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Wales TUC Cymru

Y Rhwydwaith Rhagoriaeth Network of Excellence

No.3 February 2013 Chwefror

Net News2013 European Year of Citizens

Please pass on Net News to your colleagues and/or copy & paste items for your own workplace newsletters. Thanks to all who have contributed items to this edition of Net News!

This is Fairtrade Fortnight25th February – 10th March

www.fairtrade.org.uk Despite producing 70% of the world's food, over half of the world's hungriest people are smallholder farmers. By joining our mini march, you'll be signing a petition calling on David Cameron to go further and champion a better deal for the world's smallholder farmers at this year's G8 meeting. Read more > Even when smallholder farmers are producing cash crops at the sharp end of lucrative international supply chains, the global food system still fails them.http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/press_office/press_releases_and_statements/february_2013/broken_food_system_fails_smallholder_farmers.aspx

Why do smallholder farmers need our help? http://step.fairtrade.org.uk

ULRs and Reps in workplaces across Wales will be ‘putting on’ Fairtrade Events at break times, lunchtimes, mornings and afternoons. Find events in your area or why not add your event http://step.fairtrade.org.uk/events/events-map

Work Your Proper hours Day 1st MarchTUC's Work Your Proper Hours Day is on 1 March 2013. If staff who regularly work unpaid overtime, did all their extra hours from the start of the year they wouldn't get paid until 1 March 2013. The TUC has named this day Work Your Proper Hours Day to celebrate their hard work.http://intranet/n_and_c/tuc-18557-f0.cfm Take your lunch time and go home on time!

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World Book Day – Thursday 7th March http://www.worldbookday.com/

Give a Book to Celebrate World Book DayFabulous books at fantastic prices! Celebrate World Book Day in style on 7 March by giving your child a book. Make time to read with your child – it’s a gift that will last a lifetime. These special offers are only available for a limited period – 18 February to 9 March – so hurry to your local bookshop now! http://www.cllc.org.uk/ymgyrchoedd-campaigns/dyll-wbd2013 to view the offers, and scroll down to ‘Give a Book 2013’.

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The Real Conversation: Thursday 7th March, Venue Cymru, LlandudnoDo you work with young people (aged 16-24)? The Department for Education and Skills is inviting business leaders and young delegates to our next Real Conversation. This upcoming event will focus on skills and skills perceptions and the way individuals interpret information with respect to their career choices. Places are limited, so book today to avoid disappointment. Please spread the word with your networks!

International Women’s Day Friday 8th MarchAnd, on Saturday 9th March, from 10am in the Main Arts Lecture Rooms College Road, Bangor a celebration of International Women’s Day 2013.

A day to celebrate, remember & honour women’s lives and experiences.The morning is about remembering forgotten women with presentations on Trafficked Women, Womanhood and Disability, Exploited Women and a reading from Angharad Tomos’ work on women and mental health.

Throughout the day will be a Women’s Enterprise Fair, a wellbeing space and information hub, a bookshop and women’s art exhibition.Free (booking required)Translation, signing and hearing loops available for the presentations. Creche facilities (booking required)Tel: 01248 383668 S.ashton@bangor.ac.uk www.bangor.ac.uk/ll

A one-day update briefing for union reps in Wales.

Tuesday12th MarchThis essential update will include expert briefings from: • Employment law - Thompsons Solicitors• ACAS dispute resolution/conciliation role - Peter Harwood, ACAS Chief Conciliator

The event will feature a mixture of expert speakers and workshops on key topics and aims to provide reps with the opportunity to update their knowledge and skills and to network and share experiences.

Date: Tuesday 12 March 2013 Time: 10 am - 4pm Venue: The Future Inn, Cardiff

Who should attend? The event is for workplace reps, branch secretaries, regional officers, union organisers and other union officials.How to book a placePlease complete the online registration form to book a place. The closing date for registrations is 5th March. Places are limited so early registration is advised.Costs The event is free of charge. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.Travel costs The Wales TUC is not able to cover travel costs for reps attending this event. Please speak to your union as they may be able to help with these costs.Time-offTrade union representatives are entitled to reasonable paid time off to take part in education and training. If you need support to get time off to attend, please speak to your union for further advice.Further informationFurther details for the event will be circulated in the next few weeks. In the meantime if you have any queries about the event, please contact jrees@tuc.org.uk or tel 029 2034 7011.Kind Regards Jo ReesWales TUC Education Team Wales TUC Cymru

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Bookstop workshop - Wednesday 13th March A Workplace Book workshop will be held on Wednesday 13 March. It is promoted by Making the Learning Connections (MTLC) with the Glyndwr Branch UNISON.

