the CWU's Annual Report for 2006-2007

were also successfully developed and trialled in 2006 as part of
our SULF funded lifelong learning project in Scotland, and it is
envisaged that these courses will be available on demand as
regional courses via the core education and training programme.
Agreement has been given by the Postal Executive to cease
the delivery of Postal Induction courses and instead deliver
Union Skills 1 courses, which is in line with the union policy of
integrated Education and Training courses for CWU activists and
members. However, we have developed a specialist secondary
course that covers essential subjects such as the Attendance
Procedure, the Conduct Code and the IR Framework.
We are working closely with the DGS (P)’s Department to
development bespoke education and training courses designed
to assist in meeting the Postal Department Strategic Plan. It is
envisaged that the first of these courses will be delivered to PEC
members in February 2007.
We are also working closely with the T&FS Executive through
a Working Party comprised of T&FS Executive members and the
Head of Education and Training to review the bespoke Education
and Training courses we deliver to activists and representatives
in the T&FS constituency, so as to ensure these bespoke courses
are fit for purpose.
3.2 TUTOR DEVELOPMENT
In line with policy, we have continued to support the professional
development of CWU tutors through provision of training leading
to a recognised tutor qualification, the City & Guilds 7407
qualification, as well as providing our tutors with Tutor Development
training. In 2006 59 tutors attended these courses.
4. CWU SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
During 2006, six members were given support from the Scholarship
Fund. In addition, we sponsored two Workers Music Association
places for members and sponsored two members attending the
TUC Women’s Summer School.
5. LIFELONG LEARNING
5.1 SCOTLAND
Following on from the funding provided by SULF previously,
we secured an additional £130,800 to continue the successful
Lifelong Learning project in Scotland over the next two years.
5.2 WALES
We are currently awaiting a response from the Wales Union
Learning Fund to our most recent funding bid application.
We are hopeful that we will be successful in securing substantial
funding from this source to assist us in continuing and expanding
the excellent work being carried out by our ULR’s and the Wales
Regional Project Worker.
and educational opportunities together during its two-year
duration. A legacy of the ‘Learning Bridge’ project will be the CD
ROM we are having produced for use as an educational tool in
tackling workplace issues regarding dignity and respect.
5.4 ENGLAND
We are pleased to report that we were successful in our funding
bid to the Union Learning Fund in England and secured a total
of £1.4 million to support the provision of lifelong learning
opportunities through our Learning Centres and ULR’s over
the our current two year project. A central plank of this bid is a
strengthened role for Regional Learning Committees in order to
develop and support our regional learning strategies.
Additionally, we also secured funding from the Learning for
All fund in the North East, funding from the Learning Works
for All fund in the South West, Trade Union Fund (South East)
(TUFSE) funding in the South East, and LSC funding in the Eastern
Region to support learning and community learning activities
that complement our national lifelong learning strategy.
5.5 NATIONAL ULR CONFERENCE
172 delegates and guests attended the CWU’s ‘Moving Learning
Forward’ National ULR Workshop, which was held at the Adelphi
Hotel, Liverpool over the 21st and 22nd of November 2006. The
workshops delivered included Information Gathering, English for
Speakers of Other Languages, Spreading the Word, Skills for Life,
Regional Learning Committees and Building for the Future. Other
presentations included the Employers’ View, the CWU ULR Survey
Report, Learning & Organising, Progression Routes for Learners
and the CWU ULR Innovation Awards.
Senior officers of the CWU including Billy Hayes, Pat O’Hara,
Tony Kearns and Ian Cuthbert, in addition to Union Learn officers
Judith Swift and Anna Burton, the Open University’s Alan Carr
and Royal Mail’s Head of Industrial Relations, Gareth Evans,
supported this event.
5.6 EDUCATION WEBSITE
The new CWU Education website that was launched at our ULR
Conference in 2005 is proving to be a valuable tool for our ULR’s
and members. We are continuing with the development of this
resource and training our Regional Project Workers and other
relevant staff in its use and management. This website was
developed and delivered at no cost to the CWU utilising ULF
funding and can be viewed at www.cwueducation.org
We encourage you to visit our site and see what it contains.
5.3 NORTHERN IRELAND
We received an assurance of a further two-years funding from
the Northern Ireland Union Learning Fund, which has enabled
us to continue the excellent work being carried out by ULR’s and
the Northern Ireland Regional Project Worker.
Additionally, the European Social Fund PEACE 2 funded
‘Learning Bridge’ project finished on the 31st July 2006 after
providing the chance for members from different sections of
the Northern Irish community to undertake lifelong learning
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