESCOT
7 – 11 DISABILITY CHAMPIONS ALVESCOT
14 – 18 TBC ALVESCOT
21 – 25 UNION SKILLS I ALVESCOT
28 – 2 HEALTH & SAFETY STAGE III ALVESCOT
JULY
5 – 9 ENVIRONMENTAL REPS ALVESCOT
12 – 16 UNION SKILLS I ALVESCOT
19 – 23 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ALVESCOT
26 – 30 UNION SKILLS II ALVESCOT
AUGUST
2 – 6 UNION SKILLS I ALVESCOT
9 – 13 POSTAL AGREEMENTS & PROCEDURES ALVESCOT
16 – 20 HEALTH & SAFETY STAGE I ALVESCOT
23 – 27 UNION SKILLS II ALVESCOT
SEPTEMBER
1 – 3 BRANCH SECRETARIES TRAINING (Bank Holiday Monday) ALVESCOT
7 – 9 UNION SKILLS FOR UNION LEARNING REPS ALVESCOT
13 – 17 POSTAL COURSE (TBC) ALVESCOT
20 – 24 HEALTH & SAFETY STAGE II ALVESCOT
27 – 1 UNION SKILLS III ALVESCOT
OCTOBER
4 – 8 TUC DIPLOMA IN CONTEMPORARY TRADE UNIONISM (WEEK 1) / EMPLOYMENT LAW (WEEK 1) ALVESCOT
11 – 15 TBC ALVESCOT
18 – 22 UNION SKILLS II ALVESCOT
25 – 29 HEALTH & SAFETY STAGE III ALVESCOT
NOVEMBER
1 – 5 TBC ALVESCOT
8 – 12 UNION LEARNING REPS STAGE II / EQUAL RIGHTS PART 2 ALVESCOT
15 – 19 TUC DIPLOMA IN CONTEMPORARY TRADE UNIONISM (WEEK 2) / EMPLOYMENT LAW (WEEK 2) ALVESCOT
22 – 26 HEALTH & SAFETY STAGE I ALVESCOT
29 – 3 UNION SKILLS I ALVESCOT
DECEMBER
6 – 10 TBC ALVESCOT
13 – 17 TBC ALVESCOT
20 – 24 CLOSED ALVESCOT
27 – 31 CLOSED ALVESCOT

Branches are reminded that additional support can be given where students encounter learning differences. For example, if individuals are dyslexic, additional resources, formats and aids are available. For more information, please contact the E&T Dept.

Yours sincerely,


TRISH LAVELLE
Head of Education & Training

[General Mannerheim]

Have you got any bricklayer or painting courses or at a pinch Origami?
Just asking as I think I might need use of them sometime this year...Ta.

[ziko]

Wheres Alvescot ? is it near Milton Keynes.

[Big Daz]

Oxfordshire, in David Cameron's patch.

It's a old hunting lodge that was inherited for want of a better word by the CWU upon its creation from the UCW and NCU.

The lodge was purchased around 3 decades ago if not more by the POEU forerunner of the NCU.

[Big Daz]

http://www.cwueducation.org/news.asp?st ... tentID=735" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

END OF AN ERA FOR ALVESCOT
Date: 09 Apr 08

Today saw the end of an era for Alvescot Lodge, the CWU Education and Training Centre.

For decades, the infamous ‘chalets’ have provided accommodation for representatives undertaking union courses at the centre. And today saw the first phase of the redevelopment of the centre as the bulldozers moved in to demolish the post war buildings which have provided CWU activists with a home from home of sorts. Trish Lavelle, Head of Education and Training was delighted to see the redevelopment work starting, which will create a brand new accommodation block and restaurant. “The chalets were infamous because of the lack of soundproofing, the temperamental plumbing and the vast colony of rabbits who lived a few feet below them. The new accommodation block will be a big improvement and will also feature a number of environmentally friendly solutions including solar and geo thermal energy and rainwater harvesting. We are all looking forward to the completing of the building work in December, but I am sure that there will also be many representatives out there who will feel just a tiny bit sad that part of CWU history is disappearing today.”

[Big Daz]

http://www.cwueducation.org/news.asp?st ... entID=1141" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Found a bit of history on Alvescot for you boys and girls

Official Opening of New “Levellers’ Wing” Alvescot Lodge, CWU Education Centre
Date: 24 Jul 09

On Friday 17th July 2009, Tony Benn; Billy Hayes CWU General Secretary; Davie Bowman CWU Vice President and Trish Lavelle CWU Head of Education helped officially open the new accommodation block named “The Levellers’ Wing” at the CWU’s prestigious education centre on the edge of the Cotswolds.

The state of the art environmentally friendly building was created thanks to a £1.5 million investment from the communications union. It brings together rain water harvesting, underground heat sourcing technology and solar power. And its green credentials are supplemented by an allotment and plans to create a wildlife sanctuary pond area within workers memorial gardens!

The Lodge has study-tutorial rooms for union reps and members; an IT room named after the Women Chain Makers, other rooms and areas dedicated to CWU activists past and present; and many and varied union artifacts and banners from the union’s rich past.

CWU Head of Education & Training, Trish Lavelle who also chaired proceedings said, “This facility belongs to the members of our great union and is for the members of our great union”. Trish thanked the staff at Alvescot for their hard work, dedication and extreme patience during the redevelopment and also paid tribute to all the workers who had created the new wing. Trish also singled out Tony Kearns, CWU Senior Deputy General Secretary who had been an invaluable support to the project from start to finish.

Davie Bowman, CWU Vice President, added: “It’s interesting to note that Alvescot Lodge was originally purchased after 10 years of union branches donating a percentage of their rebate in the 1970’s and there is a clear correlation to how the new improved Alvescot has benefited from contemporary branches sponsoring and donating funds to assist in getting the centre modernised”.

Billy Hayes, CWU General Secretary welcomed Tony Benn to Alvescot, and in his contribution explained to guests that the Levellers, with their local connection at Burford had called for “an agreement of the people” with clauses such as, the creation of a secular Republic, the abolition of the House of Lords, equality before the law, freedom of speech, Religious toleration, abolition of tithes and tolls, Justices to be elected and power to be vested in the people by one year parliaments. Billy invited Tony Benn to unveil the commemorative plaque referring to him as “A Leveller of his time”.

Tony Benn who had spent the morning looking around Alvescot Lodge and speaking with staff and visitors gave a fantastic speech wishing the union every success in its endeavours and paid tribute to the CWU Education department mantra, “Justice is the Goal, Solidarity is the Tool, Education is the Key” – “What better slogan to get behind when trying to create a better society for all” he said.Finally, Tony was presented with a glass crystal bowl by two on site staff, Tracey Wheeler and Rob Crew. Rob reminded the audience of the Levellers touchstone phrase inscribed on Tony Benn’s gift:

“Peace and Freedom are our design, by war we are never gainers, nor ever wish to be!”