GFTU PRESS RELEASE EMBARGOED 00.01 ON 20 May 2025

GFTU Educational Trust launches Education Fund for local Trades Union Councils (TUCs)

© GFTU Educational Trust

Today, the General Federation of Trade Unions Educational Trust (GFTUET) has launched an education fund for all trades union councils (TUCs).

This fund will enable all local trades union councils (TUCs) to access the education programme provided by the GFTUET for an annual donation.

This is the latest innovation from the GFTU, who last month launched an education fund aimed at branches and regions of non-affiliated GFTU unions, to access the popular educational courses for all trades council members.

Commenting on the importance of this change for the GFTU and its educational trust, Gawain Little, general secretary said, “Our education programme is doubling in size year on year. We are proud to offer high quality online and residential courses, assisting the development of new layers of active trade unionists, the foundations of the renewal of our movement.”

GFTU and its educational trust have been providing courses for affiliated trade unions for free. The development of supporting the trades council movement, as integral to the wider organisation of trade union activity, is important to embedding and coordinating unions in our community. Steve Gillan, general secretary of the POA and TUCJCC chair said, “As a proud affiliate of the GFTU I was delighted to support the expanding of our educational offer to the trades councils which matter so much to our movement. Strong trades councils embedded in our communities is integral to building our movement and opposing the far right.”

Information on how to join the education fund for trades union councils, union branches and regions can be found here: https://gftuet.org.uk/educationfund

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About GFTU

The General Federation of Trade Unions (GFTU) was established in 1899 and is currently celebrating its 125th anniversary. GFTU is a democratic federation responsive to the needs of its 27 affiliated trade unions, representing over half a million trade union members. It provides high quality online and residential education via our Educational Trust and training centre in Quorn. GFTU is the home of Strike Map, a worker powered and funded map of industrial action in Great Britain and the island of Ireland.

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