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This course will help union reps to:

• consider the basic pension environment, examining state pensions, occupational pensions, personal pensions and additional pensions
• become familiar with a range of resources, looking at published materials as well as those available on websites
• make extensive use of the TUC's online materials, all activities will have an online element
  

The combination of the financial crisis, related threats to pensions schemes and changes to be introduced by the Government have pushed pensions higher up everyone's agenda than ever before. What can we do about it? This course aims to train Pensions Champions who will be active in their workplaces in helping colleagues understand the different aspects of pensions, how much they are likely to get in retirement and what they can do to improve their situation if necessary.

Most people don’t think of themselves as investors in the stock market, but a huge proportion of investments are held through our savings, pensions, insurance and banking. This means that money may be invested on our behalf in companies which are failing to take action on climate change.
 
According to the Ethical Investment Research and Information Service UK pension funds control more than a third of the shares on the UK stock market. This is likely to grow, as more people are automatically opted-in to company schemes under new legislation.

The State Pension Forecast system is now updated and fully available again. To read the latest information about it from the DWP, download the document attached.

Prospect is to set up a network of workplace pensions champions to help members handle the many retirement choices they now face. Conference backed a proposal by the national executive to give full support to the TUC's pensions champions project.

People now understood pensions issues much better than in the past, but how they actually work is less well understood, said Audrey Uppington, moving the NEC motion. The TUC project aimed to explain to members at work the options available to them, she said. It includes a pensions website and the facility for members to build up their own personal pensions profile.

This course will help union reps to:

• consider the basic pension environment, examining state pensions, occupational pensions, personal pensions and additional pensions
• become familiar with a range of resources, looking at published materials as well as that available on websites
• make extensive use of the TUC's online materials, all activities will have an online element
  prepare a presentation to use in workplaces

For details on course timings and course registration please contact the provider from the list that you can download here.

Taking the long view: Effective pension trusteeship in uncertain times.
The TUC Member Trustee Network annual conference. Friday 27 June 2008, Congress House, London.

Global economic turbulence, increasing regulatory and legal burdens, greater longevity and legislative change: these are uncertain times in the pensions world. The role of member trustees is critical in stewarding pensions, protecting members’ benefits and taking a long-term view in the face of these challenges.

This conference aims to help trustees navigate the current terrain and look to the future on pensions policy, regulatory and investment issues.

The DWP has agreed to fund the TUC’s Pensions Champions project for another year. This means that we will be able to build on the progress already made, significantly increasing the number of Champions. More Champions will mean assistance for many more working people in unravelling their pensions and, where necessary, taking steps to improve their retirement income.

Recruitment and training

The TUC now has a database of over 450+ individuals who want to become Pensions Champions, built up through leafleting and promotion on TUC and trade union websites. We aim to substantially increase that number through further publicity. Around 200 individuals have already attended the 3-day Pensions Champions at work course, provided through Unionlearn and offered at Trade Union Education Centres around the country. This is a free course for individuals nominated by their trade union. A number of courses have also been run for members in a single union or employer and further such courses are planned in local government, rail and nuclear industries.