Gloucestershire CWU have been taking learning on the road to reach members by setting up a Mobile Learning Centre. The initiative started following the loss of the Gatehouse Learning Centre in Gloucester when the Eastern Avenue Sorting Office closed in 2013.

The Learning Centre had been very popular, and the aim of the Mobile Learning Centre was to continue to promote a culture of learning across the Gloucestershire area within Royal Mail. 

The Centre has a bank of laptops that a ULR can take to various workplaces across the region, and covers eight offices in rotation; Gloucester South, Gloucester North, Cheltenham, Stroud, Cirencester, Dursley, Tewkesbury and Lydney which are all open in the afternoon.

Originally a six month project, it has now become a permanent fixture of union learning for the local CWU. 

Katy Hartland is the Lead ULR in Gloucestershire and said:

Our aim was to promote Lifelong Learning to Royal Mail employees of all grades - building their confidence and aspirations, and enriching their work and home lives."

As well as replacing The Gatehouse Learning Centre, the mobile resource aimed to improve outreach to remote workers, those on shift work and those with caring responsibilities and promote e-learning as well as extend the range of learning opportunities to provide further incentives to return to learning.

The Mobile Learning Centre has been a great success, far exceeding expectations and with a high level of participation and take up of learning across the area.

Katy added: 

With the general move to online learning, the Mobile Learning Centre is in a position to enable access to these courses for more Royal Mail staff than previously. Potential learners who would not normally engage in online learning because of either lack of access, or lack of confidence in using IT are able to gain the skills at a time and place convenient to them, to access courses. 

So far ten delivery offices across Gloucestershire are engaged, to varying degrees, with the mobile learning centre and accessed by many staff, including those with caring responsibilities. There has been huge take up of the brilliant Tribal Level 2 VRQs, particularly Business Admin, Team Leading Knowledge and Health & Nutrition. We also have members doing Maths and English with Swindon New College Trade Union Centre as well as plenty of informal learning such as Future Learn. 

Overall the mobile learning centre has been a huge success with more and more members taking up learning as the word spreads!"

Some of those that have made use of the centre were quick to sing its praises.

James Mullarkey from Dursley Delivery Office said:

Through the CWU, I’ve completed 3 courses, gaining new qualifications and knowledge. The courses are designed to be accessible and flexible to allow you to study around work and family life."

And Rob Harper from Cirencester Delivery Office said:

I have found the courses great to do and help keep skills up to date, like maths, as the language has changed since I was at school and I have learned new skills too. Having a Mobile Learning Centre is great as it gives more members the chance to improve their knowledge and skills and gain qualifications."

One member, from Lydney Delivery Office, who has really benefited from being able to use the centre to access learning is Jim Maynard. Jim wasn’t confident with words and found this impacting on his job. He said:

I found the course helpful as it helped me gain confidence in my writing and spelling. As I progressed with the course l realized it wasn't as bad as l had first thought. I once wrote a p739, the note left for customers who aren’t in for a delivery, for a Mr Cunliffe mistakenly adding an extra letter - true story. My boss wasn't very happy with me! I now feel confident not to repeat such a mistake."

Following the success, the CWU is hoping to take the Mobile Learning Centre to the remaining Delivery Offices in the Gloucestershire Area and offer learning opportunities to even more members.