Amethyst Project - A Jewel in the Peak District

Mary Anderson from the Peak District Rural Deprivation Forum describes the Amethyst Project The Amethyst Project was designed to use a community development approach to respond to the marginalisation experienced by many women on low incomes in the Peak District. Its vision was to: develop a sustainable network of village contacts to act as information points for local women living in poverty, and to support them in acting locally to develop solutions to address their problems.

The project began in 1999 and in its first three years Amethyst established and facilitated six women's groups. The groups' life-spans varied from a few months to more than four years plus, and they tended to draw members from communities of interest that cover several villages and hamlets. Amethyst has also fostered connections with the farming community.

Each group set out its own agenda for action and the activities undertaken have been varied. They include social, cultural and exercise activities, local survey work and community consultations, training programmes, information sessions, lobbying activities, fundraising, awareness raising and policy development.

The funding for the Amethyst Project has been a complex and mixed package throughout the life of the project and has included more than twelve different funders over the period.

Making contact
At the outset it was not clear whether it would be possible to reach a specific group (isolated rural women on low income) dispersed throughout the rural population. This has been achieved, however, and has become easier over time as a result of the developing policy framework around rural social exclusion, heightened awareness of farmers' circumstances during and since the foot and mouth outbreak, and increased referrals from key professionals as the project became established.

Nevertheless there is an issue around the stigma of poverty, and that label/name is obviously not used as a way of attracting participants. Rather this is done by the type of activities that are set up, by the publicity and outreach methods, and by the involvement of the women themselves in these activities and decisions and in the Amethyst Advisory Group. Of course, it goes without saying that support such as childcare, transport, and respite care is available. Positive targeting has been cited as one of Amethyst's strengths by other agencies in the area.

Women-only?
There have been mixed views about the fact that Amethyst is a women's project. Women who are associated with men in manual occupations are often sensitive to the needs of these men and the barriers they face when trying to improve their earning potential. Nevertheless the women-only focus has also been welcomed. '..it could be intimidating if men were here…..would probably let them take control.' It has also been criticised 'can give the wrong impression - people might think we are a load of feminists'.

The consensus reached in the Advisory Group is that the project must continue to address women's needs, and that women must be the major decision makers, although this does not exclude men from some of the activities. For example, when some short courses on farming paperwork were run, specifically aimed at women in farming families, one of the women chose to attend with her male partner, who had previously taken responsibility for paperwork and was now handing over to her.

Ongoing evaluation
Amethyst uses the ABCD evaluation framework, in an on-going process. This framework views the building blocks for community development under four headings: positive action, building skills and confidence, developing groups and organisations, developing involvement and participation. Working with an evaluation consultant, the process provided a clear analysis of the strengths and shortcomings of the first three years of the project and helped to identify further action and follow-on work.

Developments
Developments in the project include the Amethyst Community Enterprise Project, which arose from a need identified in the first three years for positive and flexible employment opportunities, and to provide some payment for the time women commit to development of their ideas and projects.

Another focus has been setting up a grants application process, with a panel largely composed of Amethyst Advisory Group members, who are local women. So far one application is in the process of being developed, from Rural Office Angels, a group intending to set up a co-operative office support agency servicing mainly the community and voluntary sector.

A series of activities around International Women's Day has also become a regular networking feature of the project. This event of lighthearted (but serious too!) activities has the themes of fun, food and fitness, with a bit of creativity thrown in. This year's activities included a flamenco dance workshop, creating a mosaic and some wet and windy walking!

Other recent work has included a significant amount of short and specific training courses, covering confidence building, paperwork for farmers and job search skills. The training also functions as a tool for outreach to involve more women in the project.

One of Amethyst's strengths has been its on-going development work: 'Amethyst has given the project time to develop. The area is so vast and people need lots of time and encouragement'. And has made significant impact on women's lives as a result:

'It's all down to the Amethyst Project for giving me a new outlook on life and belief in myself'.

Published in SCCD News (Standing Conference for Community Development) Autumn 2003