Queen's Honour for Newcastle union learning rep
Unionlearn, the TUC's learning and skills organisation, has congratulated Felicity Mendelson , Senior Learning and Development Officer, Newcastle City Council, and UNISON Union Learning Representative (ULR) on receiving an MBE in the Queen's honours list announced on Saturday, (14 June). The award is for services to Skills Training in Local Government. Felicity was one of the very first people to attend a TUC unionlearn* ULR* course in 1999 and has since been integral to the success of the Council's flagship learning project.
Felicity has also featured in the unionlearn regional film, A Region for Learning, where she spoke about the culture of learning at Newcastle City Council.
On hearing that she was to receive the Honour, Felicity said: 'Whilst this is a personal honour for me, I see it as recognition of the positive contribution made by ULRs across the country to the skills agenda and to the personal development of their colleagues at the workplace. I was very fortunate to have attended that first ULR Course and I would urge other union reps to do the same'.
Barney McGill, Regional Manager for unionlearn said:
"On behalf of unionlearn and all the regions' ULRs , I am pleased to congratulate Felicity on receiving the Queen's award of MBE.
'Felicity was a student on the first ULR course in the northern region and together with colleagues she has steadily developed the flagship Newcastle City Council Learning Project which now has over 100 ULRs , who in turn, help thousands of Council employees engage in learning. She has led a number of adult learning initiatives and is an inspiration to learners, partners and providers."
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Unionlearn is the TUC's learning and skills organisation. Through unionlearn, the TUC helps unions provide training for thousands of members throughout the North East and Cumbria. Unions also run learning centres where trade union members can go to learn new skills such as IT, literacy, numeracy and foreign languages.
All unionlearn press releases can be found at www.unionlearn.org.uk
Media enquiries:
Barney McGill T: 0191 227 5552 M: 07747 636408 E: bmcgill@tuc.org.uk
Press release (400 words) issued 16 Jun 2008