The workshop has been developed out of the Glyndwr Branch project “Book-in-a-Box” and aims to promote workplace libraries and the role of Workplace Reading Champions, promoting reading both for pleasure and to build confidence in reading and develop reading skillsThis will be of interest and value to Branch Education Co-ordinators and ULRs but is open to all colleagues interested in learning and especially learning through reading – please bring it to the attention of colleagues

This workshop will run as a briefing/pilot programme with a view to rolling out the event and building links and networks of Reading ChampionsIf you wish to attend and/or have more details please contact meMichael Schoonjans WULF Project Manager01978 293229 m.schoonjans@glyndwr.ac.uk

Free bilingual World Book Day and Stori Sydyn/Quick Reads resourcesBilingual (Welsh/English) World Book Day posters and the Quick Reads 2013 magazine and posters are available free of charge. For further details, contact angharad.tomos@wbc.org.uk.

7 new Quick Reads/ StoriSydyn booksThe seven new Stori Sydyn/Quick Reads titles for Wales, with three titles published in English by Accent Press and four in Welsh by Y Lolfa,

The aim of the seven new short titles for Wales is to encourage as many people as possible to either consider reading for the first time or to look afresh at reading and build their confidence by starting on a page-by-page basis, rather than worry about getting through a chapter or a whole book in one go. More

Emlyn Rees – Hostage, Dan Lydiate - Grand Slam Man, Tori James – Peak Performance, Eilir Jones – Meddyliau Eilir, John Meurig Edwards – Cymry Mentrus, George North & Alun Gibbard – George North, Manon Steffan Ros – Inc.

As usual, the books will be available in bookshops, supermarkets, online and through our website – www.quickreads.org.uk. The Wales and Welsh-language Stori Sydyn/Quick Reads titles are also available on www.gwales.com.

Workers' War: Home Front Recalled A partnership initiative between London Metropolitan University, the Trades Union Congress and the National Pensioners' Convention to record and commemorate the role played by trade unions and workers on the Home Front during the Second World War.

This learning resource is supported by the Big Lottery Fund as part of national activities to mark the 60th anniversary of the war. This website holds an exhibition of hundreds of digitised images and documents, oral testimony from those who worked on the Home Front during the war and contributions from historians. Choose your pathway into the website by clicking on the button below.

We hope that you find this resource informative and useful. Please find time to complete our feedback form and tell us what you think. Any detailed enquiries should be sent by email.http://www.unionhistory.info/workerswar/

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Cooking the books?Quick Reads are quick reads and here’s the proof!

CWU member and avid fan of the Quick Read book is Linda Flowers.

Linda works for BT Facilities Services at the BT building in Newport, South Wales, where

there is an on-site Learning Centre. This is supported by the CWU South Wales Branch and

local BT Management. The Learning Centre has a couple of laptops, some desktop PCs,

printer, learning resources such as college and community learning information, pens, paper

and a small library. It’s the library that proved to be the most attractive to Linda.

Jan James the Union Learning Representative (ULR) approached Linda asking if she would

like to undertake one of the courses available through the CWU WULF project. Linda

responded advising that she didn’t have the time to think sometimes so there was no way

that she could even contemplate fitting something else into her day. Jan then asked her if

she liked to read. Linda responded that she did but had fallen out of the habit and again

there was the time factor.

Jan introduced Linda to Quick Reads, advising that they were written by well-known authors,

with a huge array of titles and were easy and quick to read, hence the name. Linda looked

through the titles available and, after some persuasion, selected one of the Quick Reads to

take home with her. This was the start of Linda’s reading journey.

That night Linda read her first book for years, whilst cooking the tea. The next day she

changed that book for another title and this continued for several weeks. Linda continued on

a daily basis to select a book, take it home and read it in the evening whilst cooking. It

became apparent that the library was running out of new titles for her so new books were

bought and this increased Linda’s interest.

When asked about Quick Reads Linda said “the books are so easy to read and if you

haven’t read for a long time it gets you interested in going for a book with a longer story to it.”

