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The interactive ULF Link Up Newsletter can be viewed here!

The skills agenda is fundamental to achieving economic growth and unions must play an even greater role in boosting the workforce's skills, adult education and apprenticeships, Vince Cable, Business Secretary, said today (July 12) Addressing the 400 delegates attending unionlearn's annual conference at the TUC's headquarters in London, Dr Cable said that while unions were feeling their way in how they should respond to the coalition government, it was not the time to resort to 'tribal stereotypes'. He said that he wants a business-like dialogue and told Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary, that he wanted to speak to him regularly....

Union officials, project leaders and reps had their hard work and innovative contributions to learning and training celebrated at a glitzy Union Learning Fund award ceremony at Congress House on March 18th. The event was hosted by Channel 4's Alex Thompson, who introduced speeches from Pat McFadden, minister of state for Business Innovation and Skills, and Frances O'Grady, TUC deputy general secretary. The guest speaker, comedian Lenny Henry, who recently won acclaim for his role as Othello, gave out the prizes. A special award for vision and commitment was given to Liz Smith, former director of unionlearn. CWU (Communication Workers...

Missed out on the special unionlearn supplement "Learning for Life" in the Independent newspaper? (date: Thursday 25 March 2010)? Don't worry, here's the free download. http://www.independent-supplements.co.uk/learningforlife/25mar10/     Articles featured include: how union-led training is building a brighter future for employees the skills to survive recession ULR of the year Nicola Njie the Union Learning Fund's national awards what the employer's say ...and more

From book clubs in workplaces and language courses in trade union learning centres to year-long classes in adult education centres, informal adult learning is making a real difference to people's lives. The Learning Revolution movement is now moving forward to the next stage. To maintain momentum and help achieve the seven Pledge commitments, BIS have produced a Pledge Support Pack - a one stop guide to take The Learning Revolution further.Download Pledge Support Pack [1.3 MB, PDF] The Pack contains: practical information about how you, your organisation and your external contacts can fulfil the seven commitments, including the important Opening...

Union officials, project leaders and reps had their hard work and innovative contributions to learning and training celebrated at a glitzy Union Learning Fund award ceremony at Congress House, last week (March 18). The event was hosted by Channel 4's Alex Thompson, who introduced speeches from Pat McFadden, minister of state for Business Innovation and Skills, and Frances O'Grady, TUC deputy general secretary. The guest speaker, comedian Lenny Henry, who recently won acclaim for his role as Othello, gave out the prizes. A special award for vision and commitment was given to Liz Smith, former director of unionlearn. CWU (Communication...

Find out about the Web-based Climbing Frame Project, the work that has been carried out and how the Climbing Frame Works!  

Community Learning Champion Support Programme Unionlearn is part of a consortium that is assisting in the development of the Community Learning Champions Support Programme. The programme is funded by BIS. It came about because of the government’s commitment to informal adult learning outlined in the Learning Revolution White Paper ( Link to the Learning Revolution White Paper below) http://www.dius.gov.uk/skills/engaging_learners/informal_adult_learning/white_paper  Other members of the consortium include NIACE, WEA and MYA. NIACE have just announced the successful First Round Community Learning Champions Development Fund Projects. See link below to a list of successful projects and project summaries http://www.communitylearningchampions.org.uk/downloads/CLCDevelopmentFundSuccessfulProjects.pdf To support the projects...

Find out all the latest news about ULF and much more in the first edition of the new quarterly newsletter "Link Up"   

The Learning Revolution” In the ‘The Learning Revolution ‘White Paper, BIS acknowledged unionlearn, particularly through the agency of its ULRs, as an important potential delivery partner for Informal Adult Learning.Unionlearn is working jointly with BIS to introduce a plan for Informal Adult Learning in the workplace which will: • Open at least 50 Union learning centres for wider community use, including self-organised learning• Widen the Collective Learning Fund criteria to include informal adult learning in the workplace• Develop awareness raising materials and guidance on informal learning for ULRs• Use the Union Climbing Frame as a tool to help ULRs understand the role of informal...