UNISON learning reps at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust held a Reading Ahead event on Tuesday 6th June in the canteen at the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds to raise awareness of reading for fun and to promote a workplace reading club.

UNISON Union Learning Reps Samm Smith and Helen Else, along with Lead ULR Laura Wilkes, organised the event and were very pleased with the results. They were kept busy as staff dropped by the stall throughout the day. During the event they issued over 50 Reading Ahead diaries, gave out lots of free Quick Reads and encouraged a number of staff members to join the workplace reading club.

Helen is a school teacher who teaches on Fridays and works rest of the week for the trust, and understands the learning needs of her members, actively supporting learning in her branch.

Helen said:

I encourage members to access as much learning as possible. Quick Reads are a great way to do this, and as a bonus one of the books even has a desert cookery recipe inside.  How good is that!"

The event was also attended by UNISON’s new National Learning & Development Organiser, Oreleo Du Cran and overseen by Cheryl Godber, UNISON’s Regional Officer (Education).

Oreleo was really impressed by the partnership working at the Trust and said:

There is a great relationship between UNISON and the Trust’s management. They understand the needs of their employees and actively encourage staff development.

UNISON will be meeting with the Workforce Development Team soon to discuss their apprenticeship programme as well as developing more opportunities to complete courses such as functional skills."

The event was organised with the support of the Trust Convenor & Branch Secretary of the UNISON’s Suffolk Area Health Branch, Paul Pearson. Paul is fully behind the learning agenda and offers support to all branch ULRs.

Paul said:

The Reading Ahead launch in the Timeout staff restaurant was a great success. The majority of people who signed up to Reading Ahead did so during that event and we now have over 50 staff participants.

West Suffolk Hospital Library worked in conjunction with the UNISON reps to ensure that the day ran smoothly. Oreleo’s attendance demonstrated that we have UNISON support from national level, and Trust HR Director, Jan Bloomfield, even stopped by to sign up.

Several members of staff came up to our stand, specifically, to speak to the reps so it was an added bonus having them there.

One UNISON member in particular springs to mind. She had a specific request for help and our reps were able to answer her questions and quickly managed to obtain the paperwork this UNISON member needed to address her issue. There has subsequently been membership recruitment as a result of the raised profile due to the reading ahead event."

It didn’t stop at the event and Laura also organised a follow up activity that was held on the 20th June between called The Book Club Session where those who have signed up can exchange the Quick Read books that they received for free earlier in the month.