Fun On-line things for you to do for the Holidays

Now that we are nearing the holiday period, many of us are thinking of ways to enjoy the season    without spending loads of money while still doing something to show our loved ones we care.

Here are a few ideas for online fun this year:

You can make a personalised video of Santa's messages for your young ones---FREE

http://www.portablenorthpole.com/home

You can follow Santa's path from the North Pole on Christmas eve here, gather 'round the laptop/tablet/phone and get updates on his progress---FREE

http://www.noradsanta.org/en/

You can arrange for Mickey Mouse to give someone a call---FREE

https://magicalcallfrommickey.com/

You can make a holiday cards for & of your friends---(Some are FREE & some cost a minimal subscription rate annually)

http://www.jibjab.com/holidays

You (or you & a child or your child) can make a free story book on Story Bird over the holidays & spend some creative fun time with the kids---FREE (unless you would like a print copy).

http://storybird.com/explore/

(Who knows you may have a budding writeron your hands!)

This year-old poster is still bang on trend:

Wishing you all a very happy holiday season & 2013!!!

You will find these and many other helpful online tools on this pin board "DIGITAL CHAMPIONS" on Pinterest:

http://pinterest.com/gabyell13/digital-champions/

Keep on staying warm, friends, 
Your ULRs

New Learning Opportunities & Tools

Well the dark nights are drawing in again and soon we'll be breaking out the mince pies and the mulled tipple of our choice.  Before you sit down to your "long Winter's night" here a few items of interest:


First is a memo from our O&S Learning Champion, Hilary Hallas:

Possible career development workshops at Boston Spa

 

It is quite a while since career development workshops were offerd to Boston Spa staff and Sarah MacEwan, Learning & Development Manager, is therefore keen to guage whether there would be any interest in these, for the first quarter of 2013.

There are three workshops:

1) What do you want from your career? (3hrs) - covers manaing personal change, making informed choices about the future, identifying work skills and strengths and knowing what support is available.

2) Applying for jobs (3hrs) - covers how to complete an application form and prepare a CV, matching skills and strengths to competencies and the Library's online application system.

3) Interview skills (4 hrs) - covers how to prepare for an interview and interview skills practice.

Its not necessary to do all three, though if anyone is doing all three, they should be done in this order. 

If you are interested  please email Sarah.MacEwan@bl.uk  or  Training Course Bookings to express an interest and go on the waiting list. 

 For more information please see:

http://intranet.bl.uk/suppservices/learningdev/courses/careerdevelopment/workshops/index.html

Many Thanks

Hilary

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And now an opportunity from Prospect for members:

Working in partnership with FDA and DODS Parliamentary Communications Ltd, Prospect would draw your attention to this exciting 1 day conference,Professions into Leadership Conference, 12 December 2012.  It will explore the challenges and opportunities for advancement for specialists and professionals into civil service leadership roles. The standard rates are £295 plus VAT per place with a reduced rate of £250 for 4 or more bookings from same person. However, for Prospect members there is a special reduced rate which is £245 plus VAT per place with a reduced rate of £200 for 4 or more bookings from same person.

For further details and to register your interest in attending visit www.professionsintoleadership.co.uk or contact Alex Bond at alex.bond@dods.co.uk or call             020 7593 5502      

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 If you or anyone you know has a disability that makes it difficult to use a computer there is a great BBC website you ought to know about:

My web my way provides advice and help on how to get the most of the accessibility features and assistive technologies available for your computer, so that you can view BBC Online and the rest of the web in a more accessible way.

This heart of the site is the How to guides section, which shows you how to customise the accessibility features of your computer setup or web browser. It also includes guides and factsheets that introduce the range of assistive technologies that are available.

• The Disability on BBC Online section highlights the access services that are available and points you in the direction of disability and accessibility related content across the BBC website.

• The Best practice section demonstrates how the BBC applies its accessibility policy, has video case studies that show why this is needed, and provides resources for ensuring best practice.

My web my way has been developed and maintained through a partnership between BBC Online and AbilityNet, a leading UK computing and disability charity. It is based on AbilityNet's original My Computer, My Way site.

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You will find this and many other helpful online tools on this pin board "DIGITAL CHAMPIONS" on Pinterest:

http://pinterest.com/pin/103864335127830585/

Stay warm friends, 
Your ULRs

Autumn is here, back to School, back to Learning!

It seems no time at all since we were holding the Learning at Work Days.  Here are a few photos from these days in May---

Hilary Hallas (O&S Training Manager) gets a QR Code tag from ULR for PCS, Sara Wood-Ripley

Kate Antioniou, Prospect ULR Coordinator at the Prospect table, while PCS rep, Melanie Johnson investigates the handouts.

