Essex: chapel, community centre opened at beleaguered Gypsy camp

A small community centre and chapel was officially opened at Dale Farm Traveller and Gypsy camp near Crays Hill in Essex on Saturday.

The log cabin, which has been named after St Christopher, one of the patron saints of travelling people, will be used for community meetings, health projects, IT and literacy for children and a chapel for the site's Catholics. It was built with a £9,894 government youth grant fund from the Equality Council

The building was blessed by Father John Glynn of Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, Wickford. There were also speeches by Lib Dem peer Lord Avebury, Clive Mardner, director of the Equality Council, who sponsored the project, and site spokesman Richard Sheridan, Gypsy Council president.

The opening of the community centre has aroused controversy locally, and a hostile campaign in the Daily Mail. While the Gypsies and Travellers have bought the agricultural land at Dale Farm, and lived there for many years, Secretary of State Ruth Kelly has upheld Basildon's decision to evict the community. This Friday (9 May) Judge Collins is to issue his long delayed ruling in the judicial review in the British High Court into Basildon's policy towards some two hundred "illegal" families which it refuses to accommodate.

Eviction specialists Constant & Co., whose bailiffs have been accused of 'wanton destruction,' including the burning and looting of caravans during removal operations, are already believed to be planning to bid for the £2 million demolition of the Dale Farm township.

Lord Avebury said: "The bulldozing of Dale Farm would be a disaster." Richard Sheridan said: "If we are evicted it will be a traumatic experience for all the families who have nowhere to go."

Billericay MP John Baron has urged the National Lottery to stop funding the equality council because he claims it is "biased to travellers".

Essex Racial Equality Council, which sponsored the centre, has been threatened with a cut off of funding by Lord Haddingfield. His opposite number on Basildon council, Malcolm Buckley, has already ended ties with racial equality workers whom he accuses of a bias in favour of Gypsies.

Their leader, Clive Marden, said at the ceremony that he did not care what Tory MP John Baron said, he was proud to be involved with the Dale Farm project, which was going to benefit so many children and young people. "I'm happy to take the flak," Marden commented.

Next week, the Bishop of Brentwood, the Bishop of Chelmsford, and other Catholic and Church of England clergy will be paying their own visit to Saint Christopher's.

Source: Roma News Service

© Independent Catholic News 2008

Jobs lost at pioneering gypsy project

Eleven jobs have been lost at a flagship education service for Pembrokeshire gypsies and travellers, as a result of European funding delays.

Additional funding for the Priory Learning Centre at Monkton Priory Community Primary School came to an end in October. It was hoped a new fund would begin immediately to allow the project to continue as normal, but there is still no sign of the money.

The additional funding allowed the centre to expand its service and provide learning support workers for 14 schools in the area, helping to meet specific educational needs of more than 200 gypsy children.

However, as the project has been left waiting for the money to fund the scheme, 11 outreach staff for the Priory Project - mostly LSA workers - have been made redundant.

Ten of the redundancies have now been taken as regular LSA workers independently under schools' budgets.

Monkton Priory headteacher William Rees said: "The gypsy learning centre is used as an example for similar projects all over Wales. It supports gypsy children at primary level and as they move on to secondary education.

"The Department of Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills and, in particular, the additional needs and inclusion division have been hugely supportive of our project, but we are currently operating on half our normal funding and there is a desperate need to implement European funding as soon as possible."

The project receives its core funding from the Welsh Assembly, but received match funding two-and-a-half years ago under Equals - a budget for specified ethnic minority education, administered by the Welsh European Funding Office (WEFO).

When the funding ended last October, it was hoped there would be a smooth transition to the new Convergence fund, but the project has not yet received the additional funds.

Shadow finance minister and south Pembrokeshire AM Angela Burns says she has raised the subject eight or nine times at the Assembly.

"Several organisations, including The Priory Project and The Sunderland Trust are suffering as a result of this gap in funding," she told the Western Telegraph.

"I've now been reassured that the various projects will be notified about what money will be available to the and when by the end of May or early June."

A spokesman for the Welsh Assembly said: "WEFO awaits further information from Pembrokeshire County Council before continuing its assessment of the project proposal for gypsy and traveller pupils."

4:17pm Saturday 19th April 2008

Official site for gypsies would have 'benefits'

By Melanie Vass

BOURNEMOUTH residents have been urged to "consider the benefits" of the official traveller and gypsy site proposed for land at Longham.

The recent arrival of a group of travellers at Turbary Park could have been prevented if Bournemouth had an authorised camp to direct them to, council officers claim.

The council is currently going through the legal process to evict the group of travellers, who are sited in a sensitive conservation area.

But Sue Bickler, the council's head of strategic services, said: "This current situation just highlights the need for an authorised traveller and gypsy site in the town.

"By having a dedicated site with decent facilities, this situation could have been avoided altogether as the travellers would be able to go directly to the site, preventing them from pitching up on other, less suitable or equipped areas of the borough.

"Were travellers to disregard this transit site and stay in an unauthorised area, the police powers to move them on will be greatly enhanced from the current situation.

"In addition, taxpayers' money would also be saved on eviction and clear-up costs that have sometimes occurred in the past, following illegal encampments."

But it is not just residents the council needs to convince - the National Romani Rights Association claim the proposed site is completely unsuitable for human habitation.

Basil Burton, chairman of the association and former Gypsy Liaison Officer for Dorset County Council, has written to Secretary of State Hazel Blears and Claire Cooper, the head of the Gypsy and Traveller Unit, urging them to intervene.

