Activist Education Courses 2026 – Guidance for branches
Application procedure
- Course applications are administered by the Region’s Learning & Member Development (LMD) Team. The team can be contacted by emailing LMD@unison.co.uk
- Applicants must submit an online course application form located on the course web pages promptly and by any advertised closing date. Meeting the closing date tells the LMD Team whether a course has sufficient numbers to make it viable.
- Late applications may be accepted subject to availability of places. Please contact the LMD Team to check the course status.
- Applicants will be contacted via their chosen email address to confirm course arrangements.
Branch approval
- Courses are free to individual workplace reps. Course fees are payable by the branch, along with the attendee’s travel/subsistence expenses.
- The LMD Team will email the branch seeking approval for each applicant’s attendance on the course and the branch’s agreement to pay the course fee and other associated expenses. A prompt response from the branch would be greatly appreciated.
- If the branch is unwilling to approve an applicant’s course attendance they should let the LMD Team know urgently. The branch should also contact the applicant to inform them of the branch’s decision and the reason(s) why.
- If the LMD Team have contacted the branch for approval on more than one occasion and no response has been received, where course dates are imminent the LMD Team may need to assume an application is approved to ensure the applicant receives the relevant joining information in sufficient time.
Course support
- Branches should look to allocate a buddy or mentor to support their new rep both during the course and going forward as they embark on their role.
Confirmation of a place on a course
- Course places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis. Provided there is a place available, the applicant’s place will be confirmed on receipt of their application.
- Applicants will be informed that their course place is confirmed subject to receipt of branch approval.
- Courses will run provided there are sufficient delegates and no unforeseen events resulting in course cancellation. Any cancellations will be advised to delegates with as much notice as possible.
- Nearer the course dates the LMD team will send a ‘joining instructions’ email to course delegates. Applicants who have not heard from the LMD Team by two weeks before the course start date should email LMD@unison.co.uk
- Applicants should NOT attend a course if they have not received confirmation of their course place. Doing so creates problems with room capacity, course materials and catering arrangements and breaches the Region’s branch approval procedures. Consequently, admittance to the course can be refused.
Activist positions on the membership system
- Appointed reps should be indicated as such on the membership system. Failure to do so means reps miss out on mailings relating to their role and for stewards, a delay in confirmation of ERA accreditation. The Region’s RMS team at rms@unison.co.uk or the LMD Team at LMD@unison.co.uk can assist if needed.
Course fees
- Course fees are shown on our web pages. Branches will be charged course fees by automatic deduction after the course has finished and will receive notification of intention to deduct funds.
Expenses
- Travel and subsistence costs are paid by the branch. Branches should make reps aware of the branch’s procedure for claiming expenses.
Facilitation / special dietary needs
- It is important that applicants provide full details when applying of any facilitation needs that will assist them to fully participate in the course. Dietary needs also need to be clearly stated on the application form.
Accommodation
- Activist courses are non-residential. The branch is responsible for booking any overnight accommodation and payment of any associated costs.
Course cancellations
- If a delegate cannot attend a course it is essential they urgently contact the LMD Team at LMD@unison.co.uk .
Course cancellations will be charged as follows for in-person and online courses:
| Scenario | Cancellation charges |
|
Cancellation notified after the closing date but before the start of the course and a replacement delegate can be found
|
No charge |
|
Cancellation notified after the closing date but before the start of the course and a replacement delegate cannot be found
|
Course fee charged or actual course costs (i.e. venue costs etc.), whichever is the greater |
|
Failure to attend the course
|
Course fee charged or actual course costs (i.e. venue costs etc.), whichever is the greater
|
|
Cancellation of facilitation arrangements
|
Facilitation costs charged |
Appeals against cancellation charges should be directed to the Regional Organiser (Education) in the first instance.
Time off to attend workplace rep courses
- Stewards, health & safety representatives and union learning representatives in workplaces that recognise UNISON have a legal right to paid time off to attend training relevant to their role. This applies to both in-person and online courses.
- Please encourage your rep to arrange time off with their employer as soon as possible and assist them should they have any difficulties in this regard. The ‘Application to the Employer for Time Off’ form is available on the LMD web pages, which reps can use to apply to their employer for time off. Reps should keep a copy of the completed form and pass a copy to the branch as a record of what has been agreed. Completed time off forms do not need to be sent to the region.