PCS Northern Region has successfully trained 8 New ULRs earlier in the year. This means that the union is ready and able to increase learning support across the region as the new Union Learning Fund (ULF) Project this month.

Clare Hownam, PCS Northern Learning Organiser, had carried an updating exercise on the PCS Reps database and identified that there were some ULRs who were still to be trained in their role, so set about organising a course for them straight away to ensure they had the skills needed to support workplace learning.

Clare said:

Once those reps requiring training had been identified the course was opened up to every Branch in the Northern Region for new ULRs to apply via the Regional Office once approval had being given by their Branch."

The Course was 3 days held over 3 weeks at PCS Northern Regional Office on John Dobson Street in Newcastle City Centre. The course wass accredited and ran by Hilda Douglas, a Tutor from Newcastle College in Conjunction with Trade Union Education.

The ULRs who attended were from HMRC and DWP Branches, they have developed a good network amongst the departments and regularly network amongst each other sharing thoughts, ideas, contacts etc.

Clare said that following the course:

The newly trained ULRs have now integrated with their Branch and will ensure they are fully involved with Learning, development and organising."

The majority of those trained also took the opportunity to attend the unionlearn Supporting Learners Conference held in Newcastle in March, where they further updated their knowledge on the support available in various areas including literacy, numeracy and apprenticeships.

The help the union is offering the new ULRs doesn’t stop with the course as Clare highlighted.

There will be follow up contact and support from myself as the Northern Learning Organiser. Some have already gone on to hold events in their Branch such as Katherine Hubbard and Gary Scott from Northumberland & Durham HMRC Branch who have held a Learning Launch in March 2017 in their office.

Whilst Dawn Poole assisted with the running of wellbeing stall at a recent HMRC event at Waterview Park alongside other ULRs in the Branch."