Consultation over the proposed site adjacent to Ringwood Road near the bridge over the River Stour is due to start in June.

The council then intends to make a final bid to the Government for funding in July.

7:00pm Friday 11th April 2008

Gypsy shock for towns

12:01 - 10 April 2008

PROPOSED gipsy and traveller sites in Comet country may be moved closer to towns away from villages.

Cabinet members at North Herts District Council (NHDC) decided on Tuesday night to explore the possibility of abandoning sites currently earmarked for rural areas and move them close to towns like Hitchin, Letchworth GC and Baldock.

Mid Beds District Council (MBDC) also said it would consider sites near towns but Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) say it is not considering any new sites.

Councillor F John Smith, leader of NHDC, said: "We are looking at possible alternatives to our present rack of sites, and planning officers will report back to cabinet in June.

"Then we could rule out rural sites but we need to complete the consultation programme into the sites which have already been recommended by Government.

"Once that has been completed we can then consider other options.

"Depending what planning officers report back to us, it is possible some sites could go on the outskirts of towns because these settlements provide amenities such as schools.

"We will make no recommendations until our June meeting other than saying we are looking at alternatives on the fringes of urban areas."

A spokesman for MBDC said: "We are still consulting local people about possible sites but some of these are on the edge of our small towns. If further edge-of-town sites are put forward, we would consider these as possible options."

SBC said in a statement: "We don't yet have any plans for new pitches in the borough. When new pitches are provided we anticipate providing them at the existing Dyes Lane site, although there is limited potential there."

Chairman of Pirton Parish Council David Saunders said: "Perhaps we will soon be getting back to living a normal life in the village.

"Ninety-nine per cent of people here are against this plan for the village."

Councillor Sheila James, of St Paul's Walden Parish Council, said: "We would be delighted if we were taken off the list of sites being considered."

The current sites in Comet country are on land close to Stevenage Rugby Club; Preston Hills, Whitwell; Lilley Bottom Road, St Paul's Walden; Holwell Road, Pirton; West Drive, Arlesey; Arlesey Road, Stotfold; Kennel Farm Holdings, Biggleswade and St Albans Road, Codicote.

Both NHDC and SBC were among six councils in Hertfordshire including the county council who commissioned a report by consultants Scott Wilson into potential gipsy and traveller sites in their individual area.

It followed a recommendation from the East of England Regional Assembly that 1,180 new gipsy and traveller pitches must be found in the region with 99 in Bedfordshire and 115 in Hertfordshire by 2011.

Troubled gypsy site rescued by generous goverment payout

TRAVELLERS are delighted they have finally received a grant to improve facilities on two sites after being "neglected" for years.

Bromley council were succesful in their bid for government money, receiving £468,451 for Star Lane caravan site in St Mary Cray and £369,869 for Old Maidstone Road, Sidcup.

The Star Lane site had no electricity for three years following of an arson attack. Power was finally restored in October last year.

Work is expected to begin in June and will include the repair and extension of the two sites with refurbishment of amenity facilities, repairs to broken fences, site clearance

and traffic calming.

Artist and traveller, Lucy Smith, 44, of Star Lane, said: "We're obviously absolutely delighted and thrilled that we have finally got some money and that the funds have been awarded our way.

"It was terrible when we were without electricity for so long. It was really depressing, we've definitely been overlooked and I'm glad the site is being rescued."

Mother-of-four, Mrs Smith, believes work has been slow because contractors are afraid to enter traveller sites.

She said: "They seem frightened to come in, but it's just their imagination running away with them, thinking that they might have things stolen and so on. People don't understand travellers, it's a taboo. They tar everyone with the same brush thinking we're lary and want something for nothing.

"This is a lovely situated site and there is huge potential here. There are very few problems. It's quite safe and I let my children play around here. We have been neglected but we're excited for the future and getting the site back to how it should be."

Mrs Smith dismissed claims that gypsy travellers contribute nothing to the local economy.

She said: "Many travellers own their own property and pay ground rates. We send our children to schools and work as well."

A condition of the grant, which comes from the Department for Communities and Local Government, is that Bromley council provide 25 per cent of the money which amounts to £150,000.

Project worker at the Bromley Gypsy Traveller Project, James Bellsham-Revell, is also delighted with the payout.

He said: "It's great that at last they've been given some money, it's wonderful but it's taken a long time. It's vital that there is investment in infrastructure on traveller sites and that plans are progressive. The sites have not been a priority for the government.

"There is a deep-seated prejudice against gypsies but many people are completely ignorant. There is no way people would say the same things they do about black people or Asian people as they do about gypsies.

"But travellers and gypsies are recognised as a distinct group in the Race Relations Act 1976 and it's about time the general public did also.

Films 'to shatter myths' surrounding Gypsy and Traveller communities

Published by Jon Land for 24dash.com in Housing , Communities , Local Government on Monday 7th April 2008 - 9:26am

A unique set of films exploring views, myths and misconceptions about Gypsy and Traveller communities has been developed by four Regional Assemblies.

The films 'Somewhere to Live' were specially commissioned to support consultation on new Gypsy and Traveller caravan sites in the Regional Assembly areas covering East of England, South East, North West and West Midlands.

Each of the four Assemblies are updating their long term planning framework (Regional Spatial Strategy) to address Gypsy and Traveller needs, responding to concerns, that a shortage of permanent sites is increasing illegal camping.

