News Release
Friday, 7 April 2006
Embargoed 14.00 hrs Tuesday 11th April 2006
`SIGNPOST FOR DISABLED LEARNERS' RECEIVES LIFELONG LEARNING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Helen Douglas, an Amicus Union Learning Rep for Remploy Clydebank, has been chosen to receive the inaugural Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning at the Scottish TUC Annual Congress in Perth. The award will be presented by Allan Wilson MSP, Deputy Minister for Enterprise and Lifelong Learning. The award recognises the pivotal role played by trade union activists in the promotion of workplace lifelong learning in memory of Helen Dowie, a trade unionist from Fife who died last year from cancer.
Sponsored by learndirect scotland, the award asked trade unions to nominate lay activists who have demonstrated a commitment to the trade union movement and excelled in the promotion of lifelong learning. Many worthy nominations were received by the STUC, and the award is a credit to all individuals who do outstanding work in the area of lifelong learning within the trade union movement.
Helen suffered from polio as a child and is disabled as a result. She was chosen to receive this award because although she had an extremely negative experience of education and developed tremendous psychological barriers to learning, Helen is straight talking and pro-active, and works hard to break down stigma and physical barriers to learning while negotiating with providers to meet the needs of members of Amicus and Community, the two unions in Remploy Clydebank. Helen has been described as a "signpost for disabled learners."
Helen Douglas has inspired people on the shop floor to overcome their obstacles and also develop a good relationship with management. Largely due to her hard work, 90% of the workforce in Remploy Clydebank have taken up learning. Remploy Clydebank employs people with a variety of physical barriers to learning, including blindness, deafness and access. Helen has encouraged those who perhaps would not have had the self-esteem or courage to partake in learning.
Remploy finds jobs for disabled people in major organisations, as well as its own manufacturing and service businesses.
Helen Dowie's life was devoted to supporting others through the trade union movement and her death at a young age was mourned by trade unionists