Cumbria county council recently announced redundancies and they wanted to work with trade unions in making sure those at risk were getting supported and opportunities to gain new skills to be able to be ready for the jobs market.

Training and supporting ULRs would be essential during this difficult period for employees. 10 ULRs have completed their TUC ULR five day course and have formed a network to offer IAG to staff in their appropriate work areas.

Ken Gyles, unionlearn Senior Union Support Officer is working closely with the ULRs to offer advice and sharing good practice to make sure ULRs can signpost staff to appropriate support and learning opportunities.

Emma Jane Gordon, UNISON ULR and chair of the CCC ULR group

Job role: Learning & Development Support Advisor

I initially heard about the ULR role through contact with my branch secretary and it sounded like something I would be interested in – I was right! Along with colleagues from both UNISON and GMB I completed a training course which gave me the background, knowledge, skills and contacts to assist colleagues within the role.  We’ve since formed a group and work enthusiastically to support each other as well as in partnership with colleagues from our unions and the TUC.

Recently we have signposted and/or advised over 250 colleagues through the Information, Advice & Guidance sessions the County Council has recently run – representatives from local colleges, the careers service and a pre-retirement planning company attended each of these sessions too.

Other activities include using our ‘Value My Skills’ cards, promoting wellbeing courses and dementia awareness courses.  We are currently looking at self defence classes and also attended the unionlearn annual conference in July. Also in the pipeline we have a level 2 Principles of Good Dementia Care course which will entail a one off session with the rest of the course being completed bt distance learning.

Being a new group we are still finding our feet but have lots of good ideas and are trying to set some good foundations that we can build from.  Both our employer and contacts in the unions have been very supportive and encouraging with lots of handy tips and guidance."

Becky Jefferson, UNISON ULR

Job role: Administrative Assistant

I wanted to become a ULR so that I could help others to learn.  I feel it is a good opportunity for people to build their skill-set, which would help assist in their current role or open up new doors to further career opportunities."

Brenda Hebson, GMB ULR

Job role: Activities Officer

'The capacity to learn is a gift; The ability to learn is a skill; The willingness to learn is a choice.' (Brian Herbert, ‘House Harkonnen’)

Well I’m no expert but this quote above sums it up for me.  I was really keen to train to be a ULR at a time when there are so many changes ahead as I think the more people are equipped for change the more it might help and I really want to offer my support as much as I am able.  Having worked in many different sectors:  public, private, voluntary and commercial I appreciate how important it is to keep on learning to survive and thrive.  

For example, my first ‘proper job’ after leaving school (with barely a handful of pitiful GCEs) was in a butchers shop and although I’m a million miles away from that now, I can still pick out a damn fine piece of meat for the Sunday roast! Then after college and many years in the hotel trade, I changed direction completely and studied for a degree, then a masters, and began working for Carlisle City Council then Cumbria County Council soon afterwards, and have had a varied career in the public sector for nearly 20 years (less time out working for M&S from 2011-2012).  What I’m getting at, if I hadn’t taken up the chance to learn I might still have been dishing out sausages and pork pies for customers in the town centre.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but the particular shop that I worked in is no longer there as it got pulled down to make way for the Lanes Shopping Centre. It is a tough old time for sure, but changes are inevitable and you never know where learning new things will take you."

Jeannette Glaister, GMB ULR

Job role: Management Support Administrator

I became a ULR as it sounded very interesting when advertised and the role, once we were trained,  was going to be beneficial to work colleagues. Since we trained we have attended IAG sessions which I found very interesting and I was pleased that work colleagues found our help beneficial. I am finding it most interesting and look forward to further progression."

Mark Hankin, UNISON ULR

Job role: Highways Engineer

I became a ULR to promote the value of learning. It’s fantastic to engage with people and instil into them the confidence to undertake learning opportunities, whether purely for fun, self-interest or to further their careers.  It is said that ‘Knowledge is power’, but I say, ‘Learning is fun!"