It is the first time that Regional Assemblies across England have collaborated in this way, sharing costs and ideas to create an innovative approach to consultation. The films tackle controversial views upfront, giving an insight into both public perceptions and Gypsy and Traveller lifestyles.

East of England is the first region to launch its film as part of its public consultation which recommends 1,187 more Gypsy and Traveller caravan pitches by 2011.

East of England Regional Assembly Chairman Councillor John Reynolds said: "The film brings a human angle to the difficult and controversial issue of planning for Gypsies and Travellers.

"This is a unique way of informing the public, including hard to reach groups and facilitating engagement with council members, as Assemblies develop policy on addressing the shortage of legal stopping places for Gypsies and Travellers. It is important to improve access to services and facilities that most take for granted."

The films include region-specific views from members of the public, Gypsies, Travellers and their neighbours.

In addition, the films share interviews with Romany journalist Jake Bowers and Gypsy student Christina who explain myths, culture, public perceptions and the need for legal sites that give people access to education and healthcare.

The film has also been entered for a 2008 Royal Town Planning Institute award for Equality and Diversity.

Production of the film was managed by the South East England Regional Assembly and undertaken by production company @Voytek.

BBC says it has no plans to cut broadcasting to the Gypsy and Traveller community

London, 4.4.2008, 17:05, (Media Network Blog)

According to the Roma Network via Romea.cz, Rokker Radio, the two-hour radio programme established two years ago by the BBC for the Gypsy and Traveller community, is to be axed at the end of April. Romea claims that, as the show prepares to celebrate two years of broadcasting across local BBC radio in the East of England and across the world on the Internet, the BBC has decided not to fund the programme beyond the end of April. However, the BBC Press Office has contacted Media Network to say that this story is incorrect.

The programme began on BBC Three Counties Radio on Romany Nation Day in 2006 and has since grown to broadcast on 6 local radio stations across the East of England. Each Sunday night, between 7 and 9pm it broadcasts to Britain’s 300,000 Gypsies and Travellers, many of whom must drive long distances to hear it because they cannot receive it in their area or listen to it on the Internet.

Over the last two years, BBC Rokker Radio has attempted to address the lack of proper representation of Europe’s largest ethnic minority community in the media in Britain. It has raised issues of importance to the community whilst literally providing a common wavelength through which Gypsy and settled communities can begin to understand one another.

The BBC has sent us the following statement:
“There is no intention to close Rokker Radio. It is true that we have had discussions with the presenter about a range of options for the programme, including whether there might be potential for expanding the range and scope of programming covering these issues - for example by offering programming to other radio stations across the BBC local radio family. We will continue to look at how best we can refresh our coverage and to ensure that we are achieving best value for our listeners, but we can reassure listeners that there is no plan to close the programme down at this time. We are, however, keen to find new ways of reaching underserved communities, including the travelling community.

It’s important to explore options to provide wider and better coverage of the issues and concerns of this community across the whole of England, not just the East. Technology is delivering a wide variety of new ways to deliver content to audiences and we will continue to explore a number of innovative ideas to help give the travelling community a voice and to improve understanding with the settled community of their issues.”

BBC to cut broadcasting to the Gypsy and Traveller community

London, 2.4.2008, 11:11, (ROMEA/ROMA NETWORK)

Rokker Radio, the two-hour radio programme established two years ago by BBC for the Gypsy and Traveller community is to be axed at the end of April. As the show prepares to celebrate two years of broadcasting across local BBC radio in the East of England and across the world on the internet, the BBC has decided not to fund the programme beyond the end of April.

The programme began on BBC Three Counties Radio on Romany Nation Day in 2006 and has since grown to broadcast on 6 local radio stations across the East of England. Each Sunday night, between 7 and 9pm it broadcasts to Britain’s 300,000 Gypsies and Travellers, many of whom must drive long distances to hear it because they cannot receive it in their area or listen to it on the internet.

Over the last two years, BBC Rokker Radio has attempted to address the lack of proper representation of Europe’s largest ethnic minority community in the media in Britain. It has raised issues of importance to the community whilst literally providing a common wavelength through which Gypsy and settled communities can begin to understand one another.”

Because of the unfortunate reduction in the BBC licence fee, regional management in the BBC have decided that it is too expensive to maintain. The £800 it costs each week to staff this vital service may well be in excess of the average cost of regional programming, but it remains the BBC’s only real commitment to date to the Gypsy and Traveller community. It is also insignificant compared to the financial commitment the BBC rightly gives to other linguistic, national and ethnic minorities across the UK.

With just one month before Gypsy and Traveller broadcasting is silenced in Britain, Gypsy and Traveller journalists, campaigners and Traveller education advocates have launched a campaign to save and expand the programme. In an open letter to BBC Director General Mark Thompson, members of the European Romani Journalists Federation have started to campaign for equal representation on and within the BBC.

“The BBC should begin the process of dedicating the same level of resources to the Gypsy and Traveller community as it does to other ethnic and linguistic minorities in Britain. If it is right that the BBC broadcasts in Welsh and Gaelic and provides an entire network to the Asian community, it is also right that it provide the same commitment to Europe’s largest ethnic minority community, the Romany people.” says veteran Kosovan Roma Journalist Orhan Galjus.

He added: “Services in the Romani language are also badly needed to support and inform those communities who currently have no access to independent broadcasting. Across many parts of Europe a de facto apartheid blights the Romany community and it’s prospects. We urgently need the BBC’s help to inform and educate our 12 million strong European nation.”

