UNISON Branch Welfare Officer Training is organised by UNISON’s national Learning & Organising Services Department in conjunction with UNISON’s Welfare charity ‘There for You’ and has two stages:
Stage 1: A short introductory online module (1 hour) plus the online GDPR module
Stage 2: Online Branch Welfare Officer Training Course
New Branch Welfare Officers should undertake Stage 1 training which can be accessed as follows:
Branch Welfare Officer e-note
This e-note introduces the Branch Welfare Officer role and can be accessed online whenever is convenient.
Click on the button below “Getting more involved in UNISON”, then scroll down to ‘Branch Welfare Officers’ to access the e-note. N.B. You will be prompted to create a login if you do not already have one.
Getting more Involved in UNISON
Please also read the ‘Branch Welfare Officer Guidelines’ document, available via the following link:
Completing the above will help you get started in the role and provide you with some important details on what to do and what not to do!
GDPR e-note
In any UNISON role it is important that you know how to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). As such, please complete the e-note ‘Data Protection and the GDPR’. This short, online learning module covers the requirements of GDPR and other data protection issues that UNISON branch officers need to be aware of. To access this click on the button below
Data Protection and the GDPR e-note
Stage 2: Online Branch Welfare Officer Training Course
This national online course will provide you with skills and knowledge for your Branch Welfare Officer role.
This course runs over two half day sessions from 10 am to 1 pm each day and will be delivered by There for You tutors. You will need to attend both sessions of the same course.
The course will be offered on the following dates in 2025:
| Course 1 | Day 1: Tues 13 May | Day 2: Tues 20 May |
| Course 2 | Day 1: Tues 9 Sept | Day 2: Tues 16 Sept |
| Course 3 | Day 1: Tues 11 Nov | Day 2: Tues 18 Nov |
NB: Completion of the Branch Welfare and GDPR e-notes is a requirement before attending the online course.
How to apply
These courses are delivered and administered nationally and will be advertised here https://learning.unison.org.uk/events/ once open for bookings.
Help and advice
If you are unsure about anything you are faced with in your Branch Welfare Officer role please contact staff at UNISON’s Welfare charity ‘There for You’ on 020 7121 5620 or email thereforyou@unison.co.uk
Useful Links
Branch Welfare Officer Guidelines
UNISON ‘There for You’ web pages: