European Social Fund in England

Case studies: Dido Project - Suffolk County Council

The Dido Project was funded by the European Social Fund through the Learning and Skills Council. It was coordinated by Lynn Taylor from Suffolk County Council. The project was named after Princess Elissa who lived in the 7th century BC. She became a great leader and was renamed 'Dido - the woman with the strength and force of a man' by her supporters.

The Dido Project was aimed at women aged 25 plus living in Ipswich and the Suffolk Costal area. The participants were either unemployed women living in rural areas or lone parents.

The project researched the barriers to women entering male dominated areas of employment. It also gave 100 women a range of support including: information, advice and guidance; taster sessions; work experience; opportunities for personal development; support in the transition into employment or further education; networking opportunities; and on-going support. In addition, women took part in focus groups, and employer and provider networks were established.

Training undertaken included plastering, painting and decorating, roofing, carpentry, construction, property and surveying, digger driving and computer networking.

By the end of the project 20 women had gone on to work or train in male dominated areas. Examples of jobs entered include: trainee stone mason, technician at a nuclear power station, roofing technician at a local construction college, and draughtsperson for a structural engineering company.

Many of the women have now moved onto further training or work, while others who had not entered training or work during the lifetime of the project, have now done so, including LGV driving.

At the 2005 East of England Celebrate Awards, the Dido Project won the 'All Inclusive Award'.

The success of the Dido Project led to the creation of two further projects in Suffolk: Dido II which is ESF funded and co-financed by the LSC (contact: Louise Smith 01502 582738); and Dido (Investing in Communities) which is funded by Suffolk County Council and the East of England Development Agency (contact: Sharon Stanley 01473 749837).

For further information on the original Dido project, contact Lynn Taylor on 01473 325283 mlynn.taylor@educ.suffolkcc.gov.uk

Ciril Deveraux

Ciril is a lone parent with three sons. In 2005 she joined the Dido Project and immediately expressed an interest in roofing. She was given information, advice and guidance. She then signed up for a course in Roof Tiling and Slating at Otley College, and was offered work there as a roofing technician.

Ciril still works at Otley College and has since completed the Intermediate Construction Award with credit and the Advanced Construction Award in Roof Tiling and Slating with credit. She has also acquired a fork lift truck drivers licence and a lead dressing and welding attendance certificate.

At the 2006 Adult Learners' Week Awards, Ciril was the winner of the national ESF Learning Works Award.

Ciril says: "I have shown my children that you can have the career you want if you go out and work at it - anything is possible. I am also proof that women can work in a male dominated sector such as construction."

"I struggled to get the right careers advice before turning to the Dido Project. Before I enrolled I also found it difficult to sort out all the financial issues surrounding going back into learning and arranging childcare for when I was at college. I learnt that asking questions was the best way to get results and if you don't get an answer from the first person you speak to, ask someone else!"