Learning in the Highlands and Islands
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Brora shows how learning can be fun!
A UNISON ULR – Roxana Meecham – has achieved a first
in Sutherland in the Highlands of Scotland. She organised
a computer arts course in Brora a rural area where
no union learning had taken place.Not only have the
learners acquired new skills – they had fun too! Click
here |
We are living in uncertain times. Thousands of UNISON
members are worried about their future. Will they keep
their job? If not how will they keep a roof over their
heads and food on the table?
Here in the Highlands and Islands jobs are hard to come
by at the best of times - and things are set to get considerably
worse. So there is a greater need than ever to give our
members the chance to learn something new.
The challenge for us is to roll out these opportunities
across a wide geographical area where there is a very
poor transport infrastructure. However it can be done.
We have organised a Return to Learn course on the Isle
of Barra. We also benefitted from a TUC training course
for ULRs in Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.
Again - flexibility and co operation were the watchword
and UNISON ULRs are working with other unions and the
trades councils to get the learning message into as many
workplaces as possible so that they recruit enough learners
to make courses viable.
We have run an IT course in Wick in Caithness and on
Orkney and a British Sign Language course also on Orkney.
There has been a Computer Arts courses in Brora and a
basic skills course taking place in Raigmore Hospital,
Inverness - and this is not an exhaustive list. Much of
this activity is the result of the innovative work of
the Scottish TUC Highlands and Islands Development Team.
Through them we are able to access money for learning
from the European Social Fund. We also benefit from the
advice and support of the Workers Educational Association
and our relationship with the Open University.
UNISON is seizing every possible opportunity to give
a first class learning experience to our members. The
Con Dem government believes in a society which benefits
the few and rejects the many. Working class students and
even many middle class families will not be able to afford
to support their children attending university.
Yet it is education which is the great determinant of
all our futures. It is the deciding factor in the jobs
we are able to get, our wages, where we live, our children's
prospects, our health and life expectancy.
This is precisely why UNISON is so committed to lifelong
learning and so committed to ensuring that this is available
to all members including those living in remote and rural
areas.
So one thing that is certain in these uncertain times
is UNISONs continuing commitment to learning in every
sphere of our activity in the Highlands and Islands.
Our union's million plus voices are shouting loud and
clear in support of the Scottish TUC's alternative programme
for economic growth that There is a Better Way.
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