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Hampshire opens up learning to union membersA new facility, which will make learning accessible to any union member, was launched on Friday (March 19). The TUS U-Net learning centre, based at Southampton City College, will provide online learning for members of any union, as well as their close family.
Set up by unionlearn, it is the only U-Net centre in a college in the south of England, and will offer qualifications in subjects such as IT, English and maths. Union members can be referred by a union learning representative from their place of work or contact the centre and arrange to attend a course by themselves. Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, John Denham, praised the centre at its launch conference at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton. He said: 'Most people who return to study are persuaded by a friend. The 22,000 union learning reps are 22,000 'best friends' at work who bring hundreds of thousands back into learning which changes lives and opens up new careers. The U-Net centre is an important support service for ULRs and workplace learners.' Tom Wilson, Director of unionlearn, said: 'Learning centres are helping to transform lives around the country, allowing people to develop new skills. We already have over 300 union learning reps in Hampshire and work with a range of local organisations. Links with local colleges are very valuable, so it's great to be able to come and support this new centre and see the opportunities it will provide. The work here at Southampton City College will help build on what has already been achieved in the area and encourage more people into learning and education.' Fred Stanley, Director of Corporate Services at City College, added: 'City College has been supporting union learning for more than a decade and we are delighted that this new centre will allow us to provide training to even more union members.' This event also featured the latest information on funding, apprenticeships and union learning and was attended by union members, learning representatives and college staff.. The U-Net centre is based at City College's Trade Unions department and has Skills for Life* and ICT* tutors, who work with learners on a one-to-one basis. Union members can learn at the centre, which is equipped with nine computers, or they can opt to learn online from home or their workplace. Tutors from the U-Net centre visit these learners at the workplace and help them with their studies. To find out more visit www.southampton-city.ac.uk and click on 'adult learning', send an email to unetcentre@southampton-city.ac.uk or call 02380 577 497. ENDS Notes to editors: Unionlearn was established by the TUC to help unions develop and diversify their educational provision. Unionlearn in turn set up U-Net, a network of learning centres that work with training provider, Learndirect, to offer courses to members and their close families. There are U-Net learning centres across the country but the centre at City College is the first one to be set up in a college in the southern region. Press release (600 words) issued 24 Mar 2010 |
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unionlearn Telephone 020 7079 6920 |
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