Hello!

I am a unemployed 62 year  young grandmother. I have been out of a job since the beginning of the last term of former government. It has been really hard trying to cope and depend on children etc,. for support. I have always been self sufficient and raised my children as a single mom. I am too young for pension, but yet find it difficult to find a job. I don't want to be put out to pasture.

Any how, I remember years ago, if I'm not mistaken, that we were going through a tough time like now and cottages industries were used to help put money back into the economy and helped with unemployed thus bringing the Island and communities together again.

I like the idea of cottage industries and maybe they might be more like me who could benefit from such ventures. This time I am thinking about people in my age group not quite pension age or maybe even pension age who would be willing to learn a new skill. I would like basketry, weaving, things that I can do with my hands and be able to sell to support myself again, but to get started is a problem because I don't know anyway that teaches these skills and I am afraid that I still may not be able to pay for such classes. 

I still want to do my part to help economy, I want to be able to contribute too but I need the chance to do so. As senior citizens, we still have life left , at least some of us do. So my idea is to start again with maybe cottage industries to build up the economy bit by bit. 

I don't want to depend on state when I am still able to do something else with my life. I devoted my life as a single mom to my kids but now I want to do it for myself.

to be able to live my life without dependency on any one.

In other words, we need a ' grandmother's club' going.

I've seen this picture in the UK where senior citizens have started a group that allows them to join, learn skills and fit back into society, which makes them happy and feel useful again.

So I am wondering if something can not be started here too, so we ( seniors) will feel useful again and less prone to get lazy and be ill.

Except for those who go to 'Q' in the community, there isn't much left for us, is there.

Is there anything you can do?

My name is Wendy Haynes and I await your response. 

P.S. It is also difficult to find inexpensive raw materials to make basket or for weaving.

Thank you.

Wendy Haynes