The Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning

Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning

The STUC Union Rep Awards consist of five awards: the STUC Helen Dowie Award for Lifelong Learning, Learner of the Year Award, the STUC One Workplace Equality Award, the STUC Frank Maguire Award for Health & Safety, and the STUC Organising Award. The nomination process for the awards asks unions to identify lay activists who have excelled in the promotion of the workplace learning agenda, equalities, health and safety, or organising within their union, workplace or community.__

Helen Dowie was involved in the trade union movement in Fife for most of her adult life. She worked in Rosyth Dockyard for about 20 years and was active within her union. Through her union, Helen organised the yard, organised and campaigned in many initiatives, and supported many workers. She took the union into the community through the organisation of the Rosyth festival and music events to highlight important union campaigns.

Helen, along with her partner Mike Morris, started the Trades Council News in Fife. By writing, printing, editing and distributing the newssheet, Helen and Mike kept union members involved and aware of the issues and also spread the word more widely throughout Fife. Helen and Mike made many solid relationships and friendships through their union involvement. Helen worked with Mike and many other individuals to support the development of education and learning in Scotland. She was a key player in supporting the development of the lifelong learning agenda that union members know today.

Helen's life was devoted to supporting others through the trade union movement and her death at a young age was mourned by trade unionists throughout Fife and Scotland. This annual award was established in 2006 to commemorate Helen's lifetime achievements in lifelong learning and to recognise other outstanding trade unionists who continue to demonstrate their commitment to union values and lead the learning movement forward in Scotland.

For more information, contact Scottish Union Learning by phone on 0141 337 8111 or by email at learning@stuc.org.uk.