NWC Annual School 7th – 9th april 2006
Wortley Hall

The school was a huge success and the programme was as follows:

Workshop choices at the school  were:

A. Harassment and Bullying in the workplace
This workshop is designed to equip women with the skills needed to identify bullying and harassment in the workplace. We will look at the different approaches and techniques that can be adopted when challenging bullying and harassment in the workplace. Vicky Knight and Helen Harrison will be running this workshop.
This workshop is suitable for members of any level of experience.

B. Women’s History

• Saturday - Women's work: women in the labour market from 19th to 21st centuries
• Sunday -  Women fight back: women in the labour movement from 19th to 21st centuries

This workshop is designed to give women an insight into our own history, struggles and achievements over three decades. Mary Davis is running this workshop and will use some great slides to stimulate interaction/debate with the students.
This workshop is designed for all members

C. Find Your Voice (Speaking up for yourselves)
Ever wanted to get a message across, put points over at a branch meeting, speak in a formal setting like a conference? This workshop is aimed at women who would like to develop their skills and confidence to enable them to ‘speak up’. Working collectively in small groups, we will develop key techniques for researching, putting your message together breathing and speaking techniques and body language. Julie Weakes will be running this workshop.
This Workshop is suitable for members who lack confidence and/or skills when speaking in public and will run across the two workshop periods.

D. Pensions – LGPS and FPS
This workshop is designed to help you understand your current pension arrangements and to fully understand the consequences of any changes that have taken place. Julie Shuttleworth from Thompson’s will be running this workshop.
This workshop is suitable for members of any experience level

E. Stress and work related stress – How to deal with it!
Stress is a natural reaction to certain events in our lives and we each have our own physical and mental response. Problems arise when it is unrecognised or badly managed. We can't wave a magic wand and make stressful situations disappear, but we will examine the causes and symptoms of stress and our reactions to it, and consider ways to deal more effectively with these, including the avenues open to employees to tackle work-related stress. The sessions are very informal and interactive and feedback from previous participants has always been positive. WHISC will be running this workshop.
This workshop is suitable for members of any experience level

F. Lets get involved in the FBU
The aims of this workshop are to develop and practice the skills needed to take part in FBU meetings. We will look at the many different roles within the Union, gain a better understanding of how the equality structures work, identify best practice when running a meeting and finally in groups we will present an issue at a mock branch meeting. Lorene Fabian will be running this workshop.

© Fire Brigades Union
Bradley House, 68 Coombe Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 7AE
Published by Fire Brigades Union National Women's Committee