With great excitement, the Skills Academy have announced the date for the second of this year’s certificate presentation ceremonies. The date is Tuesday 4th November, the time is 2.30 – 4PM, and the location is Nerney’s Court. 

While the summer ceremony was focused on more general trainings, such as the workplace representative trainings, mentoring, and leadership training, the winter ceremony will focus on branch officer programmes and branch skills training, such as communications and treasurers training. 

The winter ceremony will follow the Consultative Council that morning, as with the summer event. 

Director of membership training and development Fiona Dunne, encouraged members attending the council to stay on after lunch, join the celebrations, and support their colleagues.  

She said: “It will be an enjoyable ceremony, and it’s a great chance to celebrate some colleagues who’ve put in a lot of hard work. They have been a fantastic group of learners. I think we can all appreciate the effort they’ve put in to enhance their skills, and improve their work as branch and workplace reps, so that they can make the union better for members.” 

Communications Training - Father Mathew Quay, Cork - Wednesday, 26th November 

This upcoming training will take place in the Fórsa Cork offices, making it easier for Munster-based members to participate. Workplace reps and branch officers who are in regular contact with union members, or who want to improve engagement with branch communications, will find this course invaluable. Participants will learn to use effective tools to reach members, build a branch profile, and craft compelling messages to members.  

Fórsa Induction for new members - Online - Wednesday 12th November 

As this will be the last opportunity to take part in Fórsa Induction this year, there will be morning and afternoon sessions available.  

The induction is a short session to welcome new members unravel some of the mysteries of Fórsa. Learn the basics of what exactly a trade union is, the structure of Fórsa, how we operate, and how members can become more engaged, have their voices heard locally, and raise issues at divisional and national levels.    

If you would like to apply for any courses, you can contact your branch committee directly to receive an application link as they become available. 

Live: Lunch & Learn – ‘Mental Health First Aid’- Online - 1-2pm Friday 31st October  

This month’s Live: Lunch & Learn will be highly beneficial. The session will be on mental fealth first aid. Mental health issues, like other health issues can get worse if unaddressed. This session teaches participants how to recognise when someone is developing a mental health issue, undergoing a reoccurrence of an existing mental health problem, or is experiencing a mental health crisis, and what to do to help. 

The Skills Academy will be joined by the Adult Programme Coordinator for Mental Health First Aid Ireland, Lauren Watters for this session. Lauren will share her experience gathered from working across the disability and public health sectors, developing and delivering national health promotion initiatives.  

If you wish to attend, you can register here.  

Branch Training Officer network 

As we head into Annual General Meeting (AGM) season, the Skills Academy have asked all branches to ensure to elect a Branch Training Officer at their next AGM.  

Fiona said: “Training officers serve an invaluable role in branches. Not only do they provide an important liaison for us, but they are also integral to ensuring reps have access to trainings that will build their confidence and capacity, which will benefit members in their workplace and their branch as a whole.” 

Branch trainings officers are also invited to attend branch training officer network meetings that take place twice a year and provide valuable networking opportunities, along with important updates on trainings. 

In the most recent network meeting, branch training officers heard from the chairs of the school secretaries and caretakers’ branches. In a short talk on their successful strike, Luisa Carty and David Hearne shared their experiences of the process of taking industrial action as well as their learnings from it, what they found effective and what they might do differently. 

Fiona said: “The network meetings are always great opportunities to share and learn from each other, and I would encourage anyone thinking they might enjoy the role to put themselves forward. It’s a rewarding position.” 

Join a union that wins. Join Fórsa.