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Over the weekend of the 3 - 5 May around twenty Proud members gathered in the GMB College in Manchester for the Proud Basic Training. Here is some feedback from a couple of delegates:

'Dear Colleague - I can confirm that you have been accepted onto the course. You will be expected to attend the whole weekend'
Sound like a weekend with the TA? And before anyone says 'Yes, lovely, how do we join?' this is actually a weekend aimed at new members of the Proud group; or members who want to find out how to become more involved with the union and what PCS Proud does.
Due to unforeseen circumstances publicity for the event was rather scarce. Despite this 30 members applied for and attended the course. Hold ups on the M6 delayed the arrival of our Chair, Yvonne Washbourne (AKA 'Wash') and a call from our Secretary, Brian Show, announced that his London meeting was over and he was hotfooting it onto the Tube. This left registration to Jeff (Grist - Vice Chair, Editor), Debbie (Hollinsworth - who graciously offered her 'trainer' skills to help with Proud events, Editor again) and myself, Organiser (that's Philip Willis - am I boring you yet? Editor). Wash arrived in time for dinner to be followed by Brain a few hours later.
After dinner the very popular, and by now traditional, Proud Quiz was hosted by Treasurer June Davison's (you're getting the hang of this now - Editor) lovely sister Julie. Lots of laughs and teams randomly chosen made for a great Friday night (not withstanding the winning team's bottles of whiskey).
Saturday always follows far too soon, however the real aim of the weekend is to educate and encourage the grass roots membership to participate in what the union actually does.
Workshops were set up throughout the weekend

  • Identifying discrimination in the workplace
  • 'Coming Out' in the workplace and Union
  • Tackling homophobia
  • The Law: an overview
  • How to prepare cases.
Delegates were mixed for each workshop to ensure everyone got a chance to meet everyone and participate fully. Although Saturday was a packed day, delegates seemed to enjoy it and some groups overran in their enthusiasm.
During the weekend each group had the chance to report back on the suggestions and ideas that had come out of each workshop. This gave, and will give, a great deal of food for thought. Ideas for motions from previous weekends have even made it onto the agenda at Conference.
Evening beckoned and as all the members (small but select) had gelled so well, a night on Canal Street was suggested. Everyone went. In all my years with Proud this has to be a first. A great time was had by all.
Although Sunday had a relatively early start, enthusiasm amongst the group remained high. The product of the morning's work was an action plan for Proud to take forward in the coming year.

All too soon, Wash was announcing it was time for a course review. Officers of the group left the meeting whilst members debated the pros and cons of the weekend.

Comments ranged from 'It feels like I've got a new family' to 'I never knew the group did so much' and 'I can't wait to apply for the next course'.

Philip Willis, Organiser
 

As relatively new member of Proud, I recently attended the Proud Basic training weekend at the GMB College in Manchester. I was invited to attend by the Eastern Counties rep who, I can't help feeling, was trying to get places filled. He did assure me, however, that I would have a good time and might even learn something. I agreed, thinking 'what the hey!' If nothing else, it was a freebie weekend away!

As the time came nearer I was getting rather jittery, as I had no idea what to expect (except maybe the unexpected). The blurb I had received seemed a bit daunting. Workshops on a Saturday and Sunday? Please!

Still, the day came to travel from the back of beyond, or Sudbury in Suffolk as is it known to the locals, to Manchester, a city I had never visited before. All I knew of it was trams and Coronation Street. I wasn't disappointed! Anyway, the yourney lasted all morning and into the afternoon. By the time I arrived at the venue I was beginning to flag. I soon got my second wind though, after the evening meal and during the 'getting to know you' session in the bar. (Drink? Disgraceful!)

I rather overdid the 'socialising', as I had a bit of a thick head on Saturday. I was able to concentrate on the work in spite of everything. I have to admit; the tasks and discussions were very interesting, if a little heavy going at times. I think I even managed to learn something, even if it was only about myself.

More 'socialising' on Saturday evening, this time on the city centre or rather 'The Village'. Sounds more like something from a cult 60s TV series and in some ways that's rather appropriate

I obviously took it easier that night because I had a much clearer head on the Sunday. In fact, by the end of the morning, realisation dawned that it was all over and it was time to make the long journey home again. (Boo!)

All in all, I had a cracking weekend and met some cracking people. If you are a member and have never been on a Proud event, I recommend you get yourself booked up on the next one. Ah go on! Go on, go on, go on!

Gordon Connah