The Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union took the opportunity to spread the word of Union learning to thousands of people at July’s Tolpuddle Martyrs Festival in Dorset. The unions stall at the annual event was packed full of information on courses, learning resources for members and, of course, cake.

John Vickers, Project Manager with BFAWU Learning Services, explained why the union decided to focus on learning at the festival:

Given that there are difficult to reach food workers and Community Groups we thought that one of the best ways to maximise the effect was to promote learning at the Festival. Contrary to public belief there are many disadvantaged people in the south of England who deserve to benefit from the services that the Bakers, Food & Allied Workers Learning Services have to offer. In addition I hoped to increase our unions Learning Services profile in the south."

The stall looked to provide Information, Advice and Guidance to anyone that visited their stand irrespective of whether they were Trade Union members or not, and because the staff were trained ULRs they were able to point people who were members of other unions to their own unions projects. They were looking to introduce people to the online courses that their union promote provided by a number of colleges and providers.

John was really pleased with the way things went at the festival:

The level of interest surpassed my expectations many times over, we were contacted by Community Groups, Trades Councils, Artisan Bakers, Small Craft Bakers, Butchers, unemployed people and others. We also provided cake produced by Trade Union Labour working in companies with whom we have agreements and good working relationships – which may have helped bring people to the stall at first."

John felt that the union attending the festival to promote learning and skills was well worthwhile, and was an opportunity to spread the union learning message. It was also a very good development opportunity for the unions' ULR team, as John pointed out:

The Festival was excellent in that it catered for a very wide range of people covering traditional music & Crafts, it provided a brilliant opportunity for networking and making friends but most importantly it provided an opportunity to reach parts of our communities who most need our help and support. 

Next year I would spend more time preparing for the festival and involve all of my team to ensure that we reach everyone who needs our assistance, it was good to watch those involved who included John Fox, Karen Plasom (Project Workers) Lorraine Fox, Shirley Thomas & Dawn Vickers (Volunteers) interacting with people who visited our stall, I believe that they showed a really high degree of knowledge and commitment."

The team were also really pleased that BFAWU General Secretary Ronnie Draper attended the festival and supported the work that the BFAWU Learning Project do.