An email from Unionlearn to an RCM Union Learning Rep at a Dorset maternity unit set in motion a learning adventure for midwives in the area, and resulted in an Award to the union branch.

Jillian Ireland and Sara Fripps are ULRs at Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and they won the Best Event Award for Working in Partnership at the Learning at Work Week Awards.

The prize was awarded to the organisation that best demonstrated how it worked in partnership with a college, training provider, and/or local adult learning provider to deliver Learning at Work Week.

The team received £100 to spend on learning and development and a glass engraved trophy.

Jill and Sara have been extremely active since being involved with South West unionlearn's Call 2 Learn project a few years ago. They are always keen to find new learning opportunities for midwives and other staff at the unit, so when an email popped into their inbox about possible subsidised team building events in Weymouth they jumped at the chance.

Jillian Ireland takes up the story:

Following feedback from previous learning events we knew our learners wanted to do activities that were non work related, gave them time out of the workplace and would help improve their personal health and wellbeing. Keith Hatch, from unionlearn, sent over an email with a list of learning providers and opportunities, including Weymouth College Outdoor Adventure Academy – who we contacted to negotiate what they were able to offer and that would meet our learning needs and objectives."

Sara Fripps added:

We chose this partner as they were able to provide a tailored program of events at a time and venue that was accessible to a wide range of staff. The package allowed for ongoing additional learning to take place meaning that learners could return at a later date to continue their learning experience and try additional new activities."

Soon the midwives had agreed a day of activities - with separate morning and afternoon activities, as well as a further 3 sessions which learners could book independently with the provider around an existing timetable.

The first day was a huge success and the group enjoyed working as a team, assisting those less able, and providing support and encouragement to each other. A second day followed, with the Reps offering colleagues a range of activities from the provider including:

• Kayaking
• Paddle boarding
• Rock climbing
• Coasteering
• Windsurfing
• Sailing
• Mountain biking

Learning at Work week was just the spring board for future activities and the partnership enabled colleagues to try out something new as a taster session which would benefit their health and wellbeing.

Sara said she entered the team into the competition because the application was a useful exercise to help evaluate what worked well when organising an event with a learning provider. 

She added:

We're thrilled to have won and we hope to use this good news to spread the word within the workplace of the diverse learning opportunities available to everyone working at Poole Maternity."

Fellow ULR Jill commented:

I found the team building 'spin off' of these days really positive. I don't work with the staff we were with except in the sense of the larger maternity care 'team', so I think it was almost more important to build connections with them – if I need any of them or they need me in the future, we know each other a little. There was trust involved in the activities – especially the rock climbing ¬– and a sense of patience, compassion when people were nervous and their fears exposed, and respect for facing the challenges."