Under the shadow of Tata steelworks, Port Talbot, twelve women crafters meet every week to enjoy two hours of sharing their skills, encouraging each other in their endeavours, and putting the world to rights. The discussion this week inevitably was in relation to the devastating news that 2,800 people would likely be losing their jobs at the steelworks. The impact on the community is enormous. Many, not directly working at the plant, rely on it as contractors and suppliers. That’s a similar number of other families impacted by the decision to shut down the two remaining blast furnaces.
I love Port Talbot. I love Aberavon, with its wide, always windy, beach and the friendliness of the place. The steelworks is the unifying factor across the community. Many, many families have lived well from it: fathers, brothers, sons, and uncles all working together at the plant. Everyone has someone or knows someone dependent on Tata.
The reaction to the news however is mixed and complicated. Living in the shadow of Tata means pollution, and a regular showering of red dust – houses and cars covered in the stuff. That won’t be missed. Those families keen on improving air quality and reducing carbon emissions are keen to see the new developments.
But as usual, and with insufficient consideration, economic and environmental improvements are gained at the expense of livelihoods.
Purple Shoots supports financial independence and has, in the last 10 years, supported 17 new businesses in Port Talbot, providing small loans to individuals, who couldn’t get finance from anywhere else, to enable them to get their business off the ground.
We also facilitate Self-Reliant Groups (SRG) in Port Talbot and Aberavon. Women who meet each week to craft, to use their skills, and to save. They understand the critical importance of having a financial cushion when times are hard. They are also able to sell their products to add value to their savings and boost their ability to face difficult circumstances.
One group, meeting in Port Talbot Football Club, has taught each other to crochet (crosio in Welsh), knitting, quilting, die-cutting (paper craft). The women have two savings pots. One for each individual, and one for the group. This means, when they go for a meal together at Christmas time, the group fund pays, and it doesn’t have to be paid for out of their already squeezed household budgets. They are planning for a summer trip, also paid for from their funds.
Each SRG determines what they want to do, what to learn, and how they want to save, and how they want to spend their money. This means decisions have to be made, they have to listen to each other, to compromise and collaborate. It’s a joy to see these amazing skills in action!
Purple Shoots also supports a sewing group (made up of former-textile seamstresses) and a community allotment, both in Aberavon.
