CWU reps – get the training you need for the job you do

Education, Equalities June 29 2021

Education & Equality department publishes September to December 2021 reps’ course programme and says: ‘Take a look and book on the course you want’…

“Your branch and your ULR can help and advise, we can make sure you get the support and assistance you need and we look forward to welcoming as many reps as possible to our courses,” CWU head of equality, education & development Kate Hudson told CWU News, as her department released the autumn programme of courses.

Over the past year, it has certainly been a tough challenge to continue providing quality training for our representatives across the UK, so it is a testament to the hard work and effort of everyone that 345 reps attended a CWU course during the period from September 2020 to April of this year.

“Firstly, it’s a great indication of how determined our reps are to develop the skills and competences they need for the fantastic job they all do,” says Kate, “and secondly, it also shows the great contribution made by the union’s equality and education team, our union learning reps (ULRs) and the learning provider partners whom we work with.”

A major part of Kate’s philosophy that she brings to her education and development role in particular is making every effort to fit the union’s training programme and courses to the needs of our reps – with a strong emphasis on accessibility for all.

“We already wanted to develop and improve our online offering to ensure a blended approach, but then the pandemic happened and necessity forced a rapid acceleration of this,” she explains, adding that “this presented particular challenges to us, but it also gave us all an opportunity to try some new techniques and methods.”

All of the courses over the recent period have been presented online – and the Autumn 2021 Core Programme is also all online, however residential learning is scheduled to return early next year.

“We got some extremely valuable feedback from the reps who have attended the online courses with nearly two-thirds of participants giving the experience of CWU online learning a positive rating, marking it either ‘very good’ (35 per cent) or ‘good’ (28 per cent), while one-fifth described it as ‘OK’ and only 7 per cent ranked the course negatively.

“Three-quarters said that they would take another online training course, while just 9 per cent said that they would not.”

Our equality, education & development officer welcomes these positive ratings given to our online courses as a “welcome recognition of the hard work and efforts made by the CWU equality and education team and our learning providing partners, who have all worked exceptionally hard to continue to serve our reps” and she also says: “We’re very grateful for the appreciation given by our reps – 2020/21 has been a learning curve for all of us.

“However, having said that, it’s also important to highlight that this majority approval is not necessarily a preference for online over classroom – it’s much more of a mixed bag in this respect.

“For example, many of those who gave our online training service positive ratings also stated in the ‘further comments’ section that they preferred classroom training but recognised that online was the only method possible during the pandemic,” she explains.

“There were also several comments pointing to some of the practical issues that arose during the online sessions, which included equipment capabilities, ‘logging-in’, and of course everyone’s favourite 2020/21 phrases ‘mute’ and ‘unmute’.

“Some do prefer online to classroom however – with many commenting on the convenience of being able to study from home and the travel-time saved.”

Kate describes all of this feedback as “extremely valuable,” saying that it is “particularly good to be aware of the practical issues, which are perfectly solvable and will be solved.

“But as soon as we’re able to, we’ll re-introduce face-to-face classroom-based learning and I’m currently in discussions about venues and locations for residential courses to start in 2022 as well – while online learning will continue to be an option too.

“CWU education is all about meeting our members’ needs, providing the training they need and most importantly, making sure it’s accessible to all.

“So, if you see a course that you need, or that you feel you will benefit from, contact your branch secretary as soon as possible,” she urges.

“And we look forward to seeing you.”

Further details on LTB 260/21

Core Reps Programme: September – December 2021

England

Date 2021	Course	Cut-off date
Sept 13^th – 17^th	Intermediate Health & Safety Part 1	31^st July
Sept 20^th – 24^th	Introduction to Health & Safety Part 1	31^st July
Sept 27^th – Oct 1^st	Essential Skills Part 1	7^th Aug

Oct 4^th – 8^th	Postal Agreements & Procedures	14^th Aug
Oct 6^th	Fair & Equal in the CWU	14^th Aug
Oct 11^th – 15^th	Equal Rights Part 2	21^st Aug
Oct 18^th – 20^th	Mental Health Awareness	28^th Aug
Oct 25^th – 29^th	Union Learning Reps Part 2	4^th Sept

Nov 1^st – 5^th	Intermediate Health & Safety Part 2	11^th Sept
Nov 8^th – 12^th	Introduction to Health & Safety Part 2	18^th Sept
Nov 15^th – 19^th	Essential Skills Part 2	25^th Sept
Nov 24^th	Fair & Equal in the CWU	2^nd Oct

Northern Ireland

Date	Course	Cut-off date
Sept 20^th – 24^th	Essential Skills Part 1	31^st July
Sept 27^th – 1^st	Postal Agreements & Procedures	7^th Aug

Oct 6^th – 7^th	Fair & Equal in the CWU (2 DAYS)	14^th Aug
Oct 11^th – 15^th	Introduction to Health & Safety Part 1	21^st Aug
Oct 25^th – 29^th	Union Learning Reps Part 1	4^th Sept

Nov 9^th – 11^th	Mental Health Awareness	18^th Sept
Nov 22^nd – 26^th	Essential Skills Part 2	2^nd Oct
Nov 24^th – 25th	Fair & Equal in the CWU (2 DAYS)	2^nd Oct

Scotland

Date	Course	Cut-off date
Aug 30^th – Sept 3^rd	Essential Skills Part 2 (Rescheduled)	17^th July
Sept 6^th – 10^th	Intermediate Health & Safety Part 1	24^th July
Sept 13^th – 17^th	Essential Skills Part 1	24^th July

Oct 6^th	Fair & Equal in the CWU	14^th Aug
Oct 18^th – 20^th	Mental Health Awareness	28^th Aug
Oct 25^th – 29^th	Union Learning Reps Part 1	4^th Sept

Nov 8^th – 12^th	Intermediate Health & Safety Part 2	18^th Sept
Nov 15^th – 19^th	Postal Agreements & Procedures	25^th Sept
Nov 22^nd – 26^th	Essential Skills Part 2	2^nd Oct
Nov 22^nd	Fair & Equal in the CWU	2^nd Oct

Wales

Date	Course	Cut-off date
Sept 20^th – 24^th	Essential Skills Part 1	31^st July
Sept 27^th – 1^st	Postal Agreements & Procedures	7^th Aug

Oct 6^th	Fair & Equal in the CWU	14^th Aug
Oct 11^th – 15^th	Introduction Health & Safety Part 1	21^st Aug
Oct 25^th – 29^th	Union Learning Reps Part 1	4^th Sept

Nov 8^th – 10^th	Mental Health Awareness	18^th Sept
Nov 22^nd – 26^th	Essential Skills Part 2	2^nd Oct
Nov 24^th	Fair & Equal in the CWU	2^nd Oct