Online Stewards Training for the Community and Voluntary Sector

February 2024

This course has been designed for newly elected and less experienced UNISON stewards who work in the Community and Voluntary Sector. It consists of two parts: Stage 1 is the initial training and will help equip you with organising skills.  Stage 2 focusses on developing representation skills.

Stewards are a vital link in the union chain and have an important role to play in organising members at local level.

UNISON’s ability to support and represent its members with their employer is very much dependent upon the strength of membership organisation. The union is more likely to be get good results where it has strong membership organisation. Strong membership organisation is based on sound organising principles:

  • working collectively – “what can we do about it together?” rather than “leave it with me to sort it out”
  • listening to members’ views
  • knowing where our members are
  • actively involving our members
  • promoting democracy and membership participation.

This course also equips stewards when supporting members in resolving individual issues and includes identifying what is and isn’t a case, practise interviewing a member, and preparing for a grievance and disciplinary case. By the end of the course you should feel confident in carrying out your duties as a steward.

In order to apply you must be able to access MS Teams and to commit to attending all four days as follows:

  • Tuesday 6th February 9.30am to 4.30pm
  • Tuesday 13th February 9.30am t0 4.30pm
  • Tuesday 20th February 9.30am to 4.30pm
  • Tuesday 27th February 09.30 to 4.30pm

In order to apply for a place please complete and submit the following form:

Online Stewards Training for the Community Sector

  • We will send hard copy resources to course participants in advance for this training. Please tell us where you would like these to be sent, including the postcode.
  • We will use this information to check your UNISON membership, your status as an elected steward, and to send you course information. If we are able to offer you a place on this training, then you will receive an email from us with further information.

  • UNISON Learning & Organising Equality Monitoring Form

  • This section of the form is entirely voluntary; however your co-operation would be appreciated. UNISON gathers this information so that participation in education and training can be monitored. This allows us to identify where there are areas of underrepresentation and work with our colleagues in the wider union to address any barriers to equal access.
  • We appreciate that some of the categories below are limited, but within these constraints, please give the answer most applicable to you.
  • This information will be used to update your UNISON membership records and will be treated in the strictest confidence.

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