Unionlearn contracted me in 2015 to review unions' practices around engaging and supporting English and maths learners. Specifically, I was tasked with finding out which tools and resources, from the many and varied available options, unions were using.

The idea was to collate this information into guidance, on the pros and cons of different tools, which could be shared by all unions working with English and maths learners. We hoped that this would help give union learning reps (ULRs) and learning centre workers a steer on resources to try with their own learners.

Through focus groups and telephone discussions, I picked the brains of key people across a range of unions. I quickly found that the reasons behind unions' choices of resources, and the different ways they used them, were determined by the unions' experience of the workplace context. Among all the detailed information, two general themes became clear:

• Firstly, unions have developed an extraordinary depth of knowledge and skills around English and maths learning, born out of direct, hands-on experience of what works and what doesn't. This expertise was matched only by the obvious enthusiasm of everyone who talked to me. The passion and dedication of trade unionists working, at all levels within their unions, to engage and support English and maths learners was truly inspirational.
• Secondly, although different workplaces throw up vastly differing challenges to English and maths learning, unions have achieved huge successes across a diverse range of industrial sectors. That 17,000 English and maths learners were engaged through ULF round 15 is testament to unions' organisational abilities – their capacity to adapt, innovate, stretch resources to unfeasible lengths and find flexible solutions to the barriers faced by learners. I came across some fascinating examples of unions developing their own bespoke resources and approaches, which we have included in the guidance.

It should not be forgotten that this level of success has been delivered in the context of increasingly difficult times for adult learning. When you consider the modest size (in the wider scheme of things) of the union learning fund (ULF), it is hard to conclude that unions' work around English and maths represents anything other than staggeringly good value for money. I'm not convinced that this amazing work is always fully appreciated – either by government or, in some cases, by unions as a whole.

Those ULF round 15 figures represent 17,000 lives improved and 17,000 people with positive things to say about their trade union.

I hope you find unionlearn's guide to English and maths resources and tools of some help.

Keep on doing the great work you do.