EDUCATION & TRAINING Opportunities to study open doors and minds Every year Usdaw offers activists who want to increase their knowledge the chance to study at one of five adult residential colleges that specialise in educating workers with few if any formal qualifications. Students can choose to study a wide range of subjects from economics, industrial relations, politics, history, sociology, law and others as part of a further education qualification, lasting either 12 months full-time or 18 months part-time, which then allows the students to carry on studying towards a degree or return to the world of work. Many former union and labour activists have passed through the colleges and have gone on to a variety of jobs in the trade union movement, or in education, the media or the legal profession. Any member aged 20 or over can apply and should liaise with the union’s education department prior to applying for a place. Thomas Hemmings www.usdaw. org.uk/training training@usdaw union.org.uk #Usdaw Training Usdaw’s development, training and scholarship programme has helped Tesco’s Thomas Hemmings think about his future and a new career. The 22 year-old rep enrolled on a part-time degree course at Ruskin College in September thanks to the union’s ‘Chance of a Lifetime’ scholarship scheme. “The union’s scholarship award will go a long way to providing some vital financial assistance” “I’ll be studying for a BA Hons degree in International Labour and Trade Union Studies,” said Thomas who lives and works in Sandhurst, North Hampshire. “It’s a four and a half year part-time block residential undergraduate course which includes six weekends 12 Network September/October 2015 attendance at the college during term time, which means I can continue working in my store. “I was delighted when I found out I’d been selected for this year’s chance of a lifetime award as it was the second time I’d applied. “I found out about it from chatting to my divisional training officer Terry Louder when I was on the reps’ training course. “I then went on to complete a part- time diploma in Employment Law at Southampton College before applying to study for my degree. “The union’s scholarship award will go a long way to providing some vital financial assistance to help me complete the course and graduate with a recognised degree which I’m hoping will help me with a career in the trade union movement or the International Labour Organisation. Philipine Akaba Sainsbury’s night shift worker Philipine Akaba joined Thomas at Ruskin College as the union’s second recipient of this year’s Chance of a Lifetime scholarship award. She is also studying towards a BA Hons degree in International Labour and Trade Union Studies as part of the four and a half year part-time block residential undergraduate course. “I’m studying to improve my knowledge of the trade union movement because I would like to get more involved with Usdaw and help develop other reps,” said the 53 year-old from South West London. “I enjoy learning and pushing myself, so being active in the union has given me the perfect platform to build on this. “I’ve got more and more involved ever since I became a rep four years ago. I’m also a health and safety rep and union learning rep and a member of my divisional equalities forum. “I’ve learned so much from attending all the training courses as well as summer school and ADM. “My confidence has grown too and at times I’ve surprised myself. “I’m very pleased and fortunate to have received the award from Usdaw. I’ll continue to work nights at my store and try to study during the day as well as joining my fellow students at the residential weekends at Ruskin, which I’m really looking forward to. “I hope this course will give me the knowledge to contribute more to Usdaw for many years to come.” Jenny Chilton Morrisons café worker Jenny Chilton from Cannock in Staffordshire is in her second year of her degree at Ruskin. She won the Chance of a Lifetime Scholarship Award in 2013. “I’ve been a union rep for ten years and had a lot of opportunities and encouragement to develop,” said the 55 year-old. “The support from tutors and other students is second to none” “The union’s training and my experiences as an activist gave me the confidence to think about further education. “This, coupled with the fact that my four children were all grown up with children of their own, told me the time was right for me to do something for me. “I haven’t looked back. I travel down to Oxford every six weeks to start my class and stay over until we finish on the Sunday. “From the very first moment I arrived at Ruskin I knew I wanted to stay. I just love being in a learning environment. “Being in a place from which people before you have gone on to do extraordinary things is very inspiring to say the least. “The support from tutors and other students is second to none and you’re never afraid to ask for help if you need it. It’s both challenging and very rewarding. “I’m really grateful to the union for opening my mind and for helping me to believe in myself.”