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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

To support the book, I've created website which I will use to share interesting things I've found along the way. You can find it at: www.librariesgaveuspower.net

librariesgaveuspower.net

Home | Libraries Gave Us Po

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

Ellen Wilkinson: Minister of Edu. '45-'47. @usdawunion.bsky.social official George Tomlinson: Minister of Edu. '47-'51. Started work at 12 and became President of his local Weavers Assoc TUists who guided the Labour Party's educational policy when the future of secondary edu was still v uncertain

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 06/06/2025

Two books I've putting off for quite a while as I know they'll require a lot of notes!

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 31/05/2025

'Time Off to Learn' (1987) was published to support 'Paid Educational Leave' & covered: - Workbase. NUPE project to deliver basic skills in the workplace. Started in 1979! - Take Ten. Sheff City Council workers 10 days paid release to learn The big question: where are these issues now discussed?

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

One of JF Horrabin's National Council of Labour College (NCLC) cartoons attacking the motives of the state for supporting working class education.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

This is essential. A criticism levelled at the TUC during the 'ULF years' was that the movement failed to shift Government policy on this important issue. The GMB & T&G made the case in the 90s & was also the view of the Working Group on Workplace Learning, which was Chaired by UNISON's Head of Edu

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Reposted by Libraries Gave Us Power

The WEA @weaadulted.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

'Reducing funding for adult learners is “harming social outcomes, health and wellbeing, economic growth and individual opportunity”' The need for an increase, not decrease, in funding adult education is made startling clear by @learnworkuk.bsky.social report. Read @feweek.bsky.social article below👇

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

In the early 20th century trade union education flourished. However, the main providers (WEA & National Council of Labour Colleges) did not get on. This 21st birthday greeting to the WEA kind of sums it up. 'You ask for birthday greetings...we should be happier to attend your funeral'

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

Proof, if needed, that @weaadulted.bsky.social tutors were never too formal for their students. NUM summer school (no date but presumably 1950s)

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Tom Driver, Gen Sec of Assoc. Of Teachers in Technical Institutions called on the Govt to amend the 1944 Edu. Act to provide an expansion of Adult Education.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

Following the Russell Report into Adult Education in 1973, the @weaadulted.bsky.social called on Education Secretary, Margaret Thatcher, to be a "good fairy" to implement the findings and double the numbers involved in adult education to 4 million. Articles found in London Met Uni archive

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

First ever trip to the People's History MMuseum & it was superb. My archive find of the day: "To educate is to organise. To organise effectively, must be to educate" Amalgamated Union of Building Trade Workers" 1922

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 11/04/2025

"Education on an empty stomach is a waste of money" Fred Jowett, 1904, on Bradford City Council being the first in the country to offer free school meals.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Letters of congratulations she received on receiving her Honorary MA came from union members, MPs, Mayors, academics and newspaper editors and summed up the high esteem for her within the union movement and in education (even in her 80s) she was still on the council's Education Committee

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Alice’s life was changed at a @weaadulted.bsky.social summer school in Bangor, “a month of almost complete happiness; a pinnacle of joy never to be quite reached again. The spirit of the WEA was to sustain and accompany me through long years of humble toil” later President of her Bolton WEA branch

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Born “on a scurvy, inhospitable day…a premature victim of nature & the hazards of a moonlight flit” to be awarded an MBE and honorary MA from Manchester Uni📸. The Socialist Sunday School (& their 10 commandments📸), Clarion Cycling 📸& the WEA summer schools were her education.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

An incredible day spent at the stunning Bolton Library archives, absorbed by the world of Alice Foley, first female Secretary of a Cotton union. Her autobiography, ‘A Bolton Childhood’ should be widely read. She faced many barriers (esp from her union) to fight for equality and rights for women.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

The first @weaadulted.bsky.social courses began in Jan 1908 in Rochdale and Longton & delivered by RH Tawney. The archives at London Met Uni are an incredible resource where you can trace the incredible challenges faced in setting up this remarkable achievement.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Fiona credits her community (County Council, Durham Miners Assoc etc) for the opportunities she had. "For every rung of the educational ladder I found a subsidy or grant to pull me up" We must not abandon our communities & recent announcements of further cuts to Adult Education is deeply worrying

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Privileged to talk to Fiona Hill & hear her story from the Durham coalfields to the Oval Office "Opportunity does not materialise from thin air & no one does anything alone. Barriers to opportunity & social mobility are personal and universal. Any individual success is a team or collective effort"

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

What links these? - The impeachment of Donald Trump - Stars In Their Eyes with Matthew Kelly - Cross-country running in the rain at school Oddly, they all feature in current drafts of my book about the history of trade unions and education!

media.tenor.com

a man with long hair and a beard is holding a glass with the word huh on it

ALT: a man with long hair and a beard is holding a glass with the word huh on it

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 21/03/2025

Archivists of the world unite! Truly the very best people you can meet.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

* Nick Mansfield's book on the buildings of the Labour mvt is wonderful. The pubs, churches, halls and schools are a physical reminder of the impact of the mvt.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

