UNISON East Midlands Education & Training

04/02/2026

Calling all Leicestershire members📢📢📢

If you love learning, why not become a Union Learning Rep?

Training is coming up in April and most members will get paid time-off to attend.

See https://eastmidlands.unison.org.uk/learning-reps/

26/01/2026

There are many ways to get involved in UNISON. One of these is the Union Learning Rep (ULR), a role that promotes and supports education amongst members.

A ULR would:
- Promote learning. Just make sure people know what's available
- Give support. Help colleagues to overcome their barriers
- Identify needs. Find out what people want to learn
- Organise courses. If ULRs feel able, they can organise courses themselves

Most ULRs will get paid time-off to attend the training and to carry out the role.

Training is coming up in Leicester, Lincoln, and Derby. (Nottingham and Northampton later in the year).

For details, visit: https://eastmidlands.unison.org.uk/learning-reps/

19/01/2026

We are very pleased to launch our UNISON East Midlands member-learning programme for Jan - July 2026

Visit here for the details: https://eastmidlands.unison.org.uk/members/

16/01/2026

Our Leicestershire ULRs held their county forum AGM yesterday.

Representatives of 8 Leics branches attended and a dizzying programme for 2026 planned!

12/01/2026

Derbyshire Branch Secretary, Martin Porter, launches UNISON Year of Green Activity from onboard Greenpeace's Witness boat. A little windy, but a brilliant message. Unison College

07/01/2026

It's UNISON Year of Green Activity and what a hero we have to wish us well!

Chris Packham, tv presenter and wildlife champion is urging is on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Y4dVp0S874

Sign up here for the official launch event: https://www.unison.org.uk/events/unison-year-of-green-activity-official-launch-event/?utm_campaign=Copy%20of%20Activist%207%20Jan%20-%20for%20staff&utm_content=Sign%20up%20to%20the%20Year%20of%20Green%20Activity%20launch%20event&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Communications

https://www.unison.org.uk/2026-unison-year-of-green-activity/

06/01/2026

Our Lincolnshire '6 Book Challenge' is now underway. If you are a Lincolnshire member and would like to be a 'Reading Champion' to run it in your workplace get in touch via: https://eastmidlands.unison.org.uk/learning-lincs/

Below are just some of the 700 books Champions will be able to give out!

05/01/2026

This year is the 100th anniversary of the 1926 General Strike. As part of this history, the Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire Labour History Society are organising a talk on 7 February in Nottingham.

Non-members are welcome.

10/12/2025

We are pleased to say that members received £6,877 in learning grants during 2025.

27/11/2025

Great news from Lincolnshire where our ULRs have secured £3000 of funding to run 3 projects that support literacy, numeracy and IT across the county. If YOU are a Lincolnshire member, you can help!

The first of these will be to recruit UNISON 'Reading Champions' in workplaces to encourage members to get reading. Each Champion will be given Reading Ahead Diaries and Certificates as well as a good selection of books.

If you would like to be a Reading Champion, please visit: https://eastmidlands.unison.org.uk/learning-lincs/

What's Reading Ahead? https://readingagency.org.uk/get-reading/our-programmes-and-campaigns/reading-ahead/

Lincs Police Unison Branch Unison Lincolnshire Health Branch

20/11/2025

Welcome to our new UNISON East Midlands ULRs who completed their training this week!

17/10/2025

Welcome to our newest Union Learning Reps who completed their training in Northampton this week. Really looking forward to see how all their brilliant plans go. Good luck!