TUC Academy reaches out to existing union officers

The TUC's Organising Academy, now in its seventh year of training union organisers from scratch, has been undergoing some changes.

The main departure is that training programmes are now also being run for existing union officers, organisers and staff - both through planned short courses delivered at Congress House in London and through tailor-made courses and support for individual unions.

There are also one-day regional briefing sessions and an "Advanced Organising" programme of courses on topics such as dealing with union-busters and organising using new technology.

The Academy's new director, Carl Roper, said the aim of the expanded remit is "to ensure an increase in both awareness and capability in relation to organising and recruitment within UK trade unions."

The training is now being delivered by Newcastle College, rather than by TUC staff.