EC Meeting March 2017

26 The Trust has established a small working group to assist the viability assessment of the proposed new build at Quorn. 27 The Trust supported a special event to explore ways of using arts and culture to support union organising, campaigning and education work. This was generally considered a very worthwhile and unique day. Around 65 attended including all arts related affiliates. Performances and discussions were excellent. It provided a great building block for the Liberating Arts Festival November 3,4,5 2017 and took us a long way forward in terms of considering how arts and cultural workers can assist the union work of organising, education and campaigning. 28 The Trust was also able to support the performance of a new play about Mary Quaile by a new young theatre group in Nottingham, Bread and Roses. 29 Following these events a small group organising the Liberating Arts Festival has met to plan things and apply for grants. This group includes Townsend Productions, Exeter and York Universities, Reel News, Chris Jury, Jan Woolf, Banner Theatre and others. 30 A report of our December 6th Event by Jan Woolf of the WGGB can be found at the end of this report. 31 The Trust has continued to take detailed reports on performance at Quorn Grange Hotel and Nursery and has established a wholly own subsidiary to run the nursery. 32 The Trust has been keen to support the development of new services that could generate small additional income for its work. Among these have been: New GFTU Legal services for affiliates, new venue booking arrangements, a print and design facility, a credit union, new financial services offers to members, financial and education administration for affiliates and a new beer and wine.

33 There has been positive support for our work from a growing number of Universities.

33.1

Leeds Beckett.

33.2 This meeting was at the most senior level with Vice Chancellor and Deans and Heads of Department and discussed a whole range of ways in which the University could support our education work. Further meetings will be held. A Memorandum of Understanding has been agreed.

33.3

The university will deliver our new course for trade union educators in 2017.

33.4

Newman University.

33.5

The University will deliver our new course for trade union educators at Level 6.

33.6 Mike Seal from Newman is putting a great deal of work into our editing our book on trade union education and made presentations at the summit and union building conference.

33.7

Ruskin College.

33.8 Positive discussions are under way about closer working. The Secretary remains a member of the Executive Board of Ruskin. The Trust has circulated details of the Ruskin offer. 33.9 The Secretary was an invited speaker at the special Ruskin Day on the future of Working Class Education.

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