UNISON Learning Toolkit

A ULR toolkit for developing informal learning at work Learning For Everyone helps union learning reps run enjoyable sessions in the workplace that give people the chance to learn something new.

ACTIVE CITIZENSHI

You can often run informal learning sessions with nothing more than a flipchart, paper and some pens

Helping members and potential members use t internet to find out about their local MP helps encourage them to think about the issues that concern them and how to get their voices heard in contemporary politic al discussion and debat e When people engag e with their elected h representatives, they exercise? To the usual aim ly of feel more t’s the and wr empowered as Wha a result. and the haiku people underst . own r of thei All me et audience?

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Who’s the target audie working them pink nce? Anyone each one of office. beyond the interested in the demo cratic process.

How long does it take?

Around an hour.

Who can run the sessio n? A ULR using the guidance notes. haiku as on What materials do Introduce the you need?

Flipchart and s used in p h pens, whic laptop different form with internet access es r own poems, and a us to the by creating thei d me of their liv projector (optional), Read some haik achievement t and publishe recent even editio n ial ns bee of Having the rhy spec the at a ch has local newspapers, clippin minutes ernment Bran 10 were later read Gov l Loca gs of MP’s Swindon . pairs to write help members to klet to into parlia ps k boo way a menta Brea ksho in sual ry wor speeches, biographical unu running poetry e up with an their literacy minutes information, voting record all the The branch cam together. 10 fidence, improve in addition to . rest boost their con ther to ple to join in, elop their inte Come back toge encourage peo and emails: it skills and dev net messages writt and listening icipants have al posters, intra t Tony part usu poe ity ing. writ mun in creative rent poetic icipants the town’s com 44 for part diffe t d ut pos nise abo ncil, Sign orga ning cou in a lift at the As well as lear ing with ava day is play a d tion from rma spen on and info Hillier to nts moved f for words that by forms, participa ework, and asking staf poetry, either Set some hom reciting poetry ms at the ing their own compose poe or words to writ g writing hai er themselves be used to help tisin pap ld prac on cou s idea getting their the necessary ther topic try workshops. ‘buddies’ with looking at ano involved in poe by working with tinues to be letter of e The branch con Learning where the first ged by Lifelong writing skills. kshops for min itated the wor atives: encoura g team or phrase). 10 facil d initi tron ts wor 50-s poe l a ing, Two loca er BBC e detailed ator Shelly Flem poet and form mor a rdin ance on re’s Co-o rs orm The lette dor the branch: perf s of individual Writing Ambassa included The knitted hundred session plan ire Reading and assembled into followed 9, then Gloucestersh s, e 200 in wer note r s squares that did the honours everyone: tuto t Alfred William Marcus Moore ing by local poe r of BlueGate .org.uk/la in Cottager’s Even a Sheehan, chai www.unison l Poetry Day in 2010 by Hild to mark Nationa try society.

30) poe 7-19 est (187 new ’s Poets, Swindon 0. yed all the October 201 icipants enjo Workshop part a real sense of came away with sessions, and

DGE

THE KNOWLE

Encourage learners to think of what issues they would like to con tact their MP about and how to do so to ensure that best their voices are heard

SHOPS POETRY WORK

THE KNOWLEDGE

3

MARK CHILVERS

CASE STUDY

STEP BY STEP

1 2 3 4 5 6

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All you need to start informal learning in your workplace Learning For Everyone and the detailed tutor notes we’ve made available online make it easy and rewarding to set up workplace learning sessions that members will enjoy, and non-members will want to take part in.

Learning For Everyone, and the detailed tutors’ notes you can download from the Learning and Organising Services (LAOS) section of the UNISON website, give you almost everything you need to run enjoyable informal learning sessions in your workplace.

Once you’ve picked your activity from the toolkit, you should have all the information you need to run a short enjoyable session on that theme: all you’ll need to do is book a room and spread the word.

The phrase ‘informal learning’ covers a massive range of potential activities, from social media to the Six Book Challenge, citizenship to financial planning, painting and poetry to holiday language learning.

What they all have in common is that there are no qualifications attached and we take the courses not because we need them for work but simply because they look like they’ll be interesting and fun.

Informal learning helps us all to develop our potential, discover hidden talents, and play a bigger part in our union and our communities.

Joanna Cain, Head of Learning and Organising Services

Promoting informal learning in the workplace has a huge range of benefits and advantages for the individuals who take part and the union as a whole.

• Encouraging people to try their hand at cookery, crafts or poetry, de-mystifying the world of social media, or training them how to use a ‘human library’ shows how acquiring new knowledge and skills can be an enjoyable break from workplace routines.

• Light-hearted and less academic sessions can help people overcome anxieties and fears about learning and give them the confidence to sign up for literacy, numeracy or IT courses next time round.

GETTING TO KNOW

YOUR LOCA L

The aim of this sessio n is to hel of what iss p people find ues they wo out who the uld like to voices are ir MPs are contact the heard. and encour m about and age them how best to think to do so to ensure tha 1 Ask partici t their pants to ind icate if the introduce y know the the websi name of the tes www.t 2 Show lea ir MP on a heyworkfor rners how show of han you.com to use the or http://fin ds. Then to reveal det search box dyourmp.p ails about on www.they arliament their MP/M workforyo to their MP .uk/.