The decision to axe the programme comes as parts of the British press regularly demonise the community. On March 24th, a Sun front-page declared that a “Gipsy Hell” had been unleashed, when a group of Romany families set up a permanent caravan site next to a home owned by Olympics Minister Tessa Jowell. Campaigners claim that even the Sun would shrink from printing banner headlines containing the words “Black Hell” or “Asian Hell.”


ROMEA/ROMA NETWORK

Still time to comment on plans for Gypsy and Traveller ...

Members of the public from across the region, including Gypsies and Travellers, still have time to respond to the consultation on proposals to tackle the shortage of caravan pitches for the Gypsy and Traveller community in the region. This is part of the Government's commitment to ensuring an affordable place to live for all. It is being co-ordinated by the Government Office for the East of England (GO-East) on behalf of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.

An event on Wednesday March 13 targeted local authorities that are responsible for planning authorised pitches for the 4,229 Gypsy and Traveller caravans in the region. Of these 1,140 are currently on unauthorised pitches. The event, held in Ely, provided an opportunity for local authorities to hear directly from the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) about their recommendation that each of the region's 48 local authorities should provide at least 15 additional pitches.

Members of the Gypsy and Traveller community were invited to an event at the Government Offices in Cambridge on Wednesday 19 March, to hear more about the proposals and how they can make their views known. They were updated on progress to date, and the process that GO-East are currently engaged in prior to finalising the proposals in 2009.

Tim Freathy, Acting Deputy Regional Director of GO-East said:

"It is important to engage with the Gypsy and Traveller community on this issue which directly affects their future in the region. We need to ensure that their views are heard and the event today gave the community an opportunity to hear about the consultation and how they can contribute. By providing enough authorised sites to meet people's needs we can reduce unauthorised encampments and help to end friction with settled communities."

Gloria Buckley, a member of the Gypsy and Traveller community in the East of England, took part in the event. She said:

"Today's meeting is a milestone for the Gypsy and Traveller community. It has been a difficult process to get this far, to get the proposals on paper, and now we need to take the next steps. I would like to encourage the community to stand up and have their views counted.

"Gypsies and Travellers, like every other community, need somewhere to live. The East of England is a large region - over 7,300 square miles. Shortage of space is not an issue; what we have had is a shortage of understanding. I hope that today's event and this consultation process will begin to break down the barriers that have existed for too long."

The plans for additional Gypsy and Traveller caravan pitches are part of a single issue review of the East of England Plan (Regional Spatial Strategy) and follow two years of research and consultation with local authorities, businesses, voluntary organisations, the public and Gypsies and Travellers.

The East of England Plan provides a clear, agreed, long-term vision for how the region will provide jobs and homes for its residents until 2021 and beyond. It is the framework for putting into place the Government's growth agenda within the region and ensuring that growth is sustainable. The adequate provision of homes and affordable housing to accommodate the needs of different communities, is a vital element of the Plan.

(MORE)

'Racist' slurs mar gypsy consultation

Published Date: 27 March 2008
Location: Bedford

By Paul Fisher

Council says it can't publish more than 3,000 responses to a document seeking views on where to put new traveller caravan pitches in Mid Beds.

'Racist' comments from more than 3,000 residents have overshadowed a public consultation on plans to provide new pitches for travellers in Mid Bedfordshire.

Mid Beds District Council asked its taxpayers' for their views late last year – but of the 3,500 responses received, only 400 can be published.

The overwhelming majority refer to criminal activity or feature other racist remarks, the authority has said.

The council, which needs to find 25 more caravan pitches for travellers under the Government's Local Development Framework, has now been forced to extend the consultation period until May, to allow residents to submit revised opinions.

Cliff Codona, chairman of the National Travellers Action Group, said the consultation just proved the type of racism the gypsy community regularly faces.

He said: "There is racism against travellers and I think you could not have picked a better area of the country to prove that fact. It is nothing to do with gypsies or travellers, it is just everyone jumping on the bandwagon. However it should not stop the council following through Government legislation that says traveller sites should be provided. They should get on with it and provide sites that are desperately needed. Every time plans are put on hold it gives people time to put the boot in."

Mid Beds District Council is now writing to the 3,100 people who submitted unacceptable comments to ask whether they would like to resubmit their views, but based on planning issues and not stereotypes.
Mark Hustwitt, spokesman for the council, said: "It would not be responsible for us to publish any racist responses.

"If someone objects because of a planning reason, like being against a development because it is on a greenfield site, then we will publish it, but we cannot discriminate against any group because of stereotypes.

"No-one would now say someone should not get planning permission because they are black or gay; this applies equally to gypsies and travellers.

"I must say we were very surprised at the response. I think it is one of those areas where people find it acceptable to be racist and they are wrong."

The 400 comments that are acceptable will be published on the council's website this week.

The council will look at the preferred sites for development in May.

Mr Hustwitt added: "There are already many gypsy families living quietly in Mid Beds who are part of their communities. We are obliged to find 25 sites in Mid Beds to help control unauthorised encampments."

Bedford Borough Council is is under the same Government obligation to provide between ten and 15 new pitches for travellers across the borough. It expects to announce a consultation period soon.

The full article contains 479 words and appears in n/a newspaper.

Last Updated: 27 March 2008 3:01 PM

A knock-out blow for British racism?

