Over the last 15 years the TUC has been a forefront of developing workplace learning and skills to enhance both businesses’ and workers’ individual opportunities. Much of the work that has been done by affiliates depends upon a core of volunteers who give their own time to help colleagues access skills and learning development. Central to this is the role of the Union Learning Representative, many of whom work tirelessly to create a positive environment, safe for people to tell their stories and find strategies to overcome potential barriers. Not everybody achieved good qualifications at school and many have undiagnosed difficulties with learning. One of the key roles of the ULR is to support working people and help build their confidence, enabling them to achieve and improve their life chances.

One inspiring ULR whose journey started without any formal qualifications and lacking in real confidence has demonstrated that setting out on this road helps individuals but more importantly be a catalyst for many others to embark on a similar pathway of fulfilling their potential. And then hopefully this process is cascaded throughout workplaces and into their families and communities.  

Outlined here is a journey that a health care administrator and a passionate learning champion Ann Watts from North Staffordshire has taken. Ann who is 58 years old, a mum of two children and a grandma, who became a rep about eight years ago says that you are never too old to learn. At first she was one of the people who would sit at the back of the meetings and hope that no one would ask her a question. Ann needed to build her confidence and to undertake some training. She then did her Reps Stage 1 & 2 training; learning with people from a diverse range of employers Ann found it very interesting and has had a great learning experience from union learning. In addition, Ann benefited seeing how other people from various employers functioned and coped with their issues.

From being somebody who would hide away from the limelight Ann is now confident to take part fully in workplace and union meetings. In fact she says:

I have gained so much confidence I am frightened myself."

Ann has given talks on health and safety, became a manual handling trainer and also achieved qualifications to support her work. She now has a Diploma in Health and Safety which she studied hard for and it took 12 months to complete. 

Ann continues:

UNISON has given me so much I feel part of a greater family and am able now to pass on my experience and help members when they need me to represent or just chat to me and am always on the end of a phone for them night and day.

So a very big thank you to UNISON and all their learning courses I have attended,  as I left school with no qualifications at all I am very proud to say I have a diploma and it opens up a lots of door when applying for jobs, and this is all down to UNISON."