07


Save union learning


not be more vital. Te Union Learning Fund (ULF) supports more than 200,000 workers a year with skills training and career development. NUJ members living in England have access to free workshops, webinars and a range of resources as part of a Federation of Entertainment Unions project, FEU Training. Te project is aimed at freelances in the media and creative industries, but its courses are equally useful and open to non-freelances. FEU Training offers a range of


T


he UK government has decided to scrap the union-led training project in England next year – just when it could


practical sessions, for example an introduction to Instagram or vlogging, courses on how to run a self-employed business, as well as workshops and webinars on keeping motivated and dealing with setbacks. Journalist Emma Sheppard said:


“Apart from the workshop content, which was really useful, I enjoyed chating to everyone there. It was such a lovely group and everyone was so friendly and supportive… the networking opportunities are fantastic.” Covid-19 has exposed just how


Union-led


training FEU Training: www.feutraining.org/ NUJ Training Scotland: www.nujtrainingscotland.com/ NUJ Training Wales: www.nujtrainingwales.org/ TUC Education: www.tuceducation.org.uk/ Working safely through the pandemic: contact tutraining@nuj. org.uk to book a bespoke 90-minute webinar for your branch.


precarious life can be as a freelance and since many journalists forced into becoming freelance have now been made redundant, FEU Training is more relevant than ever. Te scheme costs £12m a year – peanuts in the scheme of government money being spent at present. It is also outstanding value: for every £1 spent, workers using the ULF gained £7.60 in beter pay, while employers got a £4.70 liſt through higher productivity and an independent evaluation said the economic contribution


of the project was approximately £13m. Branches have a role to play in


geting the government to reverse its decision to end the scheme in April 2021. Make sure you put the Save Union Learning campaign on your next branch agenda. Find out more: htps://www.nuj.org.uk/ campaigns/saveunionlearning/ FEU Training has courses up to


March but the union-led training projects in Wales and Scotland will continue to be funded and, because the course are online, many of them are open to members elsewhere.


Sign and share the petition: htps://


Action •


www.megaphone.org.uk/petitions/uk- gov-don-t-cut-union-learning


Support on social media with hashtag #SaveUnionLearning


Write to your MP:


• •


htps://www.nuj.org.uk/documents/ saveunionlearning-mps-leter/


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