NEW CWU EDUCATION AND TRAINING COURSE!

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Letter to Branches




No. 646/11
Ref
Date: 21st July 2011

To: All Branches

Dear Colleague,

NEW CWU EDUCATION AND TRAINING COURSE!

“Unions Skills for New Activists through Distance Learning”

The Education and Training Department have designed a brand new distance learning course for new and emerging activists, which will be particularly useful for new union reps who may have difficulty attending a classroom based, week long course or who receive no support to attend courses from their employer. This course will be particularly useful for CWU activists who do not have union recognition agreements.
Through a mixture of short classroom based sessions, workplace activities and online learning, the course will cover:

The Role and Skills of the Rep
Your Rights at Work
The ACAS Code of practice
Handling Members Problems
Building the CWU Network
Sources of support for activists
CWU Guest speakers
Action Planning
The Course will commence with a day in the classroom at our Education and Training Centre at Alvescot Lodge in Oxfordshire followed by 5 weeks of structured, online and tutor supported distance learning and concluding with a final class room based session as follows:

Day 1
Saturday 17 September 2011 – 0900 – 1600
Alvescot Lodge
(Classroom based)
Week 1
19 – 25 September 2011
3 Hours online /distance learning activities
Week 2
26 September – 2 October 2011
3 Hours online/distance learning activities
Week 3
3 – 9 October 2011
3 hours online/distance learning activities
Week 4
10 – 16 October 2011
3 hours online/distance learning activities
Week 5
17 - 27 October 2011
3 hours online /distance learning activities
Final Day
Saturday 29 October 2011 – 0900 – 1300
Alvescot Lodge
(Classroom based)

This programme will be extremely flexible to fit around work, family and union commitments and will give participants the broad equivalent of the classroom based CWU Union Skills 1 course. Because it is a course that blends distance learning with some classroom based activity, participants will get the opportunity to network with other reps as well as the ability to learn in their own time and at their own pace.
Although this is not strictly speaking a residential course overnight accommodation will be provided at the CWU Education and Training Centre at Alvescot Lodge on Friday the 16 September and Friday 28 October to facilitate travel and this will provide a valuable opportunity to meet informally and socially with other CWU Activists.

Prospective students should have ready access to an internet connection and a computer with web browser and a basic word processor or text editor such as Microsoft Word.
Ideally they should also be familiar with some or all of the following basic computing operations:

Web browsing
Using internet Forums
Using search engines such as Google
Sending and receiving emails
Simple file management
Creating and editing basic text documents

The cost of tuition, food and accommodation will be met from the General Fund. Branches are expected to meet the cost of travelling and subsistence payments.

RELEASE
We anticipate that most applicants for this course will be from activists where paid release to attend will not be applicable. If however, you work for a company that normally provides paid release for recognised union reps for Union Skills 1 and you wish to apply for this course please contact Lee Wakeman at lwakeman@cwu.org for clarification on what release may be appropriate.

If you have any queries regarding this LTB, please contact Lee Wakeman, Education and Training Policy Assistant at lwakeman@cwu.org

Application forms should be returned to: Trish Lavelle, Head of Education & Training, CWU Education & Training Centre, Alvescot Lodge, Alvescot, BAMPTON, Oxon OX18 2PY. Telephone: 01993 843373; Fax: 01993 840960: e-mail: mtodd@cwu.org

Application forms to be submitted by the closing date of Monday 22nd August. However, applications may still be considered if received after this date.

Best wishes,



Trish Lavelle
Head of Education and Training