Learning can be one of the most satisfying experiences there is. Whether it’s a lunchtime flower-arranging session or a year’s course in conversational Italian, learning for your own personal fulfilment can make as much of a difference in your life as learning for work. And in UNISON we believe that it’s just as important.
You may already have an idea of what you’re interested in studying. Or you may be looking for something general. Here are some things you could do…
Build your confidence…
… with a Power To be You course, or explore your current situation and your potential with Your Skills, Your Future.
Find out what’s going on near you…
… by taking a look at your region’s member learning programme to find out about upcoming events. And branches often run informal learning sessions, as well as initiatives like book clubs and music groups – a great chance to relax as well as to learn something new!
Explore online learning…
… and learn just how much is out there! The huge expansion of online learning has opened the door on new vistas of opportunity and there are courses available for every interest. UNISON members can get free access to over 600 online courses on Skills Academy. OpenLearn has thousands of free online courses. FutureLearn has paid and free options and courses are supported by tutors. The only problem is deciding where to start!
Pursue formal learning…
… for your own personal fulfilment.
Discover a friendly and supportive pathway into formal study with a Women’s Lives or Return to Learn course. Find out about tuition fee discounts for UNISON members, or apply for help with the costs of study.
Helping your colleagues learn for their personal fulfilment
There are as many different reasons for learning as there are people who want to learn! You could begin by talking to your colleagues about their needs and hopes from learning – do they want to feel more confident, find out more about something that interests them, or just to take part in something fun? Then you can start thinking about how you can help them address those needs. Can you point them to something that already exists? Look at regional and national UNISON learning programmes to see what’s going on, as well as local colleges and the WEA.
A good starting point can be a very informal learning event, whether that’s a one-off or a series. Crafts, a music group or a book group, can all be popular; so can skills like cookery or bicycle maintenance. It may be that somebody in your branch or workplace already has the skills to lead a learning event; if not, you’ll need to bring in a tutor from elsewhere.