Lifelong learning coordinators

Lifelong learning coordinators take the lead on member learning and ensure that learning reps work well together

Branches, through their officers, have responsibilities to provide opportunities for the education of members and the development of activists
UNISON Code of Good Branch Practice
unison learning reps reading a form

What is a lifelong learning co-ordinator?

The role of the lifelong learning co-ordinator is to lead on member learning in the branch. They work closely with the branch education co-ordinator and the same person might even carry out both roles. They can be a vital link between union learning reps, the branch committee, and learning providers.

Becoming a lifelong learning co-ordinator

The lifelong co-ordinator should work collectively with other activists to achieve branch aims around learning and skills. They may have started out as a union learning rep, and they can can support union learning reps in their roles, through mentoring, goal-setting, and providing a positive example of leadership. They should also be involved with negotiations with the employer, with the aim of ensuring that UNISON’s learning and skills agenda is embedded in learning agreements.

Supporting members through learning 

The branch lifelong learning co-ordinator will:

  • co-ordinate the activity of union learning reps in the branch education team
  • work with colleagues to recruit new union learning reps
  • be closely involved in negotiating around learning with the employer
  • co-ordinate information on learning activities for the branch
  • ensure that the work of union learning reps is fully integrated into the branch, so that, for example, the opportunity to recruit new members and new activists around learning is taken up fully

 

On this page

 

Book courses

Login to our Learning Hub to find and book courses in your region

My courses
I used to come across people who would say they weren’t clever enough to do any courses because they had bad memories from school.
Maria Alberts
Lifelong learning co-ordinator, Gateshead Health branch
But I tell them that our courses are not like school because the support is always there and nobody is going ot put you down – and when they do them they say, Yes, you’re right!
Maria Alberts
Lifelong learning co-ordinator, Gateshead Health branch
Building people’s confidence like this gives me such a big buzz because I think I’ve done what I set out to do, which is improve someone’s job, improve someone’s life.
Maria Alberts
Lifelong learning co-ordinator, Gateshead Health branch
Learning gives people a gateway to go on to other jobs in the NHS, and progressing people who know the culture is better for the organisation than bringing in people who don’t know.
Maria Alberts
Lifelong learning co-ordinator, Gateshead Health branch
Maria Alberts