This is the PCS stand with Sarah Wood-Ripley, PCS ULR

Sarah Wood-Riley (PCS ULR) & Andy Robinson (Prospect ULR) were in charge of the QR code stand

Since then, it has been a quiet summer for the ULRs being a "man down" due to an injury for one of our number & wish this member well & hopes they bounce back soon!

Of note currently in the BL---The Organisation Development team are setting up a mentor/mentee programme.  They have gathered a group of mentors but are still looking for mentees to participate.  To find out more, check the internet for details or contact Sarah MacEwan in Organisation Development.

There is some Digital Champion training going on for one of our ULRs and she is considering organising a "Digital Swap Shop" for digital learning.  If there is enough interest, we would develop a board where people can swap instructions with others.  People would tell which programmes or applications they were confident in showing someone how to use & in turn, what they would like to learn and we could swap the talents of all the participants.

So, for example, Bill who is a wiz at digital photography gives Sally some informal tuition on  digital photos.  Bill wants to know how to use Skype so Jack shows him. Jack needs to know how to use Powerpoint and Sally shows him. 

If you think this is a good idea, please let one of the ULRs know, a brief email will suffice.

This month's new hot online site is ipadio

http://www.ipadio.com/

Ipadio is an interface for podcasting, if you have a phone you can use it.  You could make reports back to your team from an event you are attending with this tool.  You might use it to archive demonstrations or even wish someone well from far away.  

We'll be keeping you posted with all things learning, happy autumn all!

Learning At Work Day is upon us

The 2012 Learning at Work events at the Library will be presented

 on Tuesday 22nd May in Boston Spa in the Conference Suite

and on Tuesday 29th May in St Pancras Panizzi Room & corridor (Floor 4)

Both events are 10:30 AM until 2:00 PM

"The number one benefit of information technology is that it empowers people to do what they want to do. It lets people be creative. It lets people be productive. It lets people learn things they didn't think they could learn before, and so in a sense it is all about potential."---Steve Ballmer

This year’s Learning at Work Days are all about learning through the use of technology and digital information. 

We'll have a range of stands with demonstrations, hands-on activities and opportunities to talk to experts, ask questions and get advice. There’ll be some fun activities too. 

Attend in work time as long as you have your manager's permission. 

Talks – on 22nd, 23rd and 30th May - six staff experts give short talks on some of the digital developments happening around the Library and how we are exploiting digital technologies to engage with users and shape the future. Full programme at- 

http://intranet.bl.uk/newsevents/archive/2012/law2012programmetalks.html

Book talks now but otherwise just come along to the exhibition events on the day. This event supports the Digital Skills strategy. 

Learning at Work (LAW) Day is an annual awareness campaign organised by the Campaign for Learning (CfL) since 1999. LAW Day promotes and supports workplace learning events across the country. It aims to draw attention to the importance of workplace learning and skills. It encourages people to offer learning to all employees especially to those that may not participate in current learning opportunities. 

LAW Day is part of Adult Learners' Week.

The Campaign for Learning believes that it is more important than ever that workplaces and individuals maintain and develop their skills levels and motivation to learn in order to adapt and thrive in the economic downturn. Each year, thousands of organisations take part in LAW Day and stage fun and business-related learning activities that promote learning, provide a catalyst for change and support their employees to learn new skills that they can put into action at work and beyond. By getting involved in the biggest annual celebration of workplace learning you could uncover new skills, build new partnerships and help reach your business goals - all at the same time!

We have a constructed a quiz to help you employ good online researching skills, utilising in part, an Olympic theme in recognition of the forthcoming 2012 Olympic Games.  Make sure you stop by the Prospect or PCS stands to pick up your copy.  You will have until 1st June 2012 to complete it.

Many More Announcements

Important dates for your calendars:

The BL's Learning at work 2012 Event

Will be on Tuesday 22nd May in Boston Spa

and

 Tuesday 29th May in London

More news and information to come

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Shawn Achor: The happy secret to better work

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12:21 minute long talk

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Dear Colleagues,

Human Resources Organisation Development is in the position to offer a Confidence in Handling Challenging Conversations workshopat St Pancras and Boston Spa. Please see attached.

We are asking for your support in drumming up interest by informing staff members within your directorate and or within your trade union of this opportunity available.

If you or any of your colleagues would like to book a place or to express interest, please contact me via godfrey.waite@bl.uk or telephone x 7275.

Regards,

Godfrey Waite

This workshop will offer practical techniques to handle potentially
difficult conversations with colleagues effectively and with
confidence.


Anyone who manages staff and/or has to deliver challenging
conversations with accountability, in the work place.


