Please find below a list of courses being arranged by UNISON that may be of interest to you. If you wish to find out more or book a fully funded place please contact:-
 
 
MARTA CHABA 
Regional Learning and Development Organiser
UNISON 
53 Shore Street 
Inverness 
IV1 1NF 
m.chaba@unison.co.uk 
Mobile: 07950889

The Best Is Yet To Come
 

 
A WEA course supporting people in transition from work to retirement and in later life.
17 July 1-4pm UNISON Building, 53 Shore Street, Inverness
 
Are you over 50? Are you thinking of retiring or recently retired?
Are you facing redundancy? Then this course is for you.
 
In this short course on resilience in retirement we will explore key themes around transition using tried and tested practices in mindfulness, wellbeing and creative reflection, this course aims to enhance participants’ well-being, resilience and social connectedness. Some comments from previous participants:
“This course exceeded my expectations”
“I came along feeling unsure what to expect and left feeling I was heading forward with enthusiasm”
“I feel more positive but in a realistic way”
“All staff considering retirement should go on a course like this”
Course Leader, Margot Henderson is a Poet, Storyteller and Community Artist. She leads Mindfulness Meditation, Creative Writing and Wellbeing groups. She has been working on the Transitions project for the last year.
If you wish to book a place please contact Marta Chaba, UNISON Lifelong Learning Organiser  m.chaba@unison.co.uk Mobile 07950889765
This workshop is fully funded and open to all staff.

Dyslexia Awareness
 
 
• Learn about Dyslexia and its different forms (What it is like to be dyslexic?)
• What to look for that may indicate a person is dyslexic?
• Professional support and testing available
• Strategies and styles used by people with Dyslexia
• How to support people with Dyslexia?
• Hidden disabilities likely to co-exist with dyslexia
• Dyslexia and Equalities Act
 
Date: 17 August 2017
Time: 9.30am – 3.30pm
Venue: UNISON Resource Centre, 53 Shore Street, Inverness
 
This workshop is fully funded and open to all staff.
 
If you wish to book a place (s) please contact:
Marta Chaba, UNISON Lifelong Learning Organiser  m.chaba@unison.co.uk
Tel. 01463 723 968
 
First come, first served!!!

Alcohol Brief Interventions Training
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the course participants will be able to:
• Open a conversation about alcohol with an individual;
• Use appropriate screening tools to assess risk and feedback relevant information to individuals about the potential effects of drinking on their health and wellbeing;
• Motivate the individual to change their drinking behaviour and explore strategies to reduce consumption and alcohol-related harm;
• Close the conversation and know how to signpost or refer individuals on to other services, if appropriate.
 
Date:  20 July 2017
Time: 1.00pm – 4.30pm
Venue: UNISON House, 53 Shore Street, Inverness
If you wish to book a place please contact: MARTA CHABA
UNISON Regional Learning and Development Organiser
UNISON, 53 Shore Street, Inverness, IV1 1NF 
m.chaba@unison.co.uk Mobile: 07950889765

To: H&I ULRs

H&I Project Workers

LUPS Project Workers

H&I General Union Contacts

Scottish Union Learning Highlands & Islands Learning Conference Friday 16 June 2017 - Reserve your place now for ‘Generations Working & Learning Together’

Dear Colleague,

The Scottish Union Learning Highlands & Islands Learning Conference will be held at the Kingsmills Hotel, Culcabock Road, Inverness, IV2 3LP on Friday, 16 June 2017. The day begins with registration and refreshments at 9am, until the Conference opens at 9.30am. Speaker and workshop sessions will run until 1.30pm, followed by lunch and informal networking until 3.30pm.

The theme of this year’s Conference will be ‘Generations Working & Learning Together’, looking at the ways learning and skills can enhance opportunity and fulfilment for workers of every age, and at every stage in their working life. 

I am pleased to invite you to participate in the Conference, which is aimed at Highlands & Islands Union Learning Reps and other Union Reps, and members interested in promoting learning and equality at work.  

I would be grateful if you could pass details of the Conference to anyone who may wish to attend. There is no charge for delegates attending this Conference. 

The Conference will be opened by Wendy Burton, Director, Scottish Union Learning.

Workshops topics at the Conference will include:

·   Organising learning for young, precarious workers – Sarah Collins, Scottish Union Learning Young Workers Learning Project

·   Digital self-defence – protecting your personal data from cyber criminals – Irene Mackintosh, Mhor Collective

·   Knowing me, Knowing you – uncover your hidden strengths and those of your colleagues through empathetic enquiry – Lorna Campbell, Social Enterprise Academy

Speakers will include Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary, David Coyne, (Senior Policy Adviser, Skills Development Scotland), Pete Cannell, (Open Educational Practices Scotland), and Roisin Connolly, (Connecting Carers).

