Regional Gypsy & Traveller meeting 24th Sept 08
Thank you to those of you who were able to attend our meeting at Bridgwater Fair on Weds 24th Sept. The meeting was very well attended, with partners from across the region and the sectors coming along to meet some old and new faces, network and take part in the meeting.
As promised, and for your information, we have produced the following report which outlines the purpose and outcomes from the meeting: Summary Report
We have recieved some very positive feedback about the meeting and in particular about the way in which the meeting was designed to take place at a traditional South West Gypsy and Traveller Fair. There were also some concerns raised around how New Travellers will be included in future work across the region and in response to this, Equality South West would like to reassure partners that we recognise the different needs of all Gypsy and Traveller communities as well as the discrimination faced by all communities throughout our region. ESW work to support the voices of all Gypsy and Traveller communities and as this work develops we will be in touch with partners again to consult on how best to achieve this as a region.
One of our ACTION's for the meeting was to pull together a 'Useful Regional and Local Contacts' booklet. This booklet would be a list of key contacts who work locally and regionally with Gypsies and Travellers (either directly or strategically). If you or your organisation would like to feature in this booklet please forward the appropriate contact details to katie.pratt@equalitysouthwest.org.uk by no later than Friday 24th October.
A key ACTION agreed at the Bridgwater Fair meeting was for ESW to organise a further meeting of interested partners to plan joint regional work to celebrate Roma, Gypsy and Traveller History Month 2009. ESW would like to invite interested partners to attend a meeting on Thursday 6th November at 14.00 (Lunch will be available from 13.30) at East Reach House, Taunton Map to ERH. Please confirm your attendance, along with any dietary or access requirements to katie.pratt@equalitysouthwest.org.uk by no later than Friday 24