Pauline Murphy says, learning and skills remains a top priority within the sporting arena.

Barry addressing ESF affiliates at a recent ESF meeting, held at Watwick University

It’s been great to see the work of the sports unions developing on learning and skills over the last couple of years. I remember supporting the first Union Learning Fund project submitted by the IFMA back in 1999-2000 and the subsequent successful bids from the LMA and the PFA have ensured learning and skills remains a top priority within the sporting arena.

With support from the Union Learning Fund, the introduction of the Educational Sports Forum has consolidated much of the early work and has developed into a vibrant and enthusiastic forum, bringing together expertise and knowledge from the world of football, rugby, boxing and cricket with a shared view of how best to promote learning and good practice in sport.

The commitment of the sports unions to the learning agenda was again clearly demonstrated when Gordon Taylor of the PFA, John Barnwell of the LMA and Barry McGuigan - former boxing world champion - signed up be become unionlearn Skills for Life Advocates, receiving their awards from the Deputy General Secretary of the TUC, Frances O’Grady, also an advocate herself. So along with many other high profile trade union officials, Barry, John and Gordon will be promoting the value of learning at every opportunity.

But it’s the trained union learning representatives that are the driving force of union led learning, encouraging and supporting members back into learning.

The team of project workers are at the moment, out and about in local gyms, football, rugby and cricket clubs, recruiting union learning representatives and helping members to brush up on old skills and develop new skills. This work has not only given the project a real profile within local communities, but also raised awareness of the role and value of trade union membership.

There are now 18,000 trained union learning representatives across the country working with employers, learning providers and Government bodies to get the best possible deal for union members. And unionlearn will ensure they are given the best levels of support both nationally and regionally.

By developing and delivering quality accredited training, practical resources and regular updates on Government Policy and new initiatives, representatives can feel confident in their new role. Confident that they have the backing of statutory rights, and confident they have the backing of the whole of the trade union movement.

Pauline Murphy, Unionlearn.

Published 14/07/2008 | Ref: ALAN IRWIN

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