WIMBLEDON LIBRARY

Did you know that you could be entitled to FREE training in the local library? At Wimbledon Library, the Exchange Training Group offer a variety of courses which includes Literacy and Numeracy (English and Maths to us older people!!) up to Level 2. What is Level 2 you ask? A Level 2 qualification is the equivalent of a GCSE (O Level) grade A-C. This is currently free and so are the beginners computer courses. They also offer a range of subsidised courses in topics such as Customer Service, Management, Business Administration, Personal Development and Team Leading to name but a few.If you are interested in any of these please call the Exchange Training Group on 020-89465485 or visit www.exchangegroup.co.uk.

Whilst on the subject of Wimbledon Library, why not support and join your local library? It is a fantastic facility and membership allows you, not only to borrow books, cds and dvds, but also allows use of the internet accessible computers FREE of charge on an hourly basis. Just take along some ID and you can sign up there and then.This also lends support to the numerous campaigns that are currently running to save libraries from closure in the current climate.

WORLD BOOK DAY

World Book Day takes place on the 3rd March 2011. If it is a while since you picked up a book, why not make this day the day you start reading again.
Every year thousands of events are organised in schools, bookshops, libraries and other venues to celebrate World Book Day.
So have a look in your local library or bookshop or alternatively visit www.worldbookday.com for events and news for all the family.
On the book theme, some of you may be aware that we have a bookswap club in operation at Wimbledon. Put simply, this is a bookshelf in the mess room
where staff can borrow and bring in books. It works like a mini library. If this is something you would like in your workplace,
please contact Mark Manwaring at Wimbledon on 07921 716158.

FREE ONLINE TRAINING

For those of you with a computer and internet access at home, if you are interested in free online training courses,
I have found a very good website called Alison.com. ALISON is the world's leading FREE on-line learning resource for basic and essential workplace skills.
ALISON provides high-quality, engaging, interactive multimedia courseware for certification and standards-based learning. All courses on ALISON are
accessible for FREE to individual learners.
Also worth a look is www.bbc.co.uk/learning/adults, on this site there are also several FREE on-line courses that you can participate in,
as well as careers and training advice.

UNION LEARNING FUNDS

ED/005/11

Circular No. NP/060/11

31^st March 2011

To: The Secretary

All Branches & Regional Councils

Dear Colleague,

UNION LEARNING FUNDS

Following the election last year of the present Government it was widely felt that the incredibly valuable and well received work carried out under the auspices of the Union Learning Fund (ULF) in England and Wales and the Scottish Union Learning Fund (SULF) in Scotland would be ended or at least severely cut back, drastically reducing the possibility for new learning and training opportunities to our members. This was a common fear amongst colleagues in other Trade Unions currently delivering education and learning to working people across the UK. As a result of a substantial campaign, which was coordinated by both the TUC and Scottish TUC, to promote with the government the value to workers and employers alike the benefit of the work carried out within these two funds I am pleased to report the following in relation to our Unions important work in these areas:

1. ULF Project – The RMT have secured the funding for the second year of the current project, so ensuring that the aims and ambitions of the original bid can now be met up to the original closing date of March 2012. The second year is subject to some additional work and targets but the RMT ULF team have been able to receive the acknowledgement from Union Learn that this will be achievable within our proposed plan.

2. SULF Project – The RMT have secured new funding from the SULF Learning and Development Funds to carry on the excellent work carried out in the Highlands and Islands (RMT & CalMac) and Uplands and Lowlands (RMT & North Link Ferries). This further one year of funding will enable us to build on the work and progress already achieved.

This is very good news for our membership who will continue to be able to access these learning opportunities and the benefits it can bring. I would like to congratulate all those in our ULF and SULF ‘teams’ for the work put in to make this happen.

The long term future for this work is still far from guaranteed but I can assure you the Union will try its hardest to see the work in both areas continue for the long term.

Please encourage your members to get involved in either working to develop the projects work or indeed to take up the opportunities it offers.

Yours sincerely

Bob Crow

General Secretary