Central Sussex Hospitals Branch

Education and Training

UNISON provides a wide range of training and development for activists and members at national regional and branch levels. The majority of these courses are delivered in the regions through the Regional Programme. Training for activists at National level complements this provision.

UNISON’s courses are run in a friendly and supportive style, where everybody’s views and experiences are valued and listened to. Thousands of members have benefited as activists and individuals. In many cases people’s lives have been changed as a result of gaining new skills, practical qualifications and more confidence.

What is LAOS?

Learning and Organising Services (LAOS) co-ordinates education and training for UNISON activists and members. LAOS works with regional education officers and groups across the union to

• develop and deliver training for national service groups and self-organised groups
• produce course books, tutors notes and other materials for use on national, regional and branch based courses
• develop and encourage lifelong learning in branches, and in partnership with the outside organisations including the Union Learning Fund
• develop on-line learning
• co-ordinate UNISON's lay tutor training programme
• deliver a national programme of courses for activists

Education, training and lifelong learning

u in the UNISON branch
Branch education co-ordinators identify training needs of members, publicise regional and national courses and may organise branch-based courses with support from regional education officers and lay tutors.

The branch may also have lifelong learning advisers and reps whose role is to encourage members and potential members into learning. Many branches are involved in workplace learning partnerships with their employer to deliver UNISON's Return to Learn and related programmes.

u in the region
Each UNISON region has at least one regional education officer (REO) and an education and training committee of lay members which oversees a regional programme of training for activists and members on a wide range of issues, including stewards training, organising and branch officer training courses.

Some courses are also aimed at women and new members who are interested in getting more involved. REOs also work to promote lifelong learning via workplace learning, employer partnerships and other initiatives.

u at national level
LAOS runs a programme of national courses to complement regional provision which include law courses, women's development and lay tutor courses. Courses aimed at national committee members, national service and self organised groups and for members in the voluntary and private sector are also developed and delivered by LAOS.

LAOS also co-ordinates national Union Learning Fund initiatives including 'Establishing a culture of learning'.