SP/MLA. Poi u.com to ent . nt out the er their pos 3 Using loc sec tion where tcode al newspa they can sen per cut tings and about you d a messa shared kno r MP: ge wledge, dra • political w out any views; important information • voting rec ord; • personal interests; • members ’ personal dealings wit 4 Discuss h them(if an issue me any). mbers wis something h to raise you want with their the MP to MP. List the represent do (eg sig main points ative). Enc n a motion . Make sur ourage par , support e you hav ticipants to a Bill, meet e compose a UNISON a short lett UNISON’s er or email guide to cam using the paigning www.unis key points includes on.org.uk/a . a section crobat/19 on lobbyi 308.pdf ng and con tacting MP There’s a s: more detaile d active citi tutor notes zenship ses , available sion plan from www.u included nison.org.u in Learning k/laos for everyo ne:

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GET YOUR DETAILED TUTOR NOTES ONLINE You can download detailed tutor notes, handouts and samples to help you run the full versions of the courses that were too long to include in the print version of the Learning For Everyone toolkit.

The tutor notes provide complete step by step breakdowns of the longer courses, detail the questions you’ll ask and the answers you’re looking for, and also include samples of handouts and other materials that you may need to circulate to participants.

Tutor notes

YOUR AT A GLANCE GUIDE TO THE NEW TOOLKIT

Photograph: Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk

1. The knowledge: summarises key points to take into account when organising a session on a particular topic 2. Step by step: brief outline of how to run a session, including timings 3. Case study: top tips from branches that have run similar sessions 4. Notebook: similar to ‘Step by step’: outlines key components of sessions

• Offering people the chance to cook something they normally wouldn’t, giving them the financial tools to reduce their debts, or showing them how to contact their MP about something that got them shouting at the TV, demonstrates how UNISON can help members change their lives for the better.

Learning For Everyone is laid out to offer practical help and detailed guidance so you can put on a wide range of informal learning sessions at work.

In addition, we’ve made detailed tutor notes available online (see sidebar) that include detailed course outlines, handouts and samples you can photocopy to help you run some of the more specialist sessions, such as ‘Supporting members facing redundancy’.

You can download Learning for Everyone from the Learning and Organising Resources page on the UNISON website: www.unison.org.uk/laos/publications.asp

The detailed notes include: • Moving on: Supporting UNISON members facing redundancy • Credit crunch cookery • Human libraries • Migration workshop.

You can download the materials from the LAOS section of the UNISON website: www.unison.org.uk/laos/news_view.asp?did=7078 In addition, the Resources section of the LAOS website includes download links to a number of additional materials that might help ULRs run informal learning sessions in the workplace.

These include: • Change your life with UNISON learning: quick guide to lifelong learning opportunities for UNISON members • Branch Guide to Lifelong Learning • ULR Handbook: short guide to your rights and as a ULR, how to get started and what's available for members • Learning Angle Briefing No. 1: dealing with the Credit Crunch.

You can download all these and more from: www.unison.org.uk/laos/publications.asp

Mansfield members taste the difference with credit crunch cookery course ROY PETERS

True to the ‘credit crunch’ course title, everything is done within a budget that ensures meals cost no more than £1.50 per head.

The sessions have also helped sharpen people’s Skills for Life.

“The course embeds numeracy skills in calculation of ingredient costs; literacy skills because we’re reading from recipes; and communication skills because we’re all working together even if we’re cooking different things,” Jacquie explains.

To find out more and how to join contact: UNISONdirect TELEPHONE 0845 355 0845 textphone users FREEPHONE 0800 0 967 968 Lines open 6am – midnight Monday to Friday; 9am – 4pm Saturday Or visit our website www.unison.org.uk

The branch has recruited new members by running the courses, and changed people’s perceptions of UNISON at the council.

“At a time when we’re all suffering financially, the course is a great way to give something back to members and promote what UNISON can offer.”

Mansfield branch was able to use money from last year's learning project to help cover the costs of the courses. To find out about resources for UNISON’s new Inclusive Learning Project, email Davinder Sandhu: d.sandhu@unison.co.uk

COVER PHOTO: ROY PETERS

Credit crunch cookery is a great way to give something back to members and promote what UNISON can offer.

STOCK NO: ACT 191

Mansfield branch lifelong learning co-ordinator Jacquie Clark has run UNISON’s ‘credit crunch cookery’ course twice since she discovered it in the Learning For Everyone toolkit.

The courses have enabled over 70 staff at the East Midlands local authority not only to improve their kitchen skills and try new foods but also to boost their literacy and numeracy through Skills for Life tasks embedded in the sessions.

The branch ran the course in the kitchens at the Civic Centre one lunchtime a week for five weeks in late 2011 and early 2012.

Led by the district council’s nutrition officer, Sandra Alvey, the sessions can accommodate eight people at a time, with a wide range of cookery skills and different dietary requirements.

Participants can choose what they’d like to cook, so the member who didn’t know what to do with the courgettes she grew in her garden could team up with the person who wanted to do something different with mince in order to rustle up stuffed courgettes.