ULearn

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Find Out about UNISON’s Skills Academy!

Leicestershire Learning

UNISON Leicestershire County Branch

UNISON has a proud history of learning, inherited from the three founder unions and this has been developed and strengthened over the last twenty-eight years.

Meet the ULRs and Learning Coordinator

“I have always maintained that education and learning are key in working towards equality.  Trade Unions have a long history of providing education and learning opportunities to its members and I am proud to be able to help promote and coordinate UNISON’s Learning Offer to members and to those considering joining. As part of my role, I have organised learning for hundreds of Leicestershire members, working closely with the branch, the learning coordinators and the region.  My role is to ensure members are aware of the opportunities available and, where possible, to organise learning opportunities in subjects where a need has been identified.  I am particularly keen to promote and create opportunities for key skills such as numeracy and literacy, and I am the National Numeracy Champion for Leicestershire. I regularly attend UNISON branch meetings, forums and conferences, ensuring that I am kept up to date with what UNISON has to offer and ensuring that our members views can be represented.  I am also keen to campaign for education and lifelong learning to be recognised as essential, whether for career progression or simply enjoyment, and to ensure there is sufficient funding for all to access these learning opportunities.”

Katharine Friedmann, Learning Coordinator, UNISON Leicestershire 

Become a UNISON Learning Representative

If you value lifelong learning, why not become a ULR?  Here is some more information about the role:

Union learning representatives, often known as ULRs, are passionate about getting people back into learning – whether it is professional qualifications or basic numeracy and literacy skills. They:

Learning reps are likely to be members who have recently completed a learning programme and are enthusiasts and advocates for learning in their own workplaces.

Learning Reps have some rights to time off for training and carrying out their duties.

If you would like to become a ULR, please contact your Learning Coordinator complete the on line form at the bottom of this page.

More information about the role of ULR is provided by UNISON Learning and Organising via the following look here:

If You have any questions, please email your Learning Coordinator, Katharine Friedmann.

Distance Learning with Leicester College-Level 2 Courses

Leicester College has a great range of courses available, and completion will lead to a Level 2 qualification.

Several thousand E Midlands UNISON members, many from Leicestershire, have undertaken these courses.

UNISON will support face-to-face enrolments again when this option returns, but in the meantime, enrolment can be done online – please follow this link for more information and to enrol:

https://leicestercollege.ac.uk/courses/types/distance-learning/

Other Learning Opportunities Here

Please contact your Learning Coordinator, Katharine Friedmann (Katharine.friedmann@leics.gov.uk) if you need any support with this.

Reading Challenge

Returning soon – Please check back here for any update and further information

The National Numeracy Challenge

The National Numeracy Challenge is an innovative free online learning tool that allows people to check their numeracy level and access resources to improve their skills. It is designed to show the importance of maths in everyday life by putting maths problems in real world settings and help people get the Essentials of Numeracy – the skills they need in work and daily life.

The Challenge learner journey is very different from traditional educational settings:

• You may register and take the Check-Up, a diagnostic tool based on around 30-45 minutes of questions. The Check-Up automatically adapts based on your performance.
• The dashboard displays your level across all five areas of the Essentials of Numeracy – highlighting strengths and areas to improve.
• You will be directed to a choice of nearly 900 free resources which can help you improve.
• You may then reassess by taking the Check-Up again and see if you have made any improvement.

A challenge that’s been set up especially for Leicestershire County Council staff…

If you need any support with this, please contact Katharine Friedmann, Learning Coordinator and National Numeracy Champion, Leicestershire.

UNISON East Midlands

UNISON Learning in your region

Most member and activist training is organised on a regional basis. To find out about what’s available near you, contact your regional education team using the details below:

East Midlands:(Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire)

Contact name: Jill Palmer

Email: LMD@unison.co.uk

Telephone: 0115 847 54 57

UNISON Members Free Courses

East Midlands regional education website

The latest Education Programme 2021 and application form are attached below when available 

UNISON National

Here are some links to more learning opportunities from UNISON Learning and Organising:

New year, new opportunities

https://learning.unison.org.uk/2021/01/06/new-year-new-opportunities

Member Learning

Here you will find a full list of courses:

https://learning.unison.org.uk/member-learning/

Learn My Way

Learn My Way has free courses for you to learn digital skills to stay safe and connected:

https://www.learnmyway.com/

ULearn

An annual publication, celebrating UNISON Learning:

https://learning.unison.org.uk/2020/08/03/learning-through-the-coronavirus-crisis-and-beyond-ulearn-2020-is-out-now/

More Online Learning for UNISON Members

https://learning.unison.org.uk/coronavirus-learning-for-unison-members-and-activists#onlinemember

Learning News

https://learning.unison.org.uk/category/learning-news/

UNISON’s Partnership with Staff Skills Academy: Free Online Learning for CPD Certified Courses

https://learning.unison.org.uk/2020/04/03/unison-skills-academy-free-online-learning/

Financial support

There are several ways that UNISON can financially support your learning:

https://learning.unison.org.uk/financial-support/

Links to External Learning Opportunities and Information

A list of qualification levels and what they mean:

https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels

Courses from Future Learn: Expert Tracks will help you master new skills in a specialist area. Subscribe to a series of in-depth courses and build practical expertise alongside top universities and industry leaders. Earn a digital certificate and showcase your new skills to employers.

Contact Us about Learning

Email

If you have an idea for a course UNISON could provide, or a question about lifelong learning for Leicestershire UNISON members, please contact your Learning Coordinator, Katharine Friedmann, by emailing:

Katharine.friedmann@leics.gov.uk

Alternatively you can complete the on-line form below.