Thought Leader
Tony Jackman

The word is not as incendiary as “kaffir”. It does not offend the ear as would “nigger” or “jewboy”. It is, in fact, a rather beautiful word. But in the United Kingdom, utter the word “gypsy” and rooms go quiet; looks are exchanged, brows furrowed and lips pursed. And arguments rage.

A gypsy is to many an Englishman or -woman what a “kaffir” was to many a white South African or a “nigger” to a Southern plantation owner: one to be marginalised, one presumed lesser than oneself, one who could not be trusted, one best not associated with.

The country that (correctly) had so much to say to South Africans about racism in the apartheid years is yet to address its own attitudes to a marginalised people on its own doorstep: Romany gypsies, more often euphemistically referred to as “travellers”. This moniker will bring an ironic smile to the lips of South Africans who remember how the Nats, in the Eighties, came up with the idiotic “plurals” and the even dafter Afrikaans equivalent, “plurales“, for black South Africans.

Every fight worth fighting needs a catalyst, and the gypsy community in the UK has been presented with the perfect trigger, on a golden platter, for highlighting its own marginalism within that country: a young Romany gypsy boxer, Billy Joe Saunders, has been selected for the British team to the Beijing Olympics. His trainer is Terry Edwards, who guided Amir Khan to his own Olympic glory earlier in the decade.

And he’s apparently a true Romany gypsy, rather than a “diddicoy“, the (offensive?) term used for people in that part of the world who live as gypsies without necessarily being true Romany gypsies.

What a name the lad has. He sounds as though he’s stepped right out of an American trailer park, or he could be the star turn at the Grand Ole Opry. In fact, a trailer park isn’t far from the truth, for many gypsies in the UK live in prefabricated homes set up, often illegally, on informal land. The old, romantic image of gypsies clad in scarves and much jewellery and living in wooden caravans in sylvan glades, treading toadstools underfoot, is only the stuff of fairy tales today.

Billy Joe Saunders now bears on his young shoulders the chance to bring pride and glory to arguably Britain’s most sidelined community, shunned by “proper” Brits as a bunch of inveterate rubbishes, criminals and worse.

When I lived in the south of England, in West Sussex, a clan of travelling gypsies set up camp on a farm near our small town. I’m not going to argue the appropriateness of them settling on land they may not own. What interested me, however, was the reactions of locals to this unwanted community on their doorstep. Their attitudes reminded me so much of racist white South Africans’ attitudes to other races.

They were “those people”, “them”, “not like us”. I remonstrated with a newspaper colleague at the time. But they’re just people, I said. I mean, if you passed a Romany gypsy in the street, you wouldn’t even know it. They aren’t even recognisable by physical characteristics. They’re just people with their own traditions and ways.

Not at all. I was given a stern lecture on why these people were not to be regarded as you would ordinary people. They were morally corrupt, useless, good-for-nothing thieves. To a man, woman and child. And as a group.

I pointed out that to classify an entire group in such terms was virtually the definition of prejudice, but was met with derision. Obviously I had no experience of the gypsy community or I wouldn’t say that, she told me.

Now imagine if you or I were to say the same things about “blacks” or “Jews”? The same people would instantly chide us and correct our racist attitudes. But many Britons simply do not see it in the same way.

Here and there while in the UK I brought up the subject of gypsies with other people, and always I was met with a similar response.

The support of many Britons for the anti-apartheid cause was a superb and hugely helpful thing, and I treasure it, but isn’t it about time that nation addressed its own prejudices towards Romany gypsies? And, for that matter, for “diddicoys“?

Go to the blog entry and comment:
http://www.thoughtleader.co.za/tonyjackman/2008/03/12/a-knock-out-blow-for-british-racism/

Travellers' tales

We need to know who our Gypsy pupils are...

Janette Owen
Tuesday March 11, 2008
The Guardian


In June, schools across the country will have the opportunity to take part in the first Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month, aimed at raising awareness and exploring the history, culture and languages of these communities. But the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) hopes that the themed lessons will have an additional impact.
According to the schools minister Lord Adonis, many Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils are among the lowest-achieving in our schools and the situation is not improving. Fear of prejudice and bullying has meant that many children and families are too scared to identify themselves, and without that knowledge schools are unable to apply for the extra support and funding that is available to help them.

The DCSF has produced a document, called The Inclusion of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Children and Young People, which aims to persuade schools and local authorities to stamp out prejudice and ensure that the children get the extra support they deserve.

What can governors do to boost this initiative? They need to support the head in identifying which families need help. The guide says: "Schools and local authorities cannot comply with their duties under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 unless they are aware of the ethnicity and cultural diversity of their school population."

It suggests schools try to recruit governors from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds. Governors should devise strategies to encourage parents to volunteer, and not feel they lack the skills required.

The vulnerability of these pupils must be recognised in the school's behaviour and anti-bullying policies. According to the guide: "It is equally important for schools to have, within their anti-bullying policy, examples of racist terminology pertinent to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities."

Heads should provide governors with information on racist incidents at least annually and ideally once a term. Governing bodies are required to inform their local education authority annually of incidents.

Adonis says: "Children from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities should feel safe and cherished in school, and therefore parents and pupils will be proud to identify themselves. Schools now have a duty to promote community cohesion, and this is a real issue for their attention."

