Lunchtime training organised by UNISON ULR’s Teresa Critchon and Kate Robbins has been so successful that on occasion it’s been standing room only and even saw the Deputy Mayor of Bristol popping in.

Teresa and Kate's emphasis has been on equality, workers rights and engaging underrepresented groups in the branch with topics including the menopause, equality and rights at work.

The sessions, run in the lunch hour, are designed to boost engagement and recruit new UNISON members.

In recognition of the hard work put in by both women to organise the events, Teresa and Kate picked up the Learning Initiative Award at UNISON South West’s Get Active ceremony in Taunton.

Mark Everden, UNISON South West regional education organiser, said: 

“As these events have run weekly, they have involved a great amount of organisation – agreeing for members to attend, negotiating venues and classrooms across Bristol and ensuring that funding and lunch are in place for each event. This has also been an exercise in winning hearts and minds of management – and by discussing the benefits of union learning they have put the branch in a much stronger position in terms of member engagement and reputation.”

“The events have lead to recruitment, superb feedback from attendees and one manager saying how impressed they were with UNISON for organising the events which have put the branch in an extremely positive light.”