UNISON Ulearn Northern Ireland

I left school at 16, all I heard was that I was stupid, that I’d be getting married and didn’t need an education. I’ve been in UNISON for 25 years but didn’t realise that courses were available. It was only when we got the internet at home, that I looked at the UNISON website and rang up for a brochure.

I had been thinking about changing my career and didn’t know what I could do. My family were grown up and I thought it was time to do something for me. The Building Confidence for Women course appealed to me because that’s what I needed, a boost, I just felt very isolated and thought it could help me move forward. I really enjoyed it, there were a lot of women there my own age and I found that I had similar life experiences. It was very informal, very relaxed, no pressure and lots of encouragement. I wrote on a flipchart for the first time and I was terrified but everyone supported me to do it. It really drew out all the skills within me, I’ve 30 years experience in the health service and hadn’t felt valued.

I heard about other courses which were coming up and signed up for Stress Management. I was working in a difficult environment and thought it might help me deal with issues which were coming up. During the course, we looked at techniques to cope with different situations at work and at home. I was able to talk about issues I have having and gave me the confidence to start addressing them directly with people. This made me realise that I could deal with situations better if I had more information and training, so I decided to put myself forward as a steward in my workplace.

I did the three day Steward’s Training, there was a lot of information to take in, but it was done in a way which we could learn from each other, it was very interactive. A lot of the information confirmed what was already in my head. The course made me more determined to go out there and help people. I think it’s very important to have a UNISON steward in the workplace, I don’t need to know everything, but I know where I can get information if people need it.

A few weeks ago I went on a Pathways course, which is aimed at women to help them understand the union better. I really enjoyed Pathways, it was an overnight course and this was the first time I was away on my own since I got married. It was great, everyone was encouraged to contribute to discussions, I felt that my opinion was valued, people listened and were interested in what I had to say. It felt good, I learned a lot about the union and where I could fit in.

My husband is very proud of what I’ve achieved. When I was younger I wouldn’t have spoken in a group, but the courses I have done through UNISON have made me realise that my opinions are valuable, they have given me a lot more confidence and information to help people practically. I’ve already been talking to people in my workplace about the union and the opportunities, particularly around learning, which it offers.