The final Conference programme will be circulated shortly, meanwhile, the attached delegate registration form should be completed and returned to eadam@stuc.org.uk)  (please also cc f.cormack@stuc.org.uk by Friday, 26 May 2017 to reserve a place.

For further information on the Conference, please contact Eleanor Adam at eadam@stuc.org.uk or Tel: 01463 248905.

Please also note that the STUC Conference of Trades Unions and Trades Union Councils in the Highlands & Islands will be held in the Town House, Inverness, on Saturday, 17 June 2017. 

For further information about that conference, please contact Ainslie Callaghan on acallaghan@stuc.org.uk or 0141 337 8108. 

Kind regards

Eleanor

Eleanor Adam
Development Officer Scottish Union Learning in the Highlands & Islands 
UNISON Building
53 Shore Street
Inverness

https://learning.unison.org.uk/

Dear Colleague,

You and your members may be interested in having a look at the Future Learn website which is offering free online courses. Future Learn is a partnership of Universities and the free courses offered cover a range of diverse topics and include courses such as Introduction to Ecosystems; Causes of War; Climate Change; Begin Programming: Build Your First Mobile Game;  Introduction to Forensic Science; Muslim Britain: Changes and Challenges; Cancer in the 21^st Century: The Genomic Revolution,  to name a few.  The courses all look to be short courses delivered over a few weeks requiring approx. 3 hours study per week.

Click on the link  https://www.futurelearn.com/  for more information.

Kind regards

Pam

Pam Urquhart
Development Officer - Highlands & Islands

Scottish Union Learning in the Highlands & Islands
UNISON Building
53 Shore Street
Inverness
IV1 INF

Tel/fax: 01463 248905
Mobile: 07702 836481
Email: purquhart@stuc.org.uk 
Website: www.scottishunionlearning.com

http://www.thereisabetterway.org

http://www.ajustscotland.org

Highlands and Islands Stars of Union Learning step into the spotlight

Seven adult learners were recently recognised as true ambassadors for life-long learning, as the recipients of the Highlands & Islands Union Learning Awards were unveiled at a red-carpet event at Inverness College UHI.

Three of the awards went to UNISON Union Learning Reps.

The awards ceremony was organised by Scottish Union Learning in the Highlands and Islands to celebrate 10 years of union-led learning in the region and showcase the achievements of learners and Union Learning Reps.

Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary, said:

“In the last decade, Scottish Union Learning in partnership with trade unions and Highlands & Islands Union Learning Reps, have helped thousands of workers across the region access learning opportunities.

“In the last four years, the Highlands & Islands Learning Fund, has supported over 140 courses benefiting over 1200 learners.

Tracey Campbell a member of UNISON Highland Branch received recognition for her determination to learn.

Tracey’s passion for learning first came to light when she signed up for a PC Passport IT course in rural Brora, organised by UNISON Union Learning Rep (ULR) Roxana Meechan. Tracey, who had not been a union member till then, joined UNISON and signed up for more courses, including the next part of PC Passport.

Recognising Tracey’s enthusiasm for learning, Roxana persuaded Tracey to become an ULR – a role she has undertaken with great success.

Julie Beattie is an auxialliary nurse in Caithness general hospital.Julie won an award for her work as a ULR.Despite the challenges of organising learning for shift workers, Julie began by stepping in at short notice to organise a Digital Photography course in Wickin the far north of Scotland. This was followed by accredited IT courses.

Julie said, ““Although I didn’t sit exams at school, I enjoy learning and became a ULR to let others know what the union offers for its members.”

“You feel you have made a difference when you see others gain confidence, people who hadn’t the opportunities or didn’t know where to go to start learning.”

As a Sutherland-based youth development officer, Roxanna Meechan supports young people on a daily basis to learn new skills.In 2009, an article in a UNISON publication about the role of the Union Learning Rep caught Roxanna’s attention and she saw an opportunity to work with adults as well as young people. Roxanna literally set out her stall on Learning@work day.Her first course - Computer Arts, took place in Golspie soon after. This unusual course typifies Roxanna’s approach to learning - practical but with a strong creative element and she is a worthy recipient of an award for her work as a ULR in a challenging rural area.

Roxanna said, “I am passionate about learning, and it’s contagious, it’s what I’m good at. People believe that I am someone who will make it happen. Time is the resource I need more of!”

Tracey, Julie and Roxana are all determined that UNISON members in the remote areas of the Highlands should have equal opportunities to learning and in promoting this they are always ready with an application form to join the union!

                                     ............................................................

Julie, Roxana and Tracey with Marta Chaba – Migrant Worker project worker Highlands and Islands