Study title

The main focus of the project was on the development of participative methodologies in investigating the intersection between older women’s lives and their ‘voices’; their ability to have a say about policy implementation at the micro level, within Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. This was explored through eleven discussion groups were held, each meeting twice and involving a total of 100 older women ranging from 50-94 years, from Black-Caribbean, Irish, Chinese, Somali and white British from existing social groups and political forums. Ten women were then recruited from the discussion groups and trained to interview individual members of the groups (n47) in more details about their lives. They helped to identify key themes and continue to play a part in publicising findings from the study. These stages were filmed for a video of the project. Key service providers and policy makers (n18) were also invited to comment on issues of public participation. The main focus of the project was on the development of participative methodologies in investigating the intersection between older women’s lives and their ‘voices’; their ability to have a say about policy implementation at the micro level, within Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. Eleven discussion groups were held, each meeting twice and involving a total of 100 older women ranging from 50-94 years, from Black-Caribbean, Irish, Chinese, Somali and white British from existing social groups and political forums. Ten women were then recruited from the discussion groups and trained to interview individual members of the groups (n47) in more details about their lives. They helped to identify key themes and continue to play a part in publicising findings from the study. These stages were filmed for a video of the project. Key service providers and policy makers (n18) were also invited to comment on issues of public participation. Quality of life was generally expressed in terms of what was good and what...