Women's Action for Mental Health (Nottingham) is a grassroots initiative run for working class women with mental health difficulties by women who have experienced and addressed similar issues in their own lives. It is distinct from professionally-run mental health services in that it offers working class women a place where they can belong and with which they can identify; where they do not feel inferior or judged; and where they can contribute to the management and running of the project. The development and details of the activities of the project are presented and discussed. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.