The Forum is a group which was set up some years ago by the National Executive Committee (NEC). The Forum is a regular way of enabling members of Napo up to Grades 3 to meet to exchange experiences, information, aspirations, advice, support etc. It provides a forum to discuss issues affecting your grades in a friendly atmosphere and also allows opportunity to feed information and opinion into NEC and Annual General Meetings (AGM) from the meetings.
Who can attend?
Ideally every branch will elect one or two Forum representatives who will attend each meeting. Every branch is funded centrally to send one rep to each meeting and may send additional reps at cost to the branch. The only proviso is that Forum reps are paid on the pay scales currently designated for grades up to Band 3. Any member of grades up to Band 3 of Napo may attend but in terms of space available (if meeting in situ rather than virtual or in a hybrid way) the branch Forum reps will take preference.
Why do Grades up to Band 3 need a Forum?
Grades up to Band 3 are under represented in the membership of Napo. There are specific issues which members of these grades need to express a collective opinion on. It can be very useful in empowering members of your grades to move on further in activity within the union, both at Branch and National level. It allows you to compare your conditions locally with others and to enhance your expectation of what is possible.
What else does the Forum do?
A biennial Forum Conference is aimed to be held for all Napo members grades up to Band 3. This usually involves an element of training or education and focuses debate upon issues of current importance to members of your grade within Napo. There also tends to be a Forum fringe meeting every year at AGM.
How can I get involved?
You can attend the Forum and/or the biennial Forum Conference when it's held. You can come to the fringe meeting at AGM. You can get involved in your branch. You can keep yourself informed about issues concerning your grades and share your knowledge.
Who can tell me more?
The Forum is supported from Napo Head Office by Annoesjka Valent (Link National Official) and Sue O'Mahoney (Link National Officer). If you would like to know more about the Forum, or what you can do in Napo for your grades, please contact us by emailing info@napo.org.uk – stating in subject header: The Forum.