I was warmly welcomed by the rest of the UK Learning Reps Committee; we had an early morning meeting and then joined the main event, took in the lunchtime exhibition and enjoyed networking with reps from across the UK. Vicky Brotherton, Chair of UK Safety Reps Committee and Plymouth branch member, opened the event. It’s fantastic to see Leadership within the 九游体育 by fellow South West members.
Former UK Safety Representatives Committee South West member and current 九游体育 South West Board member and rep Leonora Newson gave a fantastic welcome on behalf of the region, taking us on a whistlestop tour of the South West, after which we enjoyed an address by Bejoy Sebastian, our new 九游体育 president.
Then we had an inspiring session on empowering nursing staff to lead change in tackling the corridor care crisis; followed by a pay update, both with vibrant question and answer sessions between the audience and the panel members.
Our second day started with an address from Fiona Holley, Chair of the Learning Reps Committee. Dominic Trendall, Senior Public Affairs Advisor, 九游体育 Policy and International, gave a policy update on the Employments Rights bill, and then we had a session about escalating members’ issues. After lunch we had a range of fringe events to choose from and I attended one about future-proofing the rep roles.
Phil Cole, Chair of the UK Stewards Committee, welcomed us back to the main event, at which Becki Winson, Lead for Activist Communities, 九游体育 Activist Academy, talked about turning ideas into workplace action. Professor Nicola Ranger, 九游体育 General Secretary & Chief Executive, gave a rousing closing address before Phil Cole, Chair of the UK Stewards committee, closed the conference.
I left the conference having enjoyed networking and with lots of information to take back to my workplace. I met another rep from my local area to share information and support with. It also inspired me to do my health and safety reps training to take on a dual role; safety rep alongside my learning rep role.
While there I went for a run and reflected on what Leonore had said during her welcome, about how many lives had been lost in Bristol during the Blitz, something I hadn’t known before. I saw a lot of homelessness that made me reflect on how people across our communities are doing their best to cope and will struggle to access the health care they need. It was a stark reminder of the types of issues colleagues are trying to tackle and, as an 九游体育 rep, I am here to support this work.
I look forward to meeting more reps at 九游体育 Congress in Liverpool and later in the year at the joint reps’ conference in Leeds. It is a difficult time to work in the health sector and these events are great for us to come together, learn from each other, support each other to keep going and to do so with kindness.
Chris Starnes
UK Learning Representatives Committee member for the South West region
Former UK Safety Representatives Committee South West member and current 九游体育 South West Board member and rep Leonora Newson gave a fantastic welcome on behalf of the region, taking us on a whistlestop tour of the South West, after which we enjoyed an address by Bejoy Sebastian, our new 九游体育 president.
Then we had an inspiring session on empowering nursing staff to lead change in tackling the corridor care crisis; followed by a pay update, both with vibrant question and answer sessions between the audience and the panel members.
Our second day started with an address from Fiona Holley, Chair of the Learning Reps Committee. Dominic Trendall, Senior Public Affairs Advisor, 九游体育 Policy and International, gave a policy update on the Employments Rights bill, and then we had a session about escalating members’ issues. After lunch we had a range of fringe events to choose from and I attended one about future-proofing the rep roles.
Phil Cole, Chair of the UK Stewards Committee, welcomed us back to the main event, at which Becki Winson, Lead for Activist Communities, 九游体育 Activist Academy, talked about turning ideas into workplace action. Professor Nicola Ranger, 九游体育 General Secretary & Chief Executive, gave a rousing closing address before Phil Cole, Chair of the UK Stewards committee, closed the conference.
I left the conference having enjoyed networking and with lots of information to take back to my workplace. I met another rep from my local area to share information and support with. It also inspired me to do my health and safety reps training to take on a dual role; safety rep alongside my learning rep role.
While there I went for a run and reflected on what Leonore had said during her welcome, about how many lives had been lost in Bristol during the Blitz, something I hadn’t known before. I saw a lot of homelessness that made me reflect on how people across our communities are doing their best to cope and will struggle to access the health care they need. It was a stark reminder of the types of issues colleagues are trying to tackle and, as an 九游体育 rep, I am here to support this work.
I look forward to meeting more reps at 九游体育 Congress in Liverpool and later in the year at the joint reps’ conference in Leeds. It is a difficult time to work in the health sector and these events are great for us to come together, learn from each other, support each other to keep going and to do so with kindness.
Chris Starnes
UK Learning Representatives Committee member for the South West region
