Learning discounts for UNISON members

UNISON tries to make sure employers give social care professionals access to the training and development they need to do their job and progress their career. But it knows that sometimes people want to further their own learning independently, so UNISON has negotiated discounts for members on a variety of vocational, leisure and general education distance learning courses.

Find out more: UNISON’s Learning and Organising Service co-ordinates trade union education and lifelong learning opportunities for members. You can also phone UNISON on 0845 355 0845 for more details.

Learning and development discounts available to UNISON members include:

Open University: Faculty of Health and Social Care

UNISON members paying their own fees can obtain a discount of 10% on the normal fees charged by the Open University for courses in the Health and Social Care programme at Levels 1, 2 and 3.

Counselling and Care Skills

Counselling is an immensely rewarding field and can bring huge benefits to social care professionals, their careers and the people they work with. The National Extension College offers a choice of courses to help social care professionals develop their skills and achieve nationally recognised qualifications. UNISON members are entitled to a discount of 10% on the normal fees charged.

Courses available are:

• A Taste of Counselling

• Continuing Care

• Counselling Theory

• Developing Counselling Skills

• Introducing Counselling Skills

• Nutrition Awareness: Adults

• Understanding Loss and Grief

Find out more: Full details of these courses are available on the National Extension College website Email: courses@nec.ac.uk Tel: 0800 389 2839 or 01223 400350

To claim your discount: To apply for a course contact the National Extension College and have your UNISON membership number to hand to claim your discount.

Open College of the Arts

The Open College of the Arts, an independent educational charity affiliated to The Open University and the University of Glamorgan, caters for those who would like to develop their artistic abilities but who wish to or need to work mainly at home.

Open College of the Arts offers specially written course materials to guide students through a programme of activities lasting up to two years, with regular assistance from tutors who are all practicing artists, designers or writers. Courses are available with either postal tuition or tuition on a one-to-one basis with a personal tutor. Courses can be taken by complete beginners or those who already have some experience but are looking for a more disciplined and wide-ranging approach.

Find out more: Course fees range from £450-£580. UNISON members and their families are entitled to a £50 discount on Open College of the Arts tutored courses. Enclose a copy of your membership card when enrolling. Email: open.arts@ukonline.co.uk. Tel: 0800 731 2116

Accelerated Languages and Learning Skills

Accelerated Learning Systems Limited offers UNISON members a 20% discount on a range of language courses. The programmes can help develop a better and faster way of learning.

Online Spanish

Beginner to GCSE-standard internet home-study course incorporating all learning styles in a completely new way

Cost: UNISON members: £23.95 Non-members: £29.95

Classic language course in French, Spanish, German and Italian

The Accelerated Learning beginner to GCSE-standard home-study course includes a book, 12 one-hour audio CDs, word cards and physical learning DVD

Cost: UNISON members: £39.95 Non-members: £49.95

Jump Start Basics Video in French, Spanish, German and Japanese

This course gives you enough language and confidence to get by within a few hours. Includes one-hour video on day-to-day tourist situations

Cost: UNISON members: £11.95 Non-members: £14.95

Master it Faster

An interactive computer delivered programme designed to help you

• acquire skills and knowledge quickly

• produce more thoughtful and creative solutions to problems

• make sense of an ever increasing volume of information

• communicate ideas clearly and sell with impact

• train more effectively and adapt quickly

Cost: UNISON members: £11.95 Non-members: £14.95

Find out more: Full details of these products are on Accelerated Learning Systems’ website. When booking, remember to state you are a UNISON member to claim your discount and include a copy of your membership card with written orders

Tel: 01296 631177 Email: als@acceleratedlearning.com