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.

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.

9-11 June 2008. Bedford Studio, 1 Bedford Avenue, London, WC1 (2 mins walk from Congress House)

This 3-day course is for union officers and staff who are involved in consultation, negotiation and communication with members on pension schemes, in any sector.  No previous knowledge of pensions is assumed. Participants are asked to collect essential information about schemes they deal with and use this information on the course.  The course is not suitable for officers or representatives from single workplaces. The aims of the course are as follows:

Attached to download is a list of TUC pensions courses planned for the coming year so far. As you will see they are being offered over a wide area and, hopefully, there is going to be one near you. Please pass on the information to anyone you think might be interested.

Officers at Connect, the trade union for professionals in communications, thought that the Pensions Champions project addressed some of the problems in the telecommunications industry and would appeal to their members. They were proved right after a note about it in their magazine, Connected, circular produced nearly 50 respondents who wanted to become champions.

Discussions between Connect and TUC tutors at the College of North East London produced a customised version of the course materials, targeting members in British Telecoms (BT). Ben Marshall, Head of Industrial Relations officer for the union and Jennifer Schofield, EC member and Chair of Connect’s Pensions Committee attended the course and provided detailed information on the BT pensions schemes.

 
Further progress in setting up pensions champions training was made last week when Terry and Craig Hawkins ran a briefing on the Pensions Champions course and website for a dozen TUC tutors. The focus was mainly on using the website and the Pensions Doctor in particular. All agreed that it was a valuable resource for both the pensions champions training and other pensions courses. Already the statistics gathered on website usage show that plenty of individuals are also logging on to make use of the information provided.

The first Pensions Champions at work course was held last week at Congress House. We had 9 reps attending who had varying pensions experience, from barely any at all to others who had been member nominated trustees of the pension schemes for some while. All agreed that the course met their different needs including basic pension provision, changes and improvements that are likely, and working with members. The liveliest session was probably the one testing out this new website and preparing prescriptions for individual members.

Has anyone had good or bad experiences so far in getting time off from your employers to attend Pensions Champions training, or to carry out your role in the workplace?

This may also be an issue for others where their colleagues are finding it hard to get the time off to talk to the Pensions Champion as well.