STUC. Scottish Union Learning. The learning force behind Scotland's workers.

ESF Spotlight: CWU

The Communication Workers Union (CWU) KEY Learning Centre located in Edinburgh Royal Mail Centre was recently successful in securing funding from the Scottish Fund for Union Learning. The KEY Learning Centre, which was the CWU’s first Learning Centre to be opened in Scotland back in October 2006, ran the new courses in Spring 2009. Learners working at the Royal Mail Centre accessed new courses never before offered in the workplace.

The successful ESF application provides a Spanish Course, a Short British Sign Language course, two Intermediate IT Courses and an Accredited E-Citizen IT Course. ULRs from the Mail Centre submitted an application to provide a comprehensive and varied programme of learning. A Learning Needs Survey previously conducted in the workplace provided the required information for the application. Davy Moody, CWU’s Lead ULR at the Edinburgh Mail Centre, said, “Securing this funding has given the KEY Learning Centre a real shot in the arm. It also affords us the opportunity to develop longer term plans for the continued growth of the Learning Centre, both in terms of courses and facilities.”

Demand was high for the new programme, which ran in conjunction with the existing Everyday Skills courses already being offered to learners at the KEY Learning Centre. The newly funded courses saw the CWU work with providers Stevenson College and the Workers’ Educational Association. Cumbernauld College was introduced as a new provider to the KEY Learning Centre through the tendering process. The CWU believes this was good, in terms of offering a greater variety of courses to learners.

Craig Anderson, CWU Regional Project Worker, said, “The opportunity to access funding to provide courses to learners who must fund their own learning has been welcomed by the CWU. With the most recent changes to the ILA Scotland criteria, the majority of CWU members are ineligible for financial assistance towards courses. This has proved to be a barrier at the Edinburgh Mail Centre and other CWU sites throughout Scotland.”

With continued rounds of ESF funding available through Scottish Union Learning, the CWU hopes that future funding applications will be successful and will lead to more opportunities being made available to CWU members in Scotland.