About Us

Ymlaen – Forward is an ALL Wales Branch of UNISON Cymru Wales servicing members from the community and housing sectors.

Community is made up of more than 85,000 UNISON members who work for voluntary, charitable, and not-for-profit organisations, including housing associations, major charities and those providing social care from the third sector. Our members cover a comprehensive range of services in every aspect of public service delivery, across all the devolved nations and legislative frameworks. By working and campaigning together in UNISON, community and voluntary workers achieve more.

As an all Wales Branch, Ymlaen currently has over 4,500 members in over 500 employers making Ymlaen one of the largest and busiest UNISON Branches.

FAQs

Why do people join UNISON

Many people join UNISON because they fear that one day something will go wrong at work and they will need the help of a UNISON representative. But UNISON offers its members so much more. For more details on what benefits your UNISON membership offers you, please visit the member benefits page on the UNISON website.

What is the four week member rule and how does it affect me?

UNISON has a four week rule which states that a member must have been in membership of the Union for at least 4 weeks prior to seeking legal assistance from the Union. After 4 weeks, you’re entitled to the full support available to any member of UNISON, up to and including full representation in formal meetings and legal advice, unless this is for a ‘pre-existing issue’. If you join in the knowledge that something has happened to you, or will happen to you, even after the 4-week qualifying period has expired if you subsequently seek the union’s support to deal with a pre-existing issue, it will be limited to

How can I update my membership details?

You can update your personal details, for example your address, contact telephone number, email address etc, by visiting My UNISON section of the UNISON website. You will need to have your membership number handy. If you have not already registered to use the My UNISON website, please register here.

How can I get more invovled in the Branch

The Branch acivtiely ecourages its members to become more involved, from being a part of the Branch Executive commitee, becoming a work place contact or representative.

Branch Executive

Ymlaen – Forward UNISON Branch is managed by an elected Executive Branch Committee independent of the Cymru Wales Region.

The commitment from Ymlaen – Forward UNISON Branch remains to provide first class support, advice and guidance to all of its members.

Some of our Branch posts are currently vacant having not been filled during our most recent Annual General Meeting (AGM).

If you are interested in any of the vacant posts, you can see more details about what the post entails by clicking the Post title or by clicking the Vacant Post text. If you are interesting in putting yourself forward for any of our vacant posts, please contact the Branch using the Contact Branch menu option

In addition to elected officer posts, the Branch is also supported by:

Helena Watson – Branch Administrator
Stephen Pugh – Branch Administrator
Phil Heard – Branch Case Worker

Branch Post	Officer
Chair	Sian Stockham
Vice Chair	Mark Jones
Branch Secretary	Pat Jones
Treasurer	Sascha Williams
Black Members Officer	Shah Amour
Communications Officer	Gareth Thomas
Disabled Members Officer	Dyfrig Roberts
Education Co-ordinator	Clive Streeter
Equalities Officer	Sarah Beck
Health & Safety Officer	Tony Richards
International Officer	Vacant Post
Labour Link Officer	Denise Thomas
Life Long Learning Co-ordinator	Vacant Post
LBGT+ Officer	Gareth Thomas
Membership Officer	Vacant Post
Women’s Officer	Sarah Beck
Welfare Officer	Denise Thomas
Young Members Officer	Samantha Evergreen
Retired Members Officer	Vacant Post