Accelerate is the newsletter for the Trade Union learning fund project. Circulation is to Trade Union learner representatives and members within the Humberside, North Lincs and Yorkshire Regions. The newsletter gives you factual information, progress reports and news items on what is happening locally and nationally on personal development and workplace training.

Union Learning Fund What is it? The Government recently allocated a £2million grant to unions to help them sponsor and promote lifelong learning opportunities. The accelerate project has been successful in being awarded union learning fund money. Life Long learning What does it mean? Lifelong Learning means that in a rapidly changing world we need to continually update our skills and knowlege inside and outside of the workplace. We need to raise awareness and create an interest in learning. Lifelong learning goes on throughout life. It takes place at home and in the wider world, as well as at school, college or work. People learn from family and friends as well as teachers and mentors. This project will give front-line advice and guidance to Union lerarning representatives who will in turn will pass on the advice and guidance to their members.

The Accelerate Project What will accelerate do? The accelerate project aims to increase access to high quality education, training, information and support for Trade Union members. How will we do it? Initially we will establish and train aproximately 40 learner representatives, who will create a support network for learners, we will improve comunication with other local training providers. The learner representatives will be trained to increase their knowledge, skills and understanding which will lead to an uptake of learning opportunities by Trade Union members. We will produce periodic newsletters to keep learner reps and members up to date with all the training initiatives and developments whether it be national or at local level. We will produce a learning manual to assist the reps to carry out their work. A project officer has been approved and will work closely with the Trade Union Regional Offices.

Who Will Do It?

DAVID BLUNKETT Secretary of State for Education & Employment.

Ron Oldfield (Trade Union Studies) "Education changes peoples lives and any scheme that increases the access to learning is welcome. We look forward to working with the AEEU to ensure that learning. opportunities for members in this region are second to none"		Hilary Jack (Humberside TEC) "Trade union representatives are ideally placed to make their members more aware of the importance and value of lifelong learning and encourage them to take part in opportunities for wider development"
Dave Gibbs (AEEU District Sec). " Learning has always been high an the union agenda. We have a proud record of achievement and this project, financed through the union learning fund, provides an opportunity for our members to be at the foreiront of Lifelong . learning as we enter the 21 st centuxy".		John Lloyd (AEEU ) National Education Officer "We are delighted as a union to lend our fullest support to the Accelerate project in Hull as it more than fulfils our unions ambitions to be associated with useful work in our community all over the land".

What Next ?

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