A raised profile for the Union using the learning agenda
at the Zion Centre, Manchester
The Celebration of Learning Week presented the
opportunity to raise awareness of union learning activity. An event
was held at Mosscare, a housing association in Moss Side,
Manchester. The ULR, Waseem Tahir had initiated a learning day to
bring together members of staff and tenants of the housing
association. This took the form of a day of drama classes with a
central theme of dealing with complaints from both the tenants and
staff perspective. There were about 28 people at the event, ages
ranged from 20 – 70 and everyone had a brilliant time.
The day started with an introduction that took
the form of a round-robin with various scenarios of introducing
yourself to each other. The group formed a ring in the centre of
the room and one by one crossed the ring to introduce themselves,
as they did this they swapped places with this person who then
carried on by crossing the ring and introducing themselves to
another. Pretty soon it became close to a melee with everyone
changing places and chatting, but it did break down any barriers
people may have had.
The rest of the morning was spent in
developing different advertising themes. The participants were
split into two teams to come up with small scenes to advertise
products. I must admit that our group did come out on top with our
full face balaclava that was wind and rain proof; unfortunately it
just was not transparent! The scenes ran for only 30 seconds but
seemed to last an hour.
Also throughout the morning the teams
developed a number of scenes that would develop into a small play
for the afternoon. So as well as remembering the lines for the
advertisement there was also the lines for the scenarios as well.
Light hearted confusion reigned at times.
For the afternoon session, Waseem had arranged
for a student from Manchester University to film the event. After a
very well deserved lunch, work started in earnest on the 20 minute
play each team would present. Each play also had to include a song
and separate form of presentation. Ours took the style of American
Cheerleaders with people intertwining and holding up letters to
spell out the message.
The play itself was centred on a new tenant
moving into their accommodation and finding that one of the windows
in the living room was broken. Their reaction to this and the
policy and procedures for getting this replaced was the message
that Waseem was trying to put across. It was meant to open the eyes
of the housing association staff to the very real consequences of
how having a broken window in the middle of winter affects an
elderly woman.
Waseem intention was that by the end of
the day there would be a better understanding between the tenants
and staff of the effects of something like a broken window. The day
would help break down barriers and would show the staff and tenants
that better understanding would lead to respect and better
attitudes both sides.
Waseem Tahir
