Learner of the Year Award 2016

At the 2016 Learning Conference, Scottish Union Learning presented the 6th Annual Learner of the Year Award to Lauren McDonald, a CWU member who works at BT Dial House in Glasgow.

Lauren was chosen as the 2016 Learner of the Year because of her strong commitment to learning. This has been demonstrated through her achievements during a CISCO CCNA course, which is an advanced IT course, and her subsequent entry on to a Modern Apprenticeship at SVQ Level 3. The CWU has organised three CISCO CCNA courses in BT in Glasgow over the last few years through the Learning Fund from Scottish Union Learning. Entry to the course was highly competitive, but Lauren managed to secure a place.

Learner of the Year Award 2015

BARRY WELDON

RMT

Barry was chosen as the 2015 Learner of the Year because of his commitment to learning and equalities. He struggled at school, especially with English, and left aged 17, giving up his dream of going to university to work in the retail sector. Five years ago, he joined the rail industry, and returned to learning through his passion for equalities by undertaking a trade union equalities course organised by RMT at Glasgow Kelvin College. Experiencing some difficulties due to the high volume of reading, Barry suspected he may have dyslexia. He confided in RMT Union Learning Rep Mary Jane Herbison, who advised him to contact Scottish Union Learning. After initial discussions, Barry was referred to the Learner Support Co-ordinator at the College who organised a series of assessments and provided excellent support.

Learner of the Year Award 2014

ALASDAIR MACLEAN

CWU

Glasgow Royal Mail Centre

The recipient of the fourth Learner of the Year Award was Alasdair Maclean, a Communication Workers Union (CWU) member and Postal Worker at the Glasgow Royal Mail Centre in Springburn. Alasdair was chosen as the 2014 Learner of the Year because of his strong commitment to learning, despite his physical difficulties caused by Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

“I always wanted to be a postie,” says Alasdair. “My grandfather was a postman and I looked up to him. I worked as a delivery postman for a decade before I was diagnosed with MS. Since the disease meant I was not fit to carry out delivery duties any longer, I was asked to retire at 32 from the Royal Mail. I didn’t want to do that.”

Learner of the Year Award 2013

PAUL MITCHELL

UCATT

City Building

The recipient of the 2013 Learner of the Year Award was Paul Mitchell, a UCATT member at City Building in Glasgow. Paul was nominated by his union because his learning journey embodies how, through an individual’s hard work and with support from trade unions and employers, can change life for the better. Paul was presented with the Learner of the Year Award by Grahame Smith, STUC General Secretary, at the Scottish Union Learning Conference in Edinburgh on Wednesday 20 November 2013.

Paul began working at City Building in Glasgow in 1994. When being diagnosed with a repetitive strain injury five years ago meant that he could no longer work in painting and decorating, he began working in the offices of RSBi. It soon became apparent to Paul that his literacy skills were not up to scratch, and as an individual with dyslexia, he was apprehensive about learning due to his poor prior experience at school. Paul expressed his interest, as well as his apprehension, to the Learning Centre Manager, who in turn arranged for the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA) tutors to speak with him.