Issue 1
Inside this issue:
Regional Secretary What is GMB Reach Out? Reach Out Training Room
Reach Out Comes to Northern Ireland
Training Needs Survey Open University We Need You Useful Links Contact Details
www.gmbreachout.org.uk @GMBReachoutNI
Welcome to Reach Out NI This is an exciting new chapter in the Reach Out story for the GMB North West & Irish Region as we develop the education and training agenda for our members in Northern Ireland. Across the Region I have seen Reach Out go from strength to strength . We have forged new partnerships with forward looking employers who see the importance of skills development for their workforce. The development of sector specific skills offers has won praise by those in the Care and Retail industries. The Response to Redundancy initiative gives support at a critical time in peoples’ lives and “Work Clubs” are giving new hope to those who are unemployed or returning to the labour market. Regional Secretary - Paul McCarthy
We are pleased to be working alongside the ICTU, Union Learn Northern Ireland and our colleagues in other unions to raise the profile for good training and promote the wider skills agenda. Paul McCarthy Regional Secretary
What is GMB Reach Out? The project is funded through the Union Learning Fund and is specifically designed to help build and support a network of Union Learning Representatives (ULRs) in partnership with employers as part of the national strategy for developing workforce skills.
What is a ULR? ULRs are trained in advising members on learning needs and opportunities. They have been recognised as having a significant impact on increasing motivation and enthusiasm for learning among employees, employers and in local communities. ULRs often share a level of trust with their members and frequently engage with individuals who lack confidence or feel embarrassed about sharing their learning needs with their employer. The key tasks undertaken by Union Learning Representatives include:
Providing information advice and guidance on learning to members Helping GMB and employers to establish workplace learning centres Assisting employers and members in securing funding for learning Monitoring the quality of learning provision Negotiating GMB Learning Agreements with employers including time off to study Delivering the GMB equal opportunities strategy and policy for members through learning
Reach Out has developed, in partnership, a wide range of services and provision for members in work, those facing redundancy, as well as members seeking help returning to work. The Network of Learning Centres includes, Liverpool, Runcorn, Preston, Oldham, Manchester, Accrington and now Belfast. These centres are leading the way in building partnerships to meet the needs of workers and their families.
Reach Out Training Room We are pleased to announce the development of a new Training Room and office at the GMB Belfast Office in Holywood from which we are developing the project across Northern Ireland. Thanks to the ULF Fund in Northern Ireland in partnership with the ICTUNI we have developed the new facility which includes a new faster broadband connection alongside and a bank of computers and printer. A series of short workshops / courses for members and activists are on offer: Introduction to Computers Introduction to social media to promote learning How to access online learning materials & resources Using IT to improve communication with members
BOOK YOUR PLACE EARLY info@gmbreachout.org.uk
Training Needs Survey We have launched an online training needs survey to help us obtain feedback from members and those interested in developing their skills further.
Open University The OU offers a range of courses including free short courses to help people understand key issues and develop their education and knowledge.
This is your chance to shape the Reach Out Training Offer. The survey can be found at:
www.surveymonkey.com/s/Z8T85B6
The FREE Open Learn courses on a range of topics may be worth exploring.
www.open.edu/openlearn/free-courses
We Need YOU !!
Do you want to help your members more? Would you like to be the person that helps members to enhance their skills or gain new ones? Do you enjoy working with people and making a difference to peoples’ lives? Do you want to help your work colleagues and your employer to stay competitive and to have a secure future?
Union Learning Representatives (ULRs) are doing just that every day. We need more members to come forward to train as a ULRs and to ensure workers and their families are not excluded from the skills agenda in their communities and workplaces. We can negotiate paid time off with employers to enable you to train. Speak to your Branch Secretary or convener.
Education & Skills are Key “Economic growth and recovery may be constrained by skill shortages as the labour market responds to employer requirements. While in most cases demand for skills is met through successful recruitment, almost three in ten vacancies are reported to be hard-to-fill, and shortages in suitably skilled, qualified and/or experienced workers are the main reason for this. Overall, such skill-shortage vacancies represent more than one in five of all vacancies.� From the UKCES Employer Skills Survey 2013, Executive Summary 2014
GMB Reach Out N.I. contact details GMB Reach Out N.I. Victoria House 1a Victoria Road Holywood Northern Ireland BT18 9BA T: 02890 393340 F: 02890 427360
Resources and Links GMB Reach Out www.gmbreachout.org.uk Reach Out NI Twitter feed @GMBReachoutNI GMB NW & Irish Region Education Courses: www.gmbnorthwest.co.uk ICTU Report on Union Learning in Northern Ireland www.ictuni.org/download/pdf ICTU Training Programme 2015 This link takes you to the Trade Union Education & Training Programme run by the ICTU Northern Ireland Committee
www.ictuni.org/publications/tussall-programme-201415
World Book Night www.worldbooknight.org BBC Education www.bbc.co.uk/learning North West Regional College www.nwrc.ac.uk/TheCourses
www.gmbreachout.org.uk
Project Worker Andy McCann: 07715 043640 andy@gmbreachout.org.uk
w: www.gmbreachout.org.uk e: info@gmbreachout.org.uk Twitter: @GMBReachoutNI
Project Manager Kevin Flanagan 0161 877 9439 kevin@gmbreachout.org.uk