What is the Wales Union Learning Fund, WULF?

WULF works by targeting and accessing unionised, organised workplaces and workers. Union reps and officials work in partnership with managers, providers, learners and stakeholders to meet targets and provide life changing assistance and support packages.

WULF is delivered by unions to provide learning opportunities to all workers in Wales. WULF aims to up-skill, build confidence, and provide individualised support to progress.

Many union-led WULF projects recruit, train and support ULRs.  ULRs can play a key role to help achieve WULF successes. Together WULF and ULRs can develop and establish long lasting, sustainable workplace learning initiatives.

Who delivers WULF?

A lead union has responsibility for delivering outcomes, overcoming challenges, reducing barriers and achieving success.  The lead union will work with a variety of partners to ensure high quality and needs driven delivery.   

Who funds WULF?

Welsh Government directly funds WULF.  WULF also generates co-investment and often receives in kind support from the union and partners.  

WULF works in partnership, is delivered by a lead union and supported by key stakeholders and partners such as learning organisations, providers and workplaces. 

Example of co-investment:  A project is usually based and managed at a union office.  The office spaces, equipment, overheads and staff time may be provided as an in-kind investment and at no charge to Welsh Government or the fund.

What can WULF fund?

WULF can fund a variety of learning and upskilling support and options.  If in doubt, check with your WULF Project Manager / lead.

Example activity:

• Employability Skills
• Essential Skills
• Digital and ICT Skills
• Vocational training/qualifications
• Job search support
• Personal development
• Health and wellbeing courses
• Progression and professional development
• Equality, inclusion and diversity
• Age related support, e.g. mid-life reviews
• Green skills
• Access courses
• Redundancy support

How do unions access WULF?

WULF operates a bidding round system.  Welsh Government opens bidding rounds by publishing a prospectus and inviting unions to complete an application.  Applications are assessed by a panel, successful projects start in April and run on a financial year basis.

Download Welsh Government 2022 - 25 Prospectus English | Welsh

There are currently 18 projects running that were granted approval to deliver from April 2022 to March 2025.  List of current WULF projects and their contact details can be viewed here.

Success

WULF aims to achieve success against the main pillars set out in the Welsh Government Employability Plan.  

Aims and targets get set during the application process and are agreed by the panel.  These aims, targets and outcomes ae regularly reviewed.

WULF successfully achieves against and promotes many Welsh Government policies and strategies, from health and wellbeing, the economy to equality.

Equality, Fair Work and WULF

Equality runs through the heart of Fair Work and union led learning and skills delivery models and initiatives.

Through WULF, unions embed good practice models to widen access to learning, by improving workplace policy on topics such as health and wellbeing, inclusion, diversity and meeting the needs of underrepresented groups.

The Wales TUC, with support from unions are campaigning to make Wales a Fair Work Nation – where workers get a better deal to learn, earn and thrive.