Such community activities might include going to a fair, sports, helping with a community newspaper, walking the dog, baking a wedding cake for a great niece, busking when homeless, sticking envelopes for an environmental group, being active in a trade union, walking the Pennine Way alone or shopping for an elderly neighbour.
Ruth Johns hopes that by the year 2000 there will be a public archive of community activity, which may have effects such as making people in positions of power and authority more aware of the importance of understanding and respecting local communities.
The book she has produced to be filled in by individuals, keeps a record of their community activity - and through headings and questions helps by providing a structure within which people can tell their story. It is printed on paper designed to last 500 years with no chemicals.
The project is the outcome of many interviews, which started with people saying that they had achieved nothing in their lives (meaning usually by way of paid employment) - then realising after two hours' chat that they had indeed achieved a lot - and finally, often going on to express a wish that they could write something themselves.
These Ruth's Archive Personal History Books entitled 'My history of community activity by ... ' cost £5 +£1 p&p from Ruth Johns, 4 Castle Close, Warwick CV34 4DB (tel 01926 499433).
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