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UNISON Open College Grants and Bursaries.

Introduction
The purpose of the scheme is to provide financial help to UNISON members on trade union and labour studies courses, and to members in general non-vocational education.

There is no support available for vocational courses, WEA courses or professional updating courses. It is appreciated that for many members this will be a disappointment, but with limited funds available the NEC decided that support should be concentrated on those areas directly related to the Trade Union Movement or to improve general education.

There are four types of award available: bursary, flexible bursary, Open University award and book grant. An explanation of each of these is given below. The UNISON Rule Book sets out the following general qualification and conditions for receipt of an award.

(i) Membership of UNISON for at least 13 weeks prior to the member applying for the grant concerned.

(ii) No arrears of subscription.

(iii) The member continues to pay all membership subscriptions required from her/him throughout the time that she/he is in education and training supported by the award, unless the NEC dispenses with this requirement in her/his case.

Types of Assistance Available Under the Scheme

1. Bursaries to Ruskin College, Northern College, Coleg Harlech, New Battle Abbey.

2. Flexible bursaries for members undertaking courses on trade union or related studies.

3. Open University awards for members undertaking OU courses leading to BA/BSc degrees.

4. Book grants for trade union or labour studies courses, or non-vocational general education courses.


A leaflet and application form is available from:

UNISON Open College
1 Mabledon Place, London WC1H 9AJ
Tel: 020 7551 1154
Fax: 020 7551 1758
Email: b.hurst@unison.co.uk


A New Degree Programme for Activists
BA Organisation of Work, Economics and Labour Law
Birkbeck, University of London in association with the Institute of Employment Rights.

A new degree programme is now being offered by Birkbeck, which is designed for those who are involved or wish to be involved in work organisation, worker representation and collective bargaining, and also for anyone interested in how the workplace is governed.

This innovative course will be offered as a combination of 3 block release weeks per year with students undertaking self - study and assignments between each block. Students will be able to progress from Certificate level in Year 1 through to BA Honours at the end of Year 4.

UNISON members will be entitled to apply for a flexible bursary to assist with course costs. Please contact Brenda Hurst at b.hurst@unison.co.uk for information.

Further information about the course please contact Gilly Gambardella by phone on 020 7631 6836 or by email g.gambardella@bbk.ac.uk

 

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'Thank you and all the others involved in the decision making process for the flexible bursary, this will keep me in books and sundries over the next couple of terms or so'
Jim Findlay

'I take this opportunity to record my grateful thanks for this sum and for your speedy and efficient handling of my application'
A Stubbs

"I would like to thank UNISON for awarding me a book grant for my studies. This grant is very much appreciated, as a single parent, sometimes to buy books for this purpose is a real difficulty".
Serena Thompson