Linda now reads books on a regular basis. Not just Quick Reads but a host of both fictional

and factual titles. However Linda hasn’t lost her zeal for a Quick Read and often pops into

the Learning Centre to check for new titles.

Linda will be happy to know that we will be stocking up with the 2013 titles in due course!(By Kim Johnson, CWU WULF Project Manager and ULR Co-ordinator, February 2013)

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BME Workshop Saturday 16th MarchAre you a black or ethnic minority union member, rep or officer?Do you want to get more involved or support others? Then this workshop is for you...

Develop your skills and share experiences with others. Get the latest picture for BME workers, hear about leadership in unions and in the workplace, learn more about mentoring and coaching; build your confidence and network with others.

This one day workshop is aimed at both experienced and newer BME union officers, reps, members and activists and is supported by the Wales TUC and South West TUC Race Equalities Committees.

Date: Saturday 16th March 2013 Time: 10.45 am - 16.00 pmVenue: Hilton Hotel, Newport Cost: Free

Outline agenda Where are we now? Facts, figures, background information and the latest picture for

BME workers. Leadership in unions and the workplace. Mentoring and case studies.

The event will feature expert speakers including Wilf Sullivan (TUC Race Equality Officer), Pam Heneberry (Professional Development Centre) and others.

Who should attend?This workshop is for both new and experienced BME trade union officers, reps, members and activists. It is open to trade unionists living and working within Wales or the South West of England.

How to apply?Please download the application form and get it authorised by a full time official from your union before returning it to us. Please note the closing date for registrations is 1st March 2013.

Costs?This workshop is being funded by the South West TUC and Wales TUC and is free of charge to trade unionists. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.Accommodation costsWe have a limited number of bursaries available to cover accommodation costs. Priority will be given to those reps living furthest away from the venue who would not reasonably be able to travel to the venue and back in one day. If you would like to be considered for this bursary please tick the box on the application form.Travel costsThe TUC is not able to cover the costs of travel to the event. Please speak to your union who may be able to provide assistance with travel costs.Childcare costsIf you have childcare needs please tell us at the time of applying as we may be able to assist with costs.

Further informationPlease contact Jo Rees jrees@tuc.org.uk if you need further information about the workshop.Kind Regards Jo Rees

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Wales TUC Equality Conference 11th AprilThe Wales TUC is hosting its first Equality Conference on 11th April at the Marriott Hotel Cardiff. The event begins at 9:30 am and will end at 4:30 pm.

Special Guest:Mark Colbourne, World and Paralympics Champion and gold medallist.

The event is free and lunch is provided but there are a limited number of spaces so book early to avoid disappointment.

If you would like to attend please register using the following link; http://walestucequalityconference-estw.eventbrite.co.uk The Marriott Hotel is an accessible building with good public transport nearby and on-site parking available. On-site parking is available for day-delegates at £2 per hour or £6 per day.If you require any further information or want to discuss any access requirements please contact Rhianydd Williams on 02920 787014 or rwilliams@tuc.org.uk Rhianydd Williams Policy and Campaigns OfficerTelephone - 02920 787014 Mobile - 07770794935

Free Essential Skills CoursesIf you want to develop new skills, process in work and help your children with their learning then why not join a free Essential Skill course?With our free essential skills courses you can brush up on your reading, writing and numeracy skills and grow these essential skills that are needed in both work and life.

The free training is open up to anyone aged 16 years + employed or self employed, working full time or part time hours, even if it is for half an hour a week.

Two new courses will be starting in March 2013 in Neath and Port Talbot

Course One:Start Date: Monday 3rd March 2013Course Time: 3.30pm – 5.30pmVenue: Port Talbot LibraryCourse Duration: 22 Weeks

Course Two:Start Date: Thursday 7th March 2013Course Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pmVenue: Neath College (main campus)Course Duration: 22 Weeks

If you are interested please contact the RES Project Team on 01639 898581 (Option 4) or e-mail res@npt.gov.uk Bethan Blackmore01639 898581 07772 991921 b.blackmore@npt.gov.uk

Spring OnlineI wanted to share with you all the Spring Online digital inclusion campaign organised by Digital Unite, which runs 22nd to 26th April 2013.

