We’re six weeks into 2018, and many new year’s resolutions have faded to a distant memory. But it’s never too late to think about changes you want to make, or to take steps towards making those changes happen.
Where do you want to go?
Maybe you want to apply for a promotion at work, or a complete change of career.
You might want to be able to help your children with their homework, or to be able to talk to relations whose first language is one that you don’t know. You might want to take some time for yourself and do something for fun.
Or you might not know where you want to go. You might just want things to be different from how they are at the moment.
What’s getting in the way?
There are all sorts of reasons why you might not have started that journey yet. Financial worries. Concerns about time. Not being sure what you want. Not knowing where to start. Caring commitments.
What do you need to help you get there?
Perhaps you need a vocational qualification. Perhaps you need a bit of help with your grammar. Perhaps you need training to build your confidence. If you can work out what the gap is between here and there, we might be able to help you cross it.
Try completing this sentence:
If only there was a course that would teach me to…
Maybe there is one! There’s very little that’s so wacky that one or other of our UNISON learning reps hasn’t organised a workshop on it it at some point. And we are keen to support members through their formal learning – which can be anything from basic English and maths all the way through to university undergraduate degrees. We offer financial support to members who are studying at their own expense. And our member learning offer has all sorts of courses and workshops designed to build your confidence and give you new ideas about where you might want to go next.
What’s the first step?
If the journey to where you want to end up seems huge and terrifying, then it can help to take one step. You don’t have to think about the end result if that feels impossible.
Try doing one tiny thing – something that won’t commit you to anything that feels too big. Just see what it would feel like to have started that journey.
Don’t worry about whether you’re starting in the ‘right place’. You’re starting where you are now – it can’t be anything but the right place.
Find out if there’s a UNISON learning rep in your workplace. Look at listings for jobs that interest you to see what qualifications or skills you would need. Or, if those all feel too daunting, make them even smaller. Fill in the Expression of Interest Form. Take a look at our learning grants and bursaries webpage. Find out how to get in touch with your regional education team.
Then – maybe now, maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, maybe next month – take the next step.
Tell us what you need!
We are always trying to improve the learning that we offer to our members. But we need to hear from you about what it is that you need.
You can tell us that by filling in our Expression of Interest form. It does what it says on the tin – use it to express your interest in training or learning. You don’t have to be a UNISON member to complete this. If there’s enough demand for a particular course in a particular place, we’ll do our very best to make it happen. Or, if we can’t provide it ourselves, we’ll try to signpost you in the right direction.
Complete the Expression of Interest form here
Photograph © Jess Hurd/reportdigital.co.uk