LTB 287/12 - CWU Sustainable Skills

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Letter to Branches




No. 287/12
Ref
Date: 17 April 2012

To: All Branches

Dear Colleague,

CWU Sustainable Skills

I am pleased to report that the CWU has been successful in our recent application to the Union Learning Fund (ULF) England. The CWU Sustainable Skills Project is a completely new ULF project for the CWU which will operate across all the English Regions. For two years duration only, the project will commence on 1 April 2012 and will terminate on 31 March 2014 subject to government approval of the second year of funding. Whilst previous projects since 2002 have very much been 'continuation' projects where project roles remained essentially the same, this project is structured, staffed, managed and focussed completely differently. This is in line with the NEC policy on moving away from our reliance on external funding for this work. This LTB has been prepared to help you understand more about the new project roles and structure.

So how will the roles be different?

The new Project Team is as follows:

Head of Education and Training – Trish Lavelle
Policy Assistant – Lee Wakeman
Project Manager – Paul Dovey
Learning Project Workers – Ray Atkinson, Neil Coleby, Simon Massen, Phil Sutton

This team of 7 staff will also assume responsibility for being a key contact for each of the Regional Learning Committees in England. This does not mean that they will have specific responsibility for supporting learning in that Region. Rather they will provide a point of contact and strategic support and advice to the RLC.

The Head of Education and Training will assume direct control of the project as part of our drive to ensure that this work is completely embedded in the day to day work of the union once the project is complete.

What are the different strands of work on learning?

Working in Non Recognised areas –Trish Lavelle & Phil Sutton
Working with Employers and specifically with Royal Mail - Trish Lavelle & Ray Atkinson
E learning, Informal and Community learning – Paul Dovey & Simon Massen
ULR Development – Neil Coleby & Lee Wakeman
Learning Centres and Learning Delivery - Paul Dovey & Ray Atkinson
Redundancy Support – Neil Coleby & Phil Sutton
Equality and Diversity – Lee Wakeman & Simon Massen



The Education and Training Department will also continue to provide the following:

ULR Training and Development
Support and resources for ULRs through http://www.cwueducation.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; and a arrange of booklets and briefing papers
Regional and National networking events for ULRs
Funding for Learning Centres in England subject to ULF guidelines
Advice, guidance and representation on learning issues for Branches and ULRs
Development of a range of bespoke online learning materials for CWU activists and members

So will the LPWs have any contact with Regional Learning Committees and ULRs?

Each LPW will be allocated as a 'key contact' for a RLC, as will the Head of Education and Training, the Policy Assistant and the Project Manager. This will be a more ‘arm’s length’ and advisory role than may have been the case previously. Also it will not necessarily be the case that each LPW will be allocated the region they may have been formerly responsible for.

London – Paul Dovey
Eastern - Trish Lavelle
South East – Lee Wakeman
South West -Ray Atkinson
Midlands – Neil Coleby
North West –Phil Sutton
North East –Simon Massen

Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales and the Marches will for the present maintain a dedicated Project Worker due to their different devolved funding arrangements and policies for Education.

How will ULRs access support and information?

The first line of support for ULRs will continue to be their Branch. However, we will also make sure that Regional Learning Committee Officers are notified immediately of the appointment of new ULRs so that they can make contact and offer advice and support.

During the course of the Project we will seek to roll out mentoring training to lead ULRs so that they have the skills to support newer, less experienced colleagues. We will continue to promote the http://www.cwueducation.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; website as the most comprehensive source of information and advice for ULRs, and of course queries and requests for specific support and assistance will still go through the Education and Training Department. Department staff would expect to get involved directly in advising on ULR release issues which have exhausted local IR procedures, supporting new projects and learning centres particularly with new employers or in new workplaces and signing off of any regional, local funding applications.

Branches should refer any enquiries regarding this LTB to tlavelle@cwu.org

Alternatively please feel free to visit the CWU Education and Training Stall at Conference to arrange a meeting about the learning needs of members and activists in your Branch.

Best wishes,


Trish Lavelle
Head of Education and Training