The aim of the week is to help people to take their first steps with computers and the internet, or to introduce people to new technologies. You can register to hold an event and get free resources, including guides to running tasters and marketing materials, at http://digitalunite.com/spring-online

I would be grateful if you could forward this onto any relevant contacts and include information about the campaign in newsletters, circulars, etc. Kind regards / Cofion CynnesRichard D. SpeightRhoelwr Prosiect (Gogledd a Chanolbarth Cymru) - Project Manager (North & Mid Wales)

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Every Day First Aid for CarersDo you care for someone because of illness, disability or the effects of age? Would they manage with difficulty without your help? If the answer is yes, you may be a Carer.Would you know what to do in an emergency situation if the person you care for was taken ill or involved in an accident within the home?

Book your place now in a 2 hour basic first aid course, delivered by the British Red Cross. The course will demonstrate the essentials when it comes to first aid at home.This is a FREE course and open to all Carers aged 18+, living in Wrexham.

Venue: AVOW, Egerton Street, Wrexham LL11 1ND Contact Wrexham Carers Service on 0800 276 1070 or email carers@avow.org advanced booking is required

“Just to let you both know that I attended an Everyday First Aid Course which was mentioned in the last PCS Union newsletter. I went to TY Avow in Egerton Street – the course was 2 hours and I found it really interesting. There were 12 of us from all walks of life all involved in a caring role of some sort.Ty Avow hope to run this course once a month – free of charge – the only criteria is that you are involved in caring.They also hope to offer other courses. You can either ring Ty Avow or call in to find out more.”

Many thanks to the PCS ULR team in HMRC who sent the information about this short course and for the positive feedback from one of their members.

Essential Skills in Welsh Could you please let members know that we are running an essential skills course in communication through the medium of Welsh. It takes place every Thursday morning from 9-11 am at our Caernarfon college site. The course is aimed at employed fluent Welsh speakers who would like to improve their reading/writing/understanding, spelling and the use of mutations etc.The course runs for approximately 10 weeks depending on current skill level.For more information please contact Louise Lawrence 01286 673450 or email louise.lawrence@gllm.ac.uk

Cyynllunio Gwefan / Web Design Dyddiad Cychwyn / Start date: Saturday 13th AprilAmser Cwrs/Course Time: 9:30 am - 4:00pm Hyd y Cwrs/Number of Sessions: 2 Cost/Cost: £40/£10 Tiwtor/Tutor : Ian McNeil

apple.harlech.ac.uk www.harlech.ac.uk/dyfodol and for a list of courses in north Wales: http://www.harlech.ac.uk/dyfodol/course_schedule.php

Am manylion pellach ac i gadw lle cysylltwch â/for further details and to book a place please contact Carys Wigglesworth on: 01766 780 363 or c.wigglesworth@fc.harlech.ac.uk

The WEA offices in Treharris, Risca and Blaenavon have now closed and our new address is:WEA Heads of the Valleys OfficeThe Innovation Centre, Festival Drive, Victoria Business Park, Ebbw Vale NP23 8XATelephone number: 01495 369869

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Say Something in Welsh! www.saysomethingin.com

We've had some great successes already with the SaySomethinginWelsh course - one learner who learnt to speak Welsh in three months, another complemented on his natural Welsh, even though he was living in Mongolia at the time, and a third who has already gone on to working and living through the medium of Welsh, and that's not to mention the thousands of people who are growing as Welsh speakers every day as they follow the SaySomethinginWelsh course.

The SSiW community is one of the wonders of the internet. It is jam-packed full of enthusiastic and supportive fellow learners (and some first language speakers) - any time you have a question, or if you need a bit of a morale boost, or if you've got some success to report, come on in to the forum and you'll get an enormously positive response - often within just a few minutes!

We'll look forward to meeting you, talking to you, and hearing about your adventures with Welsh.

Money Advice Service - pension Auto enrolmentYou might be aware that since October 2012 the largest employers in the UK have started to automatically enrol their eligible workers into a workplace pension scheme. Whilst this is a gradual process the size of organisation affected drops very quickly throughout 2013.

You may well be going through the process or beginning to get members asking about Automatic enrolment on the back of the TV 'I'm in' campaign fronted by some of the Dragons den. Set up by Government, the Money Advice Service has an obligation to help workers understand the financial impact, help them budget and understand the benefit of paying into a pension scheme.

