The is a government grant scheme that provides financial assistance to trade unions to help them improve the services they provide to their members.
The current funding round aims to help unions improve the support they provide to vulnerable workers, in partnership with voluntary and community organisations that have specific expertise in this area. This focus on vulnerable workers is particularly important at a time of rapidly rising unemployment and recession.
The Supervisory Board of the UMF advises government ministers on the projects that should receive financial support in each bidding round. Appointees to the board are recruited through open competition and appointments are based on expertise and relevant experience of working with trade unions. was selected for the three-year public appointment on the basis of his knowledge of the problems faced by vulnerable workers.