Public and Commercial Services Union

What is a lay tutor?

Its simply an active member or rep with some experience who is interested in supporting learning and developing their communication and presentation skills in a range of areas.

What will I be expected to do?

Lay tutors can facilitate sessions locally either to other members or your branch executive committee (BEC). Groups should also provide opportunities for lay tutors. 

This can reflect issues specific to your group, branch or employer e.g. how to organise young workers, bullying at work, sick absence policy.

They can also be asked to help facilitate other learning events such as seminars, workshops or conferences.

Lay tutors also help support TUC tutors who teach on our trade union education courses for reps. How much you do is mutually agreed between yourselves.

Lay tutors have important knowledge of the workplace and PCS, whilst TUC tutors are trained educators with a trade union background.

How will I be supported?

Each region has a regional learning contact who will aim to find you activities and courses you can be involved in and give you advice and guidance.

The national learning team (OLEE) can also be a source of support. Each region is expected to meet with their lay tutors as a group, so ideas can be exchanged and tutors are further developed.

Where do I start?

Check the events pages for a lay tutor training course in your region or speak to your regional learning contact.

Are there development opportunities?

Once you’ve gained some experience and become more confident, lay tutors may want to consider further options such becoming a Union Learning Rep(ULR) or attending the TUC Discussion Leaders course.

For more information contact OLEE