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TUC South West Black Talent Programme 2022/23

Apply for our new and exciting Black Talent Programme for Black, Asian and ethnic minority trade unionists in the South West.
Our objectives

Trade unions have a good record in fighting for greater equality and fairness at work. But we need more Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) activists, reps and officers in our movement. 

Tackling racism includes finding and developing new Black talent at all levels. 

With this in mind, TUC South West are pleased to announce the launch of a year-long Black Talent Programme that will support, uplift and provide skills training to BAME trade unionists. 

There is a short application form to complete for those who wish to participate in the programme. This can be done online or using the paper form (see below). Please contact TUC South West if you need it in an alternative format. 

**All applications must be received no later than 12noon, Monday 7 March 2022.** 

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About the course

Timetable  

The programme will run throughout 2022-23. 

Most of the course dates have been set with a few still to be confirmed due to the Covid pandemic, but we will give students as much notice as possible to ensure you can continue to attend and participate in full. We strongly recommend you carefully consider the timetable below and check whether you can fully commit to this year-long course.  

Key dates 

6 April 2022 - online 
13 - 15 May 2022 - residential/in-person  
16 June 2022  
5 July 2022  
Parliament and Congress House visit - October TBC  
10 November 2022  
1 December 2022  
15 February 2023  
17 March 2023  
TUC South West Annual Conference - April weekend TBC  

Who can apply? 

The TUC welcomes applications from trade union members, activists, reps, and officers who work or live in the South West and self-identify as Black, Asian or from any other ethnic minority background. We would like to see applications from trade unionists who are keen to broaden their skills, advance in their roles and union, and help us achieve the changes we need to make the working world fairer, more equal and just. 

I'm a union official and want to nominate someone. 

If you know someone who would be perfect for this programme, we welcome referrals from trade union officials. Simply email southwest@tuc.org.uk with their full name and email address and we will reach out to them with all the information and details on how to apply. We've found that in previous programmes a formal nomination greatly boosts the confidence and potential of those being nominated, helps further recognise their role in the union and also means we can help support them during the application stage. 

If you do wish to nominate someone, please do so no later than Monday 21 February so that the individual has enough time to complete and send in their application to us. 

How much is the programme?

Costs are involved when participating in this programme, but we do not expect these to be borne by the individual. 
To ensure this, we are asking participant's respective trade union and/or branch to agree with the student that the union will:

  • Cover the travel expenses to and from training dates (including to and from London), and
  • Agree to pay £500 to the TUC South West which will be used to fund accommodation and food costs during the residential training days. 

Some unions may also wish to cover other individual costs if and as required by the student (e.g. IT provision for online sessions; lunch costs; child care, etc).  This is at the discretion of the union or branch. 

The TUC will cover all other remaining costs of the programme, including meeting room bookings, surplus accommodation costs, tutor salary, guest speakers, and meals during overnight stays. 

We recommend interested applicants speak to their union, branch or nominating officer BEFORE before submitting their application to ensure they will be fully (financially) supported. Please ensure you do this to avoid disappointment later on and/or delays. 

The application form will also ask you to give the contact details of the individual union official who can administer and/or sign off on your financial support. 


What if my union refuses to pay/can't afford it? 

We do not wish for costs to be a barrier. If you are concerned your union has insufficient funds, please get in touch with the South West TUC team so we can discuss options. 

What will I learn on the course?

The course will include various activities and learning opportunities to enhance the students' skills. This will include: communicating as a trade unionist, writing motions and speeches, understanding union structures, breaking through barriers, running campaigns, organising for power, leading projects and networking. 

This programme will therefore suit any trade unionist looking to step up into a new role or position of influence within their branches and unions. We will also enable networking opportunities with leading union officials, provide support in finding mentors, and invite guest speakers from the trade union, labour and political movement to share their stories and advice with the group. 

Students will also be working on a collective project(s) throughout the year that will be presented at the TUC South West Annual Conference in April 2023 at Croyde Bay, Devon. As a result, we have included open training days to ensure additional and specific training can be provided to support the students' project(s). 

>> Apply online here <<

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