To help you, and to help your members make an informed choice on affordability we have developed an automatic enrolment toolkit which has everything the Money Advice Service has in one place including:

• Workplace changes – The basics ( 60 second video )• Automatic enrolment if you have debts• Automatic enrolment if your close to retirement• Automatic enrolment if your under 21• And many other useful budgeting tips, hints and tools (Note: the spelling of ‘your’ should read, you’re – you are. It’s correct on the website)

To view the full contents of the toolkit please click here.Please do share where relevant with your members to help them make an informed choice or just understand a bit more about Automatic enrolment and the changes that are round the corner.The Money Advice Service is here to help everyone with money matters and as with everything we do, all our information is written in plain English, completely unbiased, independent and we don't sell anything.

Email us – enquiries@moneyadviceservice.org.uk Phone us – 0300 500 5000 (English) or 0300 500 5555 (Welsh) Whatever tariff you’re on, the cost of an 0300 number is the same as calling a normal phone number. If your calls are free, then it’s free, even from mobiles.

Why not contact Money advice Service who are able to do sessions in the workplace, perhaps for a Learning at Work event or a lunchtime learning session?

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Computer Recyclers‘Get Online @ Home is the Microsoft Digital Inclusion Initiative, providing affordable internet ready computers to eligible recipients (including union learning ) throughout the UK.

We have introduced our new website for Get Online at Home that makes it easy, to select and purchase preferred desktop or laptop PCs from £99. The offer includes Microsoft Software (Windows 7, Antivirus and Microsoft Office) a standard 90-day warranty, free delivery, and can be upgraded to 12-months for a small additional charge for customers who are more comfortable with a longer warranty. Advice on the best available internet offers is also available from the Independent Broadband Comparison Company, Simplifydigital.Union members and ULRs have already used the scheme very successfully.

Union LearnersUnion Learners can order directly from Get Online @ Home. Reference code is required to state eligibility;Get Online @ Home, Central Number: 03719 100100Get Online @ Home Website: www.getonlineathome.org Union Learners Reference Code: CRUK/WULF Flyers/posters with reference codes are available, simply contact Marcus. (Contact Details shown below)

Project Managers/Union Learning RepresentativesIf you have any questions about the above, or would like to find out more on how Get Online @ Home can support your WULF Projects, please contact Marcus Griffiths directly;Office: 01443 434675Mobile: 07908 707804Email: marcus@computerrecyclersuk.com

Certificate in Teaching in the Life Long Learning SectorA CTLLS (Certificate in Teaching in the Life Long Learning Sector) course will run in Colwyn Bay from the new Coleg Harlech WEA offices:

Coleg Harlech WEA(N)Charlton House,68 Conwy RoadColwyn Bay LL29 7LD

The course will run on Tuesdays, 10am – 5pm on March 5th, 12th, 19th, April 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th, May 7th, 14th, 21st.

Anyone interested in registering can contact either workplace@fc.harlech.ac.uk or mon@harlech.ac.uk for further details.

Conwy and Denbighshire Adult Community Learning Contact Michelle (details below) for the provision spreadsheet for Adult & Community Learning (ACL) courses across Conwy and Denbighshire for your members. It is a useful list for your notice board or to send out to colleagues.

Michelle is also willing to signpost any potential learners to the respective College providers in the area.

Michelle Anderson Adult Community Learning Co-ordinatorFôn/Tel: 01824 708032michelle.anderson@sirddinbych.gov.uk michelle.anderson@denbighshire.gov.uk

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Prepare for a Degree…..          ….on Campus and in your Community in 2013The part-time BA Degree Preparation Programme in Humanities starts in April 2013 at Swansea University Campus, the South Wales Miners’ Library (Hendrefoelan Campus) and in 7 community venues across Swansea, Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire. Please find attached/enclosed a brochure with further information.

The programme is designed with adult learners in mind and is an ideal opportunity for people to sample courses offered by the Department of Adult Continuing Education (DACE). It is especially relevant for people who are considering taking their first steps into Higher Education (HE) and for those planning to study the Part-time BA (Honours) Degree in Humanities which is also delivered by DACE across the region.

The university offers a fee waiver scheme for eligible students and there are no formal entry requirements to study the BA Degree Preparation Programme in Humanities.

