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Yorkshire and Humberside

Photo of Victoria Neale Victoria Neale victoria.neale@jobcentreplus.gsi.gov.uk

I’ve been with the Department of Work and Pensions (Employment Service, then Jobcentre Plus) since January 1999. I started as a New Deal Personal Adviser and after a few years moved onto an Action Team which was more community orientated. About the same time I saw an advert for Union Learning Reps, embarked on the training course and became office rep at the same time. It was an easy job: a small team of 30, 28 members, and a supportive management who were open to any reasonable suggestion for problem solving. (Those were the  days!)

I became interested in diversity when the Employment Service set up its first steering groups in 2000, with the aims of improving policies and procedures. We have come a long way and there’s still a long way to go until all staff can feel comfortable being out at work without fearing jokes and jibes. I think I have been very lucky in my workplaces as I have never had any homophobia wherever I’ve worked…however, I’ve heard many many horror stories from colleagues who have not been as fortunate.

I transferred to Huddersfield in 2006 and after a few months applied for a training course, advertised by the local branch. Within a few days I got an email from the Branch Secretary, who had noticed that I was a ULR and would I like to resume this with the Branch? Of  course I would….

My main interests within PCS are learning and tutoring, but I frequently get dragged into health and safety, having spent my time in the Action Team as a Health and Safety Officer. I even do the odd personal case! One of my particular interests is the holocaust and I teach Holocaust Awareness and Countering the Far Right courses at PCS.

I’ve been in Proud since I found out about it – several years ago – and this is my very first Proud role.

More about me: I’m from Newcastle, now live in Huddersfield where I’m about to complete my PGCE. I’m also writing a non-fiction project about my grandfather’s war years which indulges my love of history. I love going on holiday and seeing new places, and I have an on-off romance with photography.

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