Learning in Berwick gets underway

Usdaw’s Lifelong Learning initiative in Northumberland got underway during a three-day road show event in May at Safeway’s in Berwick. The event was designed to raise awareness of learning opportunities in the Berwick area, whilst highlighting Usdaw’s role in supporting learners in the workplace, through the Union Learning Representative. The event was supported by Usdaw, the TUC, the BBC bus, Northumberland College, community education and local Information Advice and Guidance.

The event took place from the 6^th to the 8^th of May coinciding with the last day of training for Berwick Safeway’s new Union Learning Rep Louise Turnbull. As part of Louise’s role as a Union Learning Rep she will liaise with providers to help arrange convenient affordable learning for staff at the store. A Learning questionnaire was created to find out what the staff on site wanted to learn.

The questionnaire was handed out in the staff canteen where Margaret Fleming, Martyn Warwick (Usdaw Lifelong Learning Project Workers), Joe McGuigan (TUC Project Worker) and Jon Lambert (Usdaw Mobile Union Learning Representative) talked to staff, encouraging and helping them to complete the learning questionnaires.

“Over the three days we managed to speak to over a third of the staff, recruiting 12 new Usdaw members. Safeway staff completed over 100 learning questionnaires while we were on site“, explained Martyn Warwick.

On Thursday the 6^th of May the BBC learning bus broadcast from the car park where both staff and members of the public were able to have the opportunity to use PC’s, get some information, advice and guidance around learning and see what community education had to offer.

On Friday the 7^th Northumberland College was on site, again with access for both staff and customers. People could view course materials, use PCs, access the Internet and generally find out what the college was able to offer them.

On the final day, Saturday 8^th of May, a laptop was set up demonstrating the kinds of recreational or general interest courses that can be done on a PC, with applications like interior design, Spanish and driving test theory being showcased.

After analysing the questionnaires and discussing the results with the colleges involved, the Union Learning Rep has organised a number of courses including introductory IT, which will be up and running for Safeway staff in Berwick very soon.  Watch this space for further developments!

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