Delegates will:

·         Have a clearer understanding of the value of working with a moderate amount of substantive conflict as a manager.

·         To be aware of conflict management strategies to widen the participant’s toolkit of management skills.

·         To enhance knowledge of how to respond to staff in challenging work place situations.

·         Support development in the following competencies: personal and professional impact, leading change, managing and developing people.

St Pancras:     28 March 2012      9:00 – 12:45 or 13:15 – 17:00

                        20 April 2012         9:00 – 12:45 or 13:15 – 17:00

 Boston Spa:   2 March 2012         9:00 – 12:45 or 13:15 – 17:00

                      27 March 2012        9:00 – 12:45 or 13:15 – 17:00

Email Godfrey Waite or telephone him on ext 7275

Please ensure you have the approval of your line manager to attend.

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For Union members ONLY:

Dear Colleagues,

Unionlearn in Yorkshire & the Humber are developing a Green Skills forum for reps and others who have an interest in this agenda.  This will be held on a quarterly basis throughout the region.

The inaugural event will be held at the unionlearn offices on the 20th March 2012 starting at 9.30am  and will be a chance to familiarise yourself with new, existing and future initiatives concerning this key development area of work.

The event will give Union Learning Reps the opportunity to shape how this new forum will work and to have their say on key ‘Green Issues’ in and around the region.

The forum will provide a platform to discuss and identify implementation tools, strategies and local initiatives from theory to practice, draw on current research to discuss future ideas as well as to identify the obstacles and challenges lying ahead for the development of skills, education and training policies for a low carbon economy.

The forum itself is expected to:

·         Compare methods and tools used in monitoring and evaluating developments in the green economy and local labour markets.

·         Indicate how research can support better targeted policy making and skills strategies.

·         Provide inspiration and ideas for future research and collaboration.

·         Promote the sharing of best practice between unions, individual reps and workplaces.

·         Develop strategies to support members within the region

The forum will be taking place at the unionlearn offices at 33 Park Place, Leeds, LS1 2RY on Thursday 20th March 2012 from 9.30am and will be followed by a networking lunch at around 12.30 (lunch will be provided)

If you are interested in attending this event could you please confirm your intention along with any dietary requirements to the following email address – afox@tuc.org.uk by Friday 9^th March. 

Places are limited so will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

Kind Regards

  

Addam Fox

Unionlearn with Yorkshire and the Humber TUC

33 Park Place

Leeds

LS1 2RY

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For Prospect members ONLY:

If any Prospect members are interested in the CareerPlus Workshop for Leeds on 8^th March at 3 Albion Place Leeds, LS1 6JL.  please email me at pauline.tee@prospect.org.uk

Many Thanks

 Pauline

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Pauline Tee ULF Project Development Worker M:             07834 451785       E: pauline.tee@prospect.org.uk www.twitter.com/prospectunion

Prospect Head Office New Prospect House 8 Leake Street London SE1 7NN www.prospect.org.uk

 Prospect CareerPlus Workshop

Career Transitions

Thursday, 8^th March 2012 – 3 Albion Place, Leeds

Aim:

To equip participants with the awareness and skills necessary to manage the range of career transitions that they will face in this current climate of change

Enable participants to:

§        appreciate the emotional journey that they are facing as they embark on the next stage of their personal career development

§        create an awareness of their marketable skills and an understanding of how to describe these effectively to potential recruiters

§        develop an understanding of what recruiters look for on CVs and applications

§        gain greater confidence in how to deal with interviews through effective preparation

§        consider a range of job hunting tactics and how to choose the most appropriate methods for their circumstances

§        develop greater confidence in their ability to network effectively in their job hunting

§        formulate a clear plan of action of their next steps

10.00 am         Tea & Coffee and Welcome

10.15                                Session 1: Introduction

10.45                              Session 2:  Career Transition        

11.15                              Session 3: Transferring Skills and Competencies in the Marketplace

12.00   pm      Coffee/Tea

12.15               Session 4: Intelligent Job Hunting

1.15                                  Lunch

2.00                 Session 5: Effective Applications

3.00                 Tea/Coffee

3.15                 Session 6: Interviews

4.00                 Session 7: Review of Day, Action Setting and Wrap Up

4.30                 Close

Lots of news to share!

It's been a while since the last post, but there really is a lot going on right now. So here's a catch up for you all

For Prospect Members---

Dear Colleagues

INTERNATIONAL AND STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT (2012 TRAINING DATES)

The work undertaken by the development advocates as part of the recently concluded 3 year project and reported fully in the “World of Difference” report is indicative of the workplace activities that members and representatives can get involved with via the Prospect international agenda. 