A series of Information Events, Taster Workshops and Community Based Lectures will be taking place throughout February and March where prospective students will have the opportunity to find out more and meet one of the team. Please see our website for further details http://www.swansea.ac.uk/dace/

If you or anyone else you know might want to take advantage of this Programme, please contact Paul Dicks on 01792 295935 or p.dicks@swansea.ac.uk for further details.

Please feel free to distribute this information.

AGILE NATIONGive yourself a Career Boost with Agile Nation’s

Ascent programme for Working Women Explore your opportunities for development in the workplace Take the next step in your career Build confidence

Ascent offers a complete programme of training and support that has been designed to help you gain key team leading and management skills, leading to a recognised qualification

Agile Nation provides free coaching and mentoring through 1 to 1 support, exclusive Member events and an online career development resourceWe have courses taking place in the following areas throughout the year:

Neath Carmarthen Llanelli Swansea

For full course details and to check your eligibility visit www.agilenation.com or call 01554 770612._______________________________________________________________________

Wales Learn with your Union Facebook & TwitterAnother great tool from Wales TUC Cymru to support ULRs to do the great job they are doing. Get your regular course alerts by signing up now. Be among the first to find out about courses, events, and conferences taking place in Wales. Be the first to pass on to members in your workplace. Why wait?

Go to http://www.facebook.com/WLWYUH look, comment and make it a favourite.

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Running Learning at Work Day on a budget?Take a look at our LAW Day Organiser's toolbox on Pinterest where we've put together a collection of FREE resources and tools to help you deliver a successful Learning at Work Day. With everything from conference calling to infographics, you'll be able to plan and publicise your LAW Day activities whilst keeping costs to a minimum. http://bit.ly/XphlPa

If you need a bit of inspiration, our Activities board on pinterest has a growing range of free or low cost activities as well as links to our handbooks and toolkits which include sessions you can run for your employees.

The Campaign for Learning are teaming up with organisations all over the country to bring you special activity offers, freebies and competitions to support your Learning at Work Day. See this newsletter for our latest offers, or visit the 'Special Offers' section of the Learning at Work Day website www.learningatworkday.com

The Campaign for Learning organise the English Adult Learners Week and have substantial resources for reps to access and use. The toolbox on Pinterest is very good.

Learning at Work Day Thursday 23rd MayL@W day is on Thursday 23rd May or, whenever it is right for your workplace.

Are you planning for your workplace event yet? Have you added the event .details to the Niace DC website? Go here and scroll down to submit an event. http://www.niacedc.org.uk/campaigns/adult-learners-week

For downloadable Welsh/English posters you can add your own details to, http://www.niacedc.org.uk/posters-events-during-adult-learners-week

Learning @ Work Day gets bigger and better for 2013!Learning@Work Day 2013 (May 23) will have an extra “push” this year with the creation of a 23rd Learning Festival planning group, tasked with promoting awareness of this event amongst employers, employees and work-based learning providers. The strategic group will be meeting in late January to decide how best to proceed with plans for 2013, with a longer term view on plans for 2014 and 2015.

Watch this space for details! To add your name to our Learning@Work Day mailing list please contact rachel.jones@niacedc.org.uk

Inspire learning with The Open UniversityIf you're planning a Learning at Work day event this year then The Open University may be able to help. They've dipped into our collection of resources to provide a range of practical and flexible solutions to get you into the learning groove in no time at all.This year they are offering:

Workplace information sessions - designed to give staff the chance to find out how OU study could work for them and to have their questions answered. Availability is limited so please make your request before 12 April.

The Open University information pack - everything you need to know about the OU, including an introduction to our courses and information for employers.

Online learning resources - discover some of the OU's most popular online learning resources.

To access and request these great resources visit: www8.open.ac.uk/choose/ou/learnatwork

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Becoming a teenagerDo you want to know more about what it’s like to become a teenager in 2013? To accompany the BBC TV series Child of Our Time 2013, you can order a 'Becoming a Teenager' booklet containing information about:

Twenty-first century families Mum, dad and 2.4 children isn't the typical family composition in the UK any more. How are families changing?

Friendship As young people grow up, parents can feel that their child is more interested in talking and socialising with friends than with them. What are the tensions, and how do they form part of the growing up process?

Resilience What are factors that help young people resist or bounce back from adversity?

