Wales/Cymru
Regional Update from your Convenor - Justin Stapley
January - March 2009
Dear Members,
Following the Barnardo's Unison Annual General Meeting in March, I thought I would take the opportunity to update you on Unison activity and news within the region.
Membership and Active Members
When I first became an active Barnardo's Unison member within Wales almost 2 ½ years ago, we had membership of approximately 70 members and no active Stewards, as a region we relied completely on Bob Woods (Branch Secretary) and Stewards from other regions and nations. The good news is that we now have almost 140 members, a Regional Convenor (me) and 2 new Stewards who have recently come on board, namely Mark Grandon and Michelle Godfrey. Mark and Michelle are both due to undertake some essential training over the next couple of months and are both keen to get involved in Unison activity. We also have a Workplace contact based in Powys - Anna Coady. As always we are still looking to recruit more Stewards so if you think you may be interested please contact the Branch Office or myself for more information.
During April I will be sending out a Steward Introduction form which will tell you a little bit about Mark, Michelle and me and how to contact us etc.
Becoming Organised - Regional Meetings & Events
As a region we have become more organised and now have a representative on most meetings within Wales.
I am currently the representative on the All Wales Health & Safety Meeting and attended (via video conference) on the 17th February. This was the first time we have had a representative on this meeting so it was something of a fact finding mission for me, and also an opportunity to inform Barnardo's Cymru of the branches developments with regards to Health & Safety. The group next meets on the 19th May and I would like to use this and future meetings as an arena to voice member's issues/concerns regarding Health & Safety so please contact me. Please note that this meeting is for Children's Services only.
We continue to attend and give a presentation at Barnardo's Cymru Induction events; the most recent one was in Cardiff on the 24th February and was attended by Sharon Homer-Wheeler. Sharon is the Administrator for Barnardo's Unison but kindly finds time to support recruitment in our region by attending.
On the 5th March, Bob Woods and I attended the Local Joint Forum Meeting which was held at Cardiff Regional Office. This is a meeting between Barnardo's and Barnardo's Unison branch to discuss issues within Wales. The next Local Joint Forum Meeting is on the 9th July and I am pleased to say that with new Stewards on board we will now have full attendance from Barnardo's Unison.
Bob Woods is our representative on the Cymru Equality & Diversity Group, the group last met on the 23rd March. If you have any issues you would like raising at this meeting, please contact Bob.
Barnardo's Cymru have recently set up a Younger Staff & Volunteers forum which I am pleased to say we will be a part of. I will be the representative for this group so again, if you have any issues/comments/suggestions etc please contact me.
As Regional Convenor for Wales I represent the region at the Barnardo's Unison Branch Executive Committee Meetings. These meetings are held for Convenors and Officers to report back from their regions/positions and discuss ways of driving the branch forward. I have attended both of the committee meetings this year on January 12th and 13th and March 19th and 20th. I will be arranging for reports I submit at this meeting to be made available to all members via our regional section on the Barnardo's Unison Website (click here).
Case Work
There have been a number of individual cases within the region which I am pleased to report have been dealt with on an informal level. In addition to this, Bob Woods has been supporting members in a Service in South Wales who are being made redundant.
As you can see the Barnardo's Unison branch have been busy within Wales during the start of 2009 and we hope to continue our presence throughout the year. The more members (active and non active) we have, the stronger our voice is so please encourage your colleagues to join.
Work pre 2009 within Wales had been focused around becoming organised and recruiting active members, giving us the foundation to move forward. Our aim for 2009 onwards is to communicate with members within the region more frequently so please contact us if you have anything you would like raising at the meetings mentioned above or would like a members meeting etc. I will send out another update in June.
Regards
Justin
Contact Details:
Justin Stapley
Email: justin.stapley@barnardos.org.uk
Tel: 01978 315130 (office)
Mob: 07773 677638
* In the first instance please contact via email.
Bob Woods
Branch Secretary
Barnardo's Unison
Email: bob.woods@barnardos.org.uk or unison@barnardos.org.uk
Tel: 0121 5522921
