All Union Learning Reps
(ULR) have members who they know would get enormous benefits
from learning but who just don't want to get involved. It's
probably the most frustrating part of the ULR role - but also one
of the most rewarding problems to solve. Listen to Helen
King, a Mobile Union Learning Rep (MULR) in Suffolk:
"To know you have made a
difference to someone - see their face when they have learnt
something new, hear them talk about what they have learnt, see the
excitement, the laughter, the bewilderment and amazement that they
have achieved something for themselves is priceless. To be able to
give them confidence and raise their self-esteem and at the same
time, do it through their Union makes all the frustrations worth
it."
So how do you do it - how do
you persuade someone to change their mind and take a leap into the
unknown? The first step according to Brenda Bell, a MULR in
the North West, is to understand the reasons behind the
member's reluctance.
"You have to analyse the
barriers the member faces, because there are many, many different
reasons why people don't want to get involved in learning. It can
be practical things like shift patterns, travel or cost, or a lack
of confidence so not wanting to fail or go into a college with
strangers. Some people are afraid of others finding out that they
have poor skills - especially their manager - so they don't
want to be seen as part of a course. Once you understand why you
can start to find an answer."
And the solutions, like the
reasons, are many and varied.
It's important to make sure
you deal with the practical problems. Most (but by no means all)
members like to learn on site. It's easier, less intimidating and
creates a sense of involvement.
Two of Usdaw's award
winning learners at the Tesco Old Swan store, Helen Scahill
and Emily Tyrer, put it well: "it's so useful to
learn within the workplace as it is very easy to get to and I don't
have to travel far as I only live 10 minutes away" says Helen. "It
also helps when friends learn together says Emily "I enjoy learning
with the girls I work with, as we are all in the same boat, you
don't feel embarrassed and we have a laugh." Getting the support of
the store manager is also crucial as it starts to create a culture
of learning and makes it much easier to arrange shift swaps.
Of course you also have to
make sure that you offer those who don't want to learn on site an
alternative option. "I do arrange learning off-site for those who
want it as this makes them feel more relaxed and eager to enrol"
says Brenda, adding "I have also, to support my learners, arranged
for certificates to be sent to home addresses to avoid anyone else
in the store being aware of any learning taking place."
Once practical issues have
been solved it's all about finding the right approach for each
problem and that's often down to the skills of the ULR. Take
Carol Gill, the Learning Co-ordinator at Cavaghan and Gray
in Carlisle who persuaded Usdaw member, Bernice
Goode, to take part in a digital photography course.
"I got talked into doing the
course by Carol" says Bernice, "went along and enjoyed doing it. I
learnt many skills and techniques so now I don't just point the
camera and snap a photo, I think about it." Bernice was also
persuaded to enter some of her photos from her holiday in the 2010
photography competitions which was part of Cumbria Adult Education
Week.
She received a highly
commended for her entry, and was later surprised to see her photo
appear on Border News one evening whilst watching TV.
Or look at the way
Brenda Bell persuaded Andrew Patient, Shop
Steward at the Tesco Prestwich store to get back into
learning and then to take up the ULR role himself.
"I asked him to support me
with those learners gathering paperwork and new potential learners
for me. His wife worked in the store with him and she had issues
with her basic skills so I encouraged him to get her into learning
and support her by doing the same courses, so she felt more
comfortable. This then helped her to improve her levels and
at the same time give him the desire for learning. Since then
he has gained his level 1 and 2 English qualification, enrolled on
his ITQ level 2, and has become the stores ULR."
Sometimes it's not a matter
of persuasion but real support. Ann Higginson, a ULR at
Boots developed her skills to support people who, for a
variety of reasons, find accessing learning difficult. Management
asked her to help Janet White, who wanted to do
the Warehousing NVQ.
"Janet wanted to do the NVQ
but needed support to be able to do it. I was able to support her
in a number of ways; I always attended Janet's appointments when
she met up with her assessor, Gary Gaskel. I reminded her when her
appointments were due. I made sure that she was up to date with her
assignments, and worded the questions on her assignments so that
she had a better understanding of them. I was also able to let her
assessor know of any concerns she had. Janet passed four units of
the NVQ on the day she received her certificate her smile was a joy
to see".
So the key lesson for new
ULRs seems to be - "know your member, identify the key issues and
find an approach which works for them. And once you do, the reward
for both yourself and the member will be well worth the hard
work."
Interested in
becoming a Union Learning Rep? Find
out more