Bereavement Death is a natural and inevitable part of life—how are children and young people been exposed to the reality of death, and how has it changed?

Changing childhoods Social networking, online gaming, staying safe online... young people today have different opportunities and risks than in the past. What can parents do to understand more?

Complete the form at the link below to request your free copy and also find out more about the TV series and OU courses and free learning materials about child development.

http://www.open.edu/openlearn/whats-on/tv/ou-on-the-bbc-child-our-time-2013

If you have any problems, you can also order by calling 0845 030 4016 (local rate). Kevin Pascoe Employer Engagement ManagerSwitchboard number 02920471019e-mail - k.p.pascoe@open.ac.uk

Consult Capital TrainingUp to 70% funding available* - Courses start from just £42 (+ VAT) per day!*

For further information or to reserve your place contact the Training Team nowT: 0333 2409 778 E: training@consultcapital.co.uk

Giving and Receiving Feedback training from only £21+VAT*Train the Trainer PTLLS qualification

Data protection, Avoiding Corruption and Fraud 11 March CardiffContract Management 2 April CardiffManaging Discipline & Grievance 20 March CardiffMock Employment Tribunal in partnership with Community Housing Cymru**

14 March CardiffMock Employment Tribunal in partnership with Glyndwr University**

18 April WrexhamEmployment Law 19 April Cardiff

For further information or to reserve your place contact the Training TeamT: 0333 2409 778 E: training@consultcapital.co.uk

*subject to qualification criteria, please ask for details.Courses are funded at 70% for SMEs and 50% for larger organisations.Restrictions apply to publicly funded organisations.

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WAVE: Women Adding Value to the Economy Are you a woman working in a small business? Are you a manager and/or employer in a small business? Are you a self-employed woman?

If you value training and the competitive edge it can bring to the business that you work in, then you will be interested in reading about a new project supporting employees and self-employed women.

Starting in March, Cardiff University, Glamorgan University and the Women’s Workshop Training Centre will be working together to enhance the role of women employed in small and medium enterprises in the Convergence areas of Wales

The accredited level 4 ICT and Leadership Course will be delivered by monthly face to face meetings. Additional meetings with the WAVE coordinator will provide individual support to the participants.

The WAVE project also intends to work with these businesses to identify strategies which could support the development of equality and diversity procedures. The aim is to promote greater flexibility of working arrangements which have been demonstrated as having a significant role in improving productivity within businesses. (Chwarae Teg 2012).

Initially recruitment will be focused on the south Wales areas which include the following authorities:

Swansea Bridgend Neath Port Talbot Rhondda Cynon Taf

Caerphilly Merthyr Tydfil Blaenau Gwent Torfaen

Ten women will be recruited from businesses in these areas during the first year of the project. Subsequently recruitment of women will come from the west and north Wales areas. To refer a candidate to the course or for further details please contact: Mair WilliamsEmployment and Leadership Development CoordinatorWAVE projectMair.williams@womensworkshop.org.uk07972493599 029 20493351The WAVE project is a new European funded initiative that has been developed to address the multiple causes of gender pay gaps in Wales through a framework of interrelated and targeted activities involving work with employers, employees and self-employed women.

Hazards Magazine: Vital information on all aspects of health and safety at work from workers perspective and updates on current campaign at http://www.hazards.org/votetodie http://www.hazards.org/subscribe for 4 issues a year and articles in Hazards magazine extended and updated on website: http://www.hazards.org Editor Rory O’Neill editor@hazards.org; Sub-editor Jawad Qasrawi: sub@hazards.org Hazards magazine is on Facebook and on Twitter @hazardsmagazine

Work and Well-being: A Trade Union ResourceThis guide gives advice on the wide range of attempts being made to promote well-being'. It will help reps tackle management when work and work practices are likely to be the cause of workforce ill health. http://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace/tuc-21903-f0.cfm_________________________________________________________________________________________________

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OpenLearn champion training 2013Where and when will the next OpenLearn Champion training be held?

