Date: 9 November 2011
Susan Manson, a cleaner at the Morrisons store in Airdrie, has been named as the first Learner of the Year by Scottish Union Learning, which is part of the Scottish TUC.
The
Learner of the Year Award was introduced by Scottish Union Learning
in 2011 to recognise the range of learning journeys currently
undertaken by lay learners in the workplace, supported by Trade
Unions. Susan was nominated by Usdaw for the award because her
story is a powerful example of how Union Learning is supporting
those who never thought learning was for them.
At a recent Usdaw 'Check Out
Learning' campaign day, Susan signed up for a Basic IT course.
Susan
Manson said:
"I always wanted to know
more about computers, but I didn't have the confidence to go to a
college by myself. My Usdaw Union Learning Reps (ULR) organised
this course in store, which was supported by the Learning Fund
through Scottish Union Learning."
Susan started the course but
soon felt out of her depth. She also felt like she was struggling
to keep up with the other learners, a feeling she remembered all
too well from school. A ULR in the store spoke with Susan and
helped her to gain the confidence to speak with the tutor regarding
her dyslexia, something she had kept secret for many years.
Ann
Seagriff, Usdaw ULR, said:
"We were happy to support
Susan to overcome her struggles to be successful in this course. It
involved a lot of encouragement, and sometimes a wee bit of a push,
and we're so proud that she's got there in the end."
The course tutor helped
Susan to access software which helped her overcome the problems
dyslexia caused on the course. Susan later bought her own laptop,
and the software which helped her so much during the course is now
an integral part of her life.
Susan
added:
"For years, I had to rely on
my husband or my son to read something for me. Now I just scan my
mail into the computer and can deal with it myself. It's so much
nicer not to have to rely on anyone else - what I've learned
with the support of my Union has completely changed my life."
"It was quite a shock to
hear that I was going to be named as the Learner of the Year. I'm
so pleased and just hope that other learners out there are
encouraged to take a chance like I did - it's worth it!"
Betty
Spence, another Usdaw ULR at Morrisons, said:
"Seeing the difference in
Susan, and how much more confident she is now, is what makes being
a Union Learning Rep worth the effort. We are so pleased Susan has
been named Learner of the Year."
Anne
Douglas, Chair, Scottish Union Learning Board, said:
"I am delighted to present
Susan with the first Learner of the Year Award on behalf of the
Scottish Union Learning Board. Congratulations are due to Susan, as
well as to the many thousands of workers who undertake learning
journeys throughout Scotland each year, with the support of Trade
Unions."
Jill Little
Woodhouse, Usdaw Lifelong Learning Project Worker,
said:
"I am delighted that Susan
has been recognised by Scottish Union Learning as its very first
Learner of the Year. Susan's learning journey is a powerful example
of the massive benefits that Union Learning can bring into Scottish
workplaces, and the massive personal changes that engaging with
learning can bring about. With Susan representing the learners who
have been supported across all the different Union Learning
projects, Usdaw is very proud of her and we hope to be able to
support and celebrate the experiences of many more learners like
her in the years to come."
Notes for
Editors:
- Scottish Union Learning works in partnership with Unions
to drive forward Trade Union-led Learning in Scotland and
administers the Learning Fund and Development Funds, which are
supported by the European Social Fund. Scottish Union Learning
supports Trade Unions in accessing skills and lifelong learning
opportunities that contribute to collective prosperity, fairness
and equality, for workers across Scotland.
- For further information on 'Check Out Learning' and
Usdaw's Lifelong Learning campaign visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/lifelonglearning
- Photo credit: Louis Flood, courtesy of Scottish Union
Learning.
- Usdaw (the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied
Workers) is the UK's fourth biggest and fastest growing Trade Union
with over 405,000 members. Membership has increased by more than
17% in the last five years and by nearly a third in the last
decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the Union
also has many members in transport, distribution, food
manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.