The Inclusion of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Children and Young People can be downloaded from the online publications section of teachernet.gov.uk.
Education.governor@guardian.co.uk

Campaigners vow to find goats a home

By Rob Dabrowski

A herd of goats used for military scientific tests look set to be rehoused, thanks to The News.
The 40 animals, three-quarters of which were subject to controversial lab studies in which they were put into pressure chambers, are now likely to be able to start new lives at animal sanctuaries across the south.When the Ministry of Defence vowed to stop all testing at its QinetiQ site in Gosport last Wednesday, the future of the goats was uncertain.

QinetiQ was unable to guarantee that some of the animals wouldn't be culled, but The News contacted an animal rights group to alert them to the goats' plight and members have vowed to rehouse the animals in sanctuaries.The Southern Animal Rights Coalition has said it will take the animals and find them loving homes.

A vet will now check whether the homes are suitable.

SARC member Tom Harris, 24 of Alver Road, Gosport, said: 'Their welfare has always been our number one priority so it's imperative to find good homes for all these animals.'

After the lives they've led I sincerely hope that they can live out the rest of their years in a peaceful happy way and as close to nature as we can get them.

'Peter Viggers, MP for Gosport, added: 'There are technical provisions which apply here and a vet must certify that the animal is kept in appropriate conditions and that it will not suffer.'Having discussed the matter with QinetiQ, I'm confident that those involved will do their very best to achieve a satisfactory outcome.'

QinetiQ spokesman Douglas Millard said a vet who is looking after the welfare of the goats will investigate whether the sanctuaries are suitable.'Every effort will be made to relocate as many of them as possible to appropriate and certified establishments,' he said.

The full article contains 314 words and appears in n/a newspaper.

Last Updated: 11 February 2008 12:15 PM

Government call for more gypsy NHS care

By Oliver Evans

More efforts need to be made by the NHS and councils to address the health needs of gypsies and travellers, a Government reported released today states.

The recommendation is included in major report released today on improving the mental and physical well-being of people in the South East.

It states "joint strategic needs assessments" had to include "include intelligence on the health needs of excluded groups, for example black and minority ethnic groups and gypsies and travellers".

The South East England Health Strategy also says children should have lessons in "challenging cultural norms" and "communication and conflict resolution skills".

Obesity is high on the agenda for the strategy, which aims to reach out to voluntary and Government-funded organisations.

Among the other "key actions" are: More use of community pharmacies to help people stop smoking on the NHS.

A higher use of statins for people with heart disease.

More "weight management programmes".

Efforts to create areas "more conductive to physical activity".

Ensuring "full refurbishment of play areas as well as expand existing provision of play areas".

More routine enquiries about domestic abuse and violence by NHS staff.

A regional action plan to reduce obesity.

To increase breastfeeding rates.

Get more people to use "parenting skills programmes" for children "psychological or conduct disorders".

Identifying depression earlier in older people.

The strategy looks at six areas: health inequalities, sustainability, safer communities, employment and health, children and young people and later life.

Jonathan Shaw, Regional Minister for the South East: "Health is everyone's business.

"Although we have some of the healthiest communities in the UK, we also have some communities and groups who experience shocking health inequalities.

"Across the South East, differences in life expectancy of ten or more years can be found.

"Through this strategy, we aim to reduce the inequalities in health that exist between geographical areas and population groups across the region."

12:42pm Thursday 7th February 2008

Gypsy children 'smuggled in to work for modern Fagins'

As many as 2000 children of Roma gypsies have been trafficked into the UK to be schooled in the art of street crime by modern-day Fagins, the Government was warned today.

Tory Anthony Steen, MP for Totnes, said the children were brought to Britain for the express purpose of committing crimes and "milking" the benefits system.

Sold for up to £20,000 each, they were "debt bonded" to criminal gangs and could net as much as £100,000 a year, he claimed.

He warned it was a new "phenomenon" in Britain which was approaching "siege" levels.

Mr Steen called for a new offence of "criminally exploiting others", and for the children concerned to be treated as victims of crime and repatriated with the support of reputable child organisations.

He was speaking in a Westminster debate after last month's high-profile rescue by police of ten children from a so-called "Fagin's gang".

The children were taken into care after officers raided 17 addresses in Slough, Berkshire.

Nine have since been reunited with their families who live in the UK.

Police believe the children were being held by organised criminal gangs from Eastern Europe.

The full article contains 203 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Last Updated: 06 February 2008 11:49 AM

Villagers oppose gypsy site - and so do gypsies

FORCING travellers to live in isolated villages amounts to "social suicide", says a leader of the gypsy community.

More than 250 sites must be found in the region following a decision by the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA) on Friday - including some near small villages like Barkway in Hertfordshire.

Hughie Smith, president of the Gypsy Council (Romani Kris), said they had not been consulted and described the proposals as "forcing gypsies into areas where they do not want to be".

He said: "This is tantamount to social suicide, and a complete waste of time and public money.

"I am deeply concerned that no attempt has been made to consult with ourselves, or even to seek our input."

Paul Danter is the landlord of the Tally Ho pub in Barkway, and spokesman for the team of 12 villagers who scrutinised the controversial plans.

He said North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC) and EERA would have no alternative but to review the methods they have used.

NHDC has been asked to provide 15 plots for travellers, and locations put forward in the Royston area include sites in Barkway and Sandon.

The group claims farmers who own the two 50-acre sites in Barkway have indicated they do not wish to sell, meaning - if they are chosen as the preferred options of NHDC - Compulsory Purchase Orders would be needed for the plans to go ahead against their wishes.

If the full allocation of plots was sited in the village, it would mean more than 50 travellers swelling its 600 population.

