20 – 22 May 2022
Hilton at Ageas Bowl, West End, Southampton SO30 3XH *
After sadly postponing this event two years ago, the region’s BIG Weekend is back. BIGGER and better than ever!
After two of the most difficult years imaginable, this will be the first large scale meeting of UNISON activists in the South East, and a chance to reconnect with colleagues from across the region.
The first ever BIG Weekend will take place at the Hilton at Ageas Bowl in Southampton*. The BIG Weekend combines three of our largest annual regional events – the Branch Officers Training Weekend, our Regional Strategy Weekend, and Regional Council – to create the biggest gathering of South East activists outside of National Delegate Conference!
The weekend is all about networking, making new friends, and catching up with colleagues, whilst sharing ideas and learning from the experience of others. This is our BIG event for the year, you won’t want to miss it!
How to apply
The BIG Weekend has strictly limited places, so you’ll want to book at soon as possible! You can download an application form below, you will need your branch to approve your application.
This is a residential event and delegates will be booked accommodation for either 1 night or 2 nights, depending on whether they attend the Branch Officers Training (2 nights) or Strategy Workshops (1 night). Branches are responsible for registration costs, delegate travel and other expenses.
Download the UNISON The BIG Weekend Application Form
Completed forms should be returned to educationse@unison.co.uk
Closing date for applications: 4 May 2022
Timetable
The weekend kicks off with the Regional Council meeting followed by drinks and our awards celebration dinner. Guest speakers will present awards to branches who have gone the extra mile during the pandemic, before we dance the night away!
Delegates will then pick a pathway: Branch Officers Training (2 nights) or Strategy Workshops (1night). Branch Officers Training is aimed at newly elected branch officer and will run until Sunday lunchtime. The Strategy Workshops are aimed at more experienced activists and will feature two half day workshops, featuring an exciting and diverse range of topics to help take your organising to the next level!
Please note that if you are booked onto Strategy Workshops then you will NOT be able to attend the Branch Officer training.
Friday 20 May
Regional Council Meeting – 12noon – 4pm, including lunch
Big Weekend registration opens – 4.30pm – 5.30pm
Drinks reception – 5.30pm – 6.00pm
Celebration dinner and awards ceremony – 6.30pm – 9.00pm
Disco – 9.00pm – late
Saturday 21 May
Branch Officer Training – 9.30am – 4.30pm, including lunch
Strategy Workshops – 9.30am – 4.30pm, including lunch
Event ends at 4.30pm for Strategy workshop delegates
Branch Officers only: Dinner and quiz – 5.30pm – 9.00pm
Sunday 22 May
Branch officers courses – 9.30am – 12.30pm
Lunch – 12.30pm – 1.30pm
Event ends at 1.30pm for Branch Officer delegates
Pathways
Regional Council
The second Regional Council meeting of 2022 will take place on Friday afternoon of the BIG Weekend.
All registered delegates to Regional Council will be invited to the meeting in the usual way, but please consider attending the BIG Weekend as a delegate.
We encourage all BIG weekend delegates to attend the Regional Council meeting.
Branch Officers Training
These courses are aimed at newly elected branch officers, or Branch Officers who missed the training during the pandemic.
Please note you can only do one course and cannot mix and match with the Strategy Workshops.
Branch Officer Courses:
- Branch Secretary
- Branch Chair
- Health & Safety Officer
- Equality Officer
- Education Coordinator
- Women’s officer
- Communications Officer
- Labour Link Officer
Strategy Workshops
These courses are aimed at ALL activists.
Delegates will be asked to chose TWO courses. These may be subject to change. If any of the workshops are changed, we will let you know if this affects you, and endeavour to offer an alternative option.
- Organising around the cost of living
- Creating digital content for campaigns
- Getting the most out of Year of the Disabled Worker
- Campaigning through the media
- Organising around the climate emergency
- Combatting sexual harassment in the workplace
- Breaking the 50% threshold – winning industrial action ballots
- Tackling racism and the far right
Please note you can only opt to do a Branch Officers course OR the workshop sessions, not both.
* location subject to final confirmation
