This award recognises the transformational impact that union learning has both for our members, and the union as a whole. It is granted to individual members or groups of members who have made significant and exemplary contributions to union learning.
Criteria for the Nikki Simpson Award
The Nikki Simpson Award is given to an NEU Union Learning Rep (ULR) who has made an exemplary contribution to their school or union branch’s work in any area of learning; supporting their colleagues to develop their professional and personal skills and knowledge while helping to grow the union.
The Award seeks to meet some of the following aims at district/branch/school level:
- exemplifying the importance of educator professionalism and autonomy in relation to professional practice
- developing an effective union/school leadership and a whole district/school approach which makes all educators feel valued by the focus on their personal and professional development including those often overlooked such as support and supply staff
- encouraging innovation and new developments in professional development work in schools and in union activity;
- embedding the union's workplace policies and campaigns in learning activity such as those of reducing workload, alternative accountability measures etc
- showcasing ways in which equality and anti discriminatory practices can be embedded in learning activity
- deploying learning activity to recruit members especially key demographic groups such as students and trainees.
What could be included?
Exemplary contributions to a district/branch/school could include increased employer engagement in learning activity such as funding and/or paid release for members to attend training, new methods and ways of doing things being embedded into workplace practices, member progression to new/higher level roles, members reporting increased confidence and improved morale, recruitment success linked to learning events and activity, increased participation of under represented groups both in the learning activity and the wider union, promotion of key equality and policy initiatives such as the Anti Racist Framework, Disability Equality Toolkit and Beyond OFTED.
Nominations
Nominations are now closed.
Why is it called the Nikki Simpson award?
This award is named after Nikki Simpson who was an exceptionally talented and passionate Learning and Development Organiser for the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) in the Eastern Region. Sadly, her life was cut short by pancreatic cancer at the age of 48 in 2017. In 2006, before she even worked for a union and was working in the financial sector, she became the first person to receive the TUC’s Union Learning Rep award.
The award was presented to her by the then Prime Minister Tony Blair. She brought the passion and belief for both the power of learning and unions to the ATL, and this award was created in her honour to celebrate achievements within Union Learning.
Nikki devoted her whole energy to whatever she was doing, creating learning opportunities for hundreds of members in her region and building the union’s presence wherever she went.
“I have seen co-workers and families brought together by union learning, I have seen laughter and success. I have worked with innovative people who deliver innovative learning in innovative ways to their members… and those people are unions.” – quote from a blog written by Nikki upon winning the TUCs Union Learning Rep Award in 2006.
2024 winner
Pamela Cosgrove, teacher and NEU vice-president, Northern Ireland
Pamela said she was “delighted and humbled” to be recognised for the work she has done around training and development.
She has promoted training opportunities, particularly those aimed at women members. She has introduced a mentoring scheme to support professional growth, organised media training for officers, and helped facilitate the Menopause in the Workplace course. She is working with reps to ensure every school has a menopause policy in place, which will be a focus next year, when Pamela becomes Northern Ireland NEU president.
Photo © Kois Miah
An advocate for empowering girls, Pamela has shared training on period dignity across Northern Ireland, and facilitated schools working together to share resources.