Recruiting activists in Forth Valley Health

Forth Valley Health branch have successfully recruited 6 new women activists in their branch.

HOW? The branch was the first in Scotland to participate in the Pathways Programme.

What is Pathways? Pathways is a new women's development programme - designed to encourage women to take on new roles in their union. The programme has demonstrated how we can develop women's skills and confidence enabling them to become involved in their branch at whatever level they feel most confident.

How does Pathways Work? The programme is made up of a residential weekend event then a recall day eight weeks later.

The focus is on:

* Confidence building

* Exploring how the union work and how women can get involved

* Organising on issues affecting them in their own workplaces

* Tackling barriers to participation

* Collective Problem Solving

Working with Mandy Clark, Learning at Work fieldworker, a programme of branch development which included Agenda for Change contacts and an established Return to Learn Programme enabled the branch to identify potential women for the Pathways course.

Here are some comments from the course members and branch officers. "I went on the Pathways course with an open mind. After a weekend with a group of what turned out to be like minded women I had no hesitation to sign up as a steward in UNISON. Having been a member for 20 years I learned more about UNISON in that weekend than I had in the 20 years as a member, well recommended," said June Mackenzie.

"I enjoyed the weekend with Pathways. I Iearned a lot about UNISON in different ways so much so I would like to get involved and become a steward", said Ethel Thomson.

"Great team effort, enjoyed by all, very positive feedback, resulted in 60%+ of participants going on to become stewards", Ed Mitchell (Branch Education Officer)

If you think your branch would benefit from new activists contact Mandy Clark 07985119830 or Anne Cascarino 0845 355 0845

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