The case studies from the various sectors demonstrate a vibrant trade union approach to addressing global challenges with a focus on how we can become effective stakeholders to make a difference to our employer’s corporate social responsibility, sustainability and procurement policies and practices.

Equally important is meeting member and representative aspirations to support calls for trade union solidarity, raise awareness of humanitarian and natural disaster efforts, campaign for the rights of others less fortunate and to support developing world projects through the NGOs and global union federations Prospect is affiliated to.

From the pilot work two courses have been developed to inform, empower and enable Prospect members and representatives to become involved with the global agenda. 

These courses are:

   

Who should attend?

·       Individual Prospect members: Prospect members who have an interest in global issues and poverty alleviation and want to contribute to making the world a better place.

·       Branch nominated: Branches wishing to nominate a member to keep Branch committees informed of initiatives, campaigns and events.

·       Other representatives: There is an increasing awareness of the global reach of the organisations we work for and there is an international dimension (and a role to play) for health and safety, union learn, environment and equality representatives.  This is not aimed at increasing their workplace activity but about wider implications and impact of globalisation.

Branch workshops, committee presentations and briefings

The global or international agenda is broad and any branch wishing to explore global issues that is either industry specific or relates to Prospect’s work in Kenya, establishing FairTrade, corporate procurement (PPE and corporate clothing for example), corporate social responsibility, sustainable development, climate change, operations in emerging markets, global agreements, European Works Councils, professional migrant labour and supporting charities/philanthropy, a range of bespoke training or briefing sessions can be designed to meet the Branches’ requirements.

The application for national training is below.  Bespoke training event enquiries should be directed to Beverley.hall@prospect.org.uk

Yours sincerely

  

BEVERLEY HALL

International Development Co-ordinator

Post referred to us by:

Kate Antoniou

ULF Project Development Worker

Prospect Head OfficeNew Prospect House

8 Leake Street

London

SE1 7NN

www.prospect.org.uk

www.twitter.com/prospectunion

Please contact one of your ULRs for more information and application forms

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For All---For those still long winter evenings by the fire...

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/32V6ue/www.onlineschools.org/2009/11/03/100-essential-reads-for-the-lifelong-learner/

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For All---If you have children, you may want to consider this:

Why not hold a Family Reading Break?        - inspire families to read and learn together
Research shows that parents' reading habits are the single most important factor in     children's literacy and reading, so that's why we're encouraging organisations     nationwide to hold a Family Reading Break and develop a love of reading on      World Book Day, Thursday 1 March 2012.     Family Reading Breaks provide a great opportunity to talk to mums, dads and carers      about their reading and how they can become reading role-models for their children.     At a Family Reading Break, children and their parents or carers      read and learn together with World Book Day books for children and      Quick Reads books for adults.         All you need to do is provide the space,      the books and a few activities (some great ideas are outlined in our      Family Reading Break toolkit).
How to join in: ·                     Download the Family Reading Break toolkit  lots of inspiration. ·                     Pre-order a Family Reading Break Pack, complete with 16 World Book Day    books for children aged 2-10 and 16 Quick Reads for adults, for just £35.    That's just over £1 per book!   ·                     Download a Quick Reads 2012 poster ·                     Access Quick Reads branding and World Book Day branding  ·                     Register now for further information and updates on how we can support you.
A Family Reading Break is the perfect way to start World Book Day.     However, you could hold sessions at other times (lunchtime or after school)    that are convenient for parents and carers, so they can join their children     and take part in activities where they develop a shared interest in     reading and learning together.    You could also get in touch with your local library or family learning service     and ask them to get involved too.    Quick Reads are made available at cost by authors and publishers     to support the Quick Reads charity.    Visit www.quickreads.org.uk/familyreadingbreaks to find out more.

 Eight brand-new Quick Reads are now available

 To celebrate the launch of the eight brand-new titles this month, 

 why not hold some reading events to encourage adults 

 to fall in love with reading?  

 
Here's how you could get involved: 

Hold a Quick Reads Reading Break and engage  as many adults as possible in reading activities.  Organisers across the country can download free toolkits  from the Quick Reads website to support Reading Breaks. Buy the brand new titles. Quick Reads are available from  supermarkets, bookshops and online.  You can also orderWorkplace packs and  Family Reading Break packs, which include  discounted copies of the brand-new titles. _________________________________________________________________ Please become a follower of this blog, it's absolutely free and so easy to do  and you will ensure you don’t miss a post. Thanks! From all your ULRS at the BL, Melanie Johnson, PCS [London] Iwona Jurkiewicz, Prospect [London] Marjorie Newson, Prospect [Boston Spa] Andy Robinson, Prospect [Boston Spa] Sarah Wood-Ripley, PCS [Boston Spa]