It has no doctor's surgery, shop, Post Office or bank and just a small infant school. The nearest GP is three miles away and the nearest hospital 12 miles away.

A report by Barkway resident Dr Robert Davidson states: "Proposing travellers' sites in a rural area like Barkway makes no sense.

"The village is far from the amenities and type of location that this minority group has requested and needs."

Campaigners also criticised the £40,000 Scott Wilson Report commissioned on the matter by NHDC, which included incorrrect locations and inaccurate descriptions.

Councillor F John Smith, leader of North Hertfordshire District Council, said it would not comment on individual sites until its consultation process has ended.

But he admitted: "Ours is one area which they don't want to be in, but we still have to carry on with the process as required by Her Majesty's Government. It doesn't mean we are doing it with joy in our hearts."

Royston's MP, Oliver Heald, has received scores of complaints from concerned residents and added it was "obviously wrong" to force travellers into areas where they do not wish to be.

In Cambridgeshire, 233 extra pitches must be created by 2011.

Councillor John Reynolds, EERA chairman and a member of Cambridgeshire County Council, said: "Traveller and gypsy organisations have been contacted about the overall plans from the EERA point of view, and are engaged in the consultation process."






Published: 31/01/2008 09:24:58

Police come under heavy criticism over 'child criminals' raids

From Monsters and Critics.com

UK News
Police come under heavy criticism over 'child criminals' raids
By Rich Bowden, M&C Staff Writer
Jan 29, 2008, 9:21 GMT

(M&C) - Nine of ten children who police claimed had been captured and taught to lead a life of crime, have been returned after the children were found to be living with their families.

Police raided 17 homes in Slough, Berkshire last week however all but one of the children have been returned after police found them not to be in danger.

The homes belonged to gypsy families and members of the community say the children were targeted because parents often do not marry and children are sometimes looked after by extended families.

One man, who spoke to the Telegraph, criticised the police officers' heavy handed approach.

"They entered the house wearing balaclavas. They immobilised us and didn't even let us get dressed. From 5am to 11am they didn't let us make a move," he said.

"They turned our house upside down and searched everywhere. They didn't find anything and in the end after they'd finished everything they took the children."

Police have denied mishandling the situation saying they had acted on specific intelligence. Steve Allen, a Metropolitan Police commander, said he had acted correctly.

"The story would have been very different had I not acted - and had subsequently one of the children turned up dead. You would quite rightly be putting me on the spot and asking me questions about why I hadn't taken action," he said.



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Hall packed for 'gypsy' meeting

By Jon Wills

AROUND 200 people crammed into Cotford St Luke Community Hall last night amid fears that the village could face an influx of Romany gypsies.

The controversy centres on three mobile homes which were put on the site at the weekend without planning permission.

The mobile homes are owned by 39-year-old Henry Small, who told the meeting that they were just for himself and his family. He also assured residents that there were no plans for anyone else to join him site.

But many in the hall were not convinced and demanded to know what Taunton Deane Council, which has already issued two stop notices on the site, was planning to do next.

Tim Burton, development control manager for the council, outlined the legal position.

Gypsy caravan site may get go-ahead

Nov 14 2007

by simon halewood, Crewe Chronicle

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a Gypsy caravan site at Moston are expected to be given the green light by planning chiefs despite scores of objections.

A site for three Gypsy families, with two transit pitches and hard-standing, is proposed for Horseshoe Farm at Warmingham Lane.

Both Moston and Warmingham Parish Councils have objected to the plans arguing that ‘the Middlewich area is already well supplied with Gypsy sites’.

But supporters say the space is desperately needed to support the area’s growing number of Travellers and to reduce the number of illegal sites across the borough.

In total the council has received 53 letters and e-mails objecting to the plans from local residents.

One argued that ‘the potential overload to the community could be catastrophic’ while another claimed ‘Gypsies are abusive and intimidating to local people.’

A further letter of objection was received from the CW10 Residents’ Community Action Group. It stated: ‘The current public services and facilities within Middlewich are already at breaking point in respect of schools, doctors, dentists and the like.

‘The application is too vague and open to abuse in respect of the amount of caravans which could cover extended families.’

Planning permission is being requested by Rugby-based Philip Brown Associates Ltd on behalf of Oliver Boswell, of Horseshoe Farm.

In a report to the Congleton Borough Council planning committee, a development control manager concluded: ‘Residents refer generally to Gypsies having a lack of respect for other road users, fly tipping, causing disturbance, fighting, stealing and intimidating residents. In my opinion these issues are not of such weight as to sway the determination of this application.

‘The question of need can no longer be substantiated as a reason for refusal and therefore I must recommend approval.’

Borough mayor and representative to the Gypsy Council, Cllr Mike Parsons, believes the site is urgently needed.

He said: ‘It is a simple fact that we will continue to have problems until there are a sufficient number of sites.

‘People moan when police move them on but this site will provide somewhere Travellers can keep themselves to themselves.’

Congleton has the highest amount of Travellers’ accommodation in the county.

As the Chronicle went to print last night, the planning committee was due to make a decision.

Gypsy family vows to fight on for home

THIS is our family home and we will be heartbroken if we are forced to move - that is the message from Startley gypsies Rosemary and Jim MacDonald.

The couple have lived at The Paddock, Heath Lane, in the hamlet near Malmesbury, for five years and are fighting to win a planning appeal that would legally allow them to stay there.

Despite owning the land, they have numerous applications to change its use to a residential gypsy site turned down by North Wiltshire District Council.