6 new books this week! - Memoirs (JR Clyne) - Ellen Wilkinson (B Vernon) - The Lancs Giant - David Shackleton (R Martin) - Barefoot Aristocrats (Fowler & Wyke) - Socialism over 60 years - life of F Jowett (F Brockway) - Buildings of the Labour Mvt (N Mansfield)*

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 20/03/2025

Libraries Gave Us Power (or whatever it will end up being called) is very much a personal exploration. We recently moved office, and my refusal to bin everything meant I could put together just some of the booklets and documents I've used to promote learning over the past 20 years.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

For anyone in the Notts/Derbs area, there are two events this week organised by the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Labour History Society.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

I am fortunate to have a copy of the memoir written by NUPE/UNISONs former Head of Education, Jim Sutherland. The sub-title is 'Educate, Organise, Control', taken from his first AEU badge in the 1950s & sets the scene for his view of unions. Have just bought my very own badge, and it is beautiful.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

The early stages of the Union Learning Fund (ULF) saw numerous local projects flourish. The @gmb.org.uk in Lincolnshire & Humberside were at the forefront, developing learning centres & establishing Saturday clubs & were recognised with local, regional & national awards for their brilliant work

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

This week's purchases: - 2 books on the theory of adult education - 1 book on the History of the National Union of Boot & Shoe Operatives - 1 really intriguing-looking history of the union mvt - 1 simply beautiful album to help me along

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

The unions were present (& led on) the UK's strategy for workplace learning. Blunkett's advisory group was tasked with prep of a white paper. Jim Sutherland (UNISON) chaired the workplace learning group, calling for a statutory framework & a 'Code of Practice', similar to Health & Safety legislation

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

The role of UNISON in the 1990s (leading up to the Labour Govt) was vital. Head of edu, Jim Sutherland, created 'Open College' (focused around Return to Learn) providing a pathway for low-paid workers. Jim also convened the 'workplace learning' task group which informed Blunkett's skills white paper

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 27/02/2025

Am looking forward to this event. Hopefully it will form part of a growing clamour to prioritise Lifelong Learning. Please promote.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

My favourite part of the book relates to her 'odd' choice of subjects at evening school (logic and economics) which led to being called to meet the Director and Chair of the Education committee. She only went to a few millinery classes before switching back to Logic.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Alice became v active in the @weaadulted.bsky.social & recalled her first experience (a summer school in Bangor): "It was a month of almost complete happiness; a pinnacle of joy never to be quite reached again. The spirit of the WEA was to sustain and accompany me through long years of humble toil"

Picture of Alice Foley from the Working Class Movement Library

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Alice Foley's 'A Bolton Childhood'. Absolutely loved this book! It recalls her early life before becoming the first female leader of her union. A short, sometimes funny, book that deserves to be widely known.

Cover of 'A Bolton Childhood', the memoir of Alice Foley

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Jowett sat on the Bradford Trades Council, a committed Socialist and Christian and even helped establish the Bradford Socialist Church. Both images courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Elected to Parl. in 1906 his maiden speech was in support of free school meals. Appointed 'First commissioner of works' in 1924, causing controversy by inviting the most junior of staff to a reception & showing them as much attention as senior staff (info from D Torrance's book 'The Wild Men')

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 16/02/2025

Fred Jowett, Bradford MP (1864 – 1944) Started work at 8 as a half-timer and later educated himself at the mechanics institute and active in the Manningham Mills Dispute. On election to the council he and Margaret MacMillan ensured Bradford was the first council to offer free school meals in 1904.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Starting at the Uni and London Local Authorities it expanded across the UK to various employers such as the BBC and Heathrow. I knew nothing about this incredibly sophisticated project, 20 years ahead of its time. @learnworkuk.bsky.social @stephenevans.bsky.social

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

He also noted branch reps who couldn't read. Funding depended on forming a multi-union approach and the TGWU, GMB & COHSE joined. Each project started with a needs analysis of ALL staff (to reduce stigma) and then English or maths in the employer's time (& would pay costs)

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

Starting in 1979, Workbase, was a Ltd company born from NUPE's Basic Skills Project when NUPE official, Jim Cornelius, was asked by the uni of London what training his members wanted. "It occurred to me that manual workers only rec'd trg to do their job, white-collar workers to progress"

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

I'd be really keen to see it! Please let me know when it's out.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

It feels utterly uncelebrated. So many lives have been changed and it's always fabulous to hear those stories.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

My first ever visit to Ruskin College. Opened in 1899 in Oxford with the aim of providing education for the working class. “He learns in order that he may raise and not rise out of the class to which he belongs” Trade Unionists packed the town hall meeting at its launch

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

Definite concerns. Whilst we do hear of members struggling to complete Apprenticeships due to the functional skills element, this indicates a problem to be addressed, rather than just ignored. At the very least the Government must reinforce programmes to provide maths and English in the workplace.

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Libraries Gave Us Power @lgupbook.bsky.social · 12/02/2025

have just added @southamptonswhtuc.bsky.social. Let me know if I'm missing any Trades Councils

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