Time: 10-3pm 26th April Coleg Llandrillo St Asaph Business Park22nd May North Wales Training, Mochdre, Colwyn Bay

As part of a North and Mid Wales Reaching Wider Partnership project, the Open University in Wales is bringing over 600 FREE courses to mid and north Wales through OpenLearn www.open.ac.uk/openlearn

We are training OpenLearn Champions across mid and north Wales, to help people in the community access this free learning and use it as pathway to progress to other formal learning. The training is FREE and lunch is provided.OpenLearn Champions are unpaid and expected to undertake the role within their normal professional or voluntary capacity. Being an OpenLearn Champion should complement your ‘day job’, be another resource you can draw on to help you achieve the objectives of your current role.

If you or a colleague would like to put yourselves forward to be an OpenLearn Champion, please complete the attached form. Places on the training are limited. Applicants will need to demonstrate how they meet the criteria and could fulfil the role of an OpenLearn Champion. 

Please do get in touch if you would like to discuss further or would like any more information. Many thanks Gayle Hudson Widening Access Mid and North Wales  / Ehangu Mynediad Canolbarth a Gogledd CymruOpen University in Wales /Y Brifysgol Agored Yng Nghymru T: 01691 671648 M: 07500 974 332Twitter: @gayle115 www.openuniversity.co.uk/wales

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society Cymru: Ready to Work project MS is a condition which is typically diagnosed between 20 and 50. It is a condition characterised by fluctuations from day to day, disabling relapses and ongoing fatigue. But for many people with MS, staying in work is realistic and it makes a huge difference to quality of life.

It is estimated that over 50% of people with MS leave work within eight years of diagnosis. The Work Foundation Report on MS and employment highlighted a number of ways in which people with MS, healthcare professionals, disability employment organisations and employers can work together to keep people with MS in employment for longer.

Flexible working hours, scheduled work breaks with a designated place to rest and improved awareness of MS symptoms among colleagues are just a few small adjustments that can really help.

MS Society Cymru is working with different groups to raise awareness of supporting people with MS in the workplace, and will be attending various learning sessions for union reps in the coming months. We look forward to seeing you there.

For further information on supporting people with MS in the workplace, go to www.mssociety.org.uk/employment, www.yourworkhealth.com or contact the MS Society helpline on 0808 800 8000 or helpline@mssociety.org.uk.

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Six Book ChallengeThe Reading Agency's Six Book Challenge in 2013 is our scheme designed to engage less confident readers and encourage them to enjoy reading at the same time as improving their skills. Contact David Kendall (for prison and workplace enquiries)david.kendall@readingagency.org.uk Tel 01225 862351 / 07814 060572

I attended the Dementia Care in North Wales Conference on Friday 22nd February organised by UNISON & Lifelong Learning, STEP Skills Through Engagement in partnership with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

It was an excellent conference.

There were brilliant speakers from the field of Dementia Care along with a choice of practical workshops in dealing with behaviour that challenges. If you are a Health Care Support Worker, a carer, or someone who is interested in caring and you get the opportunity to attend a similar event, go! I certainly found it hugely useful.

Well done UNISON, a very efficiently organised conference at a venue that was easy to find with good plentiful parking. Bernice

Government has sided with City over UK’s wider economic interests on bonuses, says TUCCommenting on plans announced in Brussels that bankers’ bonuses are to be capped across Europe, TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said:“For all their tough talk on bonuses, the Prime Minister and the Mayor of London are today standing up for the cosy pre-crash arrangements in the City, when bankers pocketed billions of pounds of undeserved bonuses and reckless decisions brought us to the brink of financial ruin.“But ordinary people, who have been made to pay for the folly of bankers, have longer memories and will not tolerate a return to the pre-crash status quo. “The EU is absolutely right to push ahead with its bonus cap, and the UK government should start siding with the interests of the electorate and the wider economy, rather than the rich and powerful elite in the City.”

This, is a ULRULRs are enthusiasts for lifelong learning. Through their own love of learning they encourage and support others to participate in the wealth of opportunities offered by the trade union, employer and wider community. They are also a vital part of the union branch and work with fellow activists on issues around learning.Thanks to Karen Fisher Unison for this great description of ULRs

If you are not on the Net News circulation list and want to add your details please contact: Bernice Waugh Network of Excellence Y Rhwydwaith Rhagoriaeth Wales TUC Cymru 1 Cathedral Road/ 1 Heol yr Eglwys Gadeiriol Cardiff/ Caerdydd CF11 9SD ebost/e-mail: bwaugh@tuc.org.uk Ffon/Tel: 07917 415601 Same details if you need to unsubscribe.

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