They have also lost a previous appeal at a public inquiry.

Mrs MacDonald said she is tired of the continuing battle and just wants a place to bring up her daughters, who are aged eight and ten.

"We have got nowhere else to go," she said. "This is our home now. We can't afford to move, so this is it now.

"It would be so nice for the council to give a bit of leniency and have a look at the way we have developed the land and to see how nice it looks.

"We have never given any trouble to the neighbours and it would just be nice to be accepted as part of the community.

"People think of the word gypsy and don't want them in their back yard.

"Certain people think we shouldn't even be breathing the same air as them.

"All I want is just somewhere decent to raise my children and that's all. It's just what any normal human being wants. I love it here and if I ever did have to move I would be heartbroken."

But other residents in Startley do not believe the family should be living there without permission.

Roy Metcalfe is chairman of the residents' association and the immediate neighbour to the camp, where he said three families were living.

He said it is far from a suitable site for them to be based on. "There is no infrastructure in place and no mains drainage," said Mr Metcalfe.

"It's on a little, tiny road and it's not able to take these big wagons on a regular basis. There is a lot of noise and commercial activity going on," he said.

The final date for residents to submit their objections to the planning inspectorate is tomorrow.

Mr Metcalfe said they would then have to nervously wait for the appeal decision. "There is a great concern, which is why there is so many objections going in," he said.

The council refused the most recent application in January.

Planning officers said the proposal was unacceptable because it was "located remote from services, employment opportunities and unlikely to be well served by public transport".

Mrs MacDonald said they would keep fighting, even if their latest appeal is turned down.

"We will just appeal it again and fight it to the end," she said. "I'm only fighting for what I know is mine."

4:18pm Thursday 11th October 2007



By Gordon Simpson

£2m to create new gypsy communities

By Jonny Muir

THE Government has handed Fenland District Council nearly £2.2 million to build two traveller and gypsy communities.

The authority will use the money to purchase land and create 29 new pitches.

Meanwhile, Peterborough City Council has been told it must also provide an additional 13 to 15 pitches.

The targets have been imposed by the East of England Regional Assembly (EERA), following the findings of a Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment in the East of England.

Consultants concluded there was a need for an extra 1,220 residential pitches and 300 "transient" pitches between 2006 and 2011.

Fenland District Council bosses are engaged in "commercially sensitive negotiations" with private landowners to purchase two plots of land.

Today, spokesman Terry Brownbill said the gypsy community and residents living close to allocated sites would be fully consulted before the sites were created.

Mr Brownbill added: "We do not know when the process will start because anything could happen in the negotiations."

There are already 66 traveller pitches spread across five sites in Fenland District Council's administrative area.

It is hoped a pot of Government money, totalling £5.7 million in the East of England, will reduce unauthorised camping.

This year, travellers have pitched up on Peterborough's River Nene Embankment, on a car park at Ferry Meadows Country Park and on former Parkway Sports and Social Club playing fields, near Eye.

There are about 117 caravans on two city council-managed sites, in Norwood Lane, Paston and Oxney Road, Eastern Industry.

In addition, there are nine private sites established on land owned by traveller families, which a recent survey revealed were home to 30 caravans.

Last year, the city council was successful in securing two site improvement grants – £483,850 for Oxney Road, where work began last autumn, and £431,402 for Norwood Lane, where discussions are continuing on the best use of the funds.

Council spokesman Mike Lennox said: "There are currently no transit or authorised short-stay sites in Peterborough and no sites have been identified for the proposed additional pitches.

"When potential sites are identified, they will be subject to a rigorous planning and public consultation process."

Minister for Gypsies and Travellers Iain Wright said: "The problem of unauthorised camping will only be tackled through sufficient site provision, coupled with effective enforcement.

"Providing more authorised sites reduces the cost to taxpayers of costly enforcement action, and makes it quicker and easier to take action where unauthorised camping does take place."

Gypsy children being bullied

Aled Blake
Published: 02 February 2007

http://www.tes.co.uk:80/2335778

Gypsy children have alleged shocking incidents of racist bullying in Welsh schools in a survey for charity Save The Children.

Face-to-face interviews were held with young pupils from the minority group about their experiences in mainstream education.

Name-calling was said to be the biggest form of abuse, with “Irish freaks”, “tramps” and “gippo” being hurled most frequently.

But it was also revealed that bullying has led to violent reactions from some Traveller children, who claim telling teachers is no help.

One six-year-old girl said she had been constantly called “dirty gypsy” during playtime.

Karen Crockett, from the Welsh office of Save The Children, said: “Without exception, every group we questioned had experienced racism and bullying at schools.”

Ann Crowley, senior policy adviser for the charity in Wales, said in her report for 2006/7 that bullying and lack of guidance for teachers, as well as cash, was impeding the progress of young children from traveller families.

She hit out at the Assembly government for not telling schools and local education authorities of progress at a national level.

But, although the government says the alleged bullying is unacceptable, it claims nearly £2 million has already been provided for the education of Gypsy/ Traveller children in 2006/7 alone.

It has also set up a Gypsy and Traveller unit, with partner organisations working to ensure families from the minority groups have more say in issues affecting them. Teachers, particularly in Welsh primary schools, were praised for their work with Gypsy children by chief inspector Susan Lewis in her annual report for 2004-5.

But tracking the educational performance of these children traditionally has been difficult because few LEAs keep records.

There were 1,415 Traveller children in Welsh schools in 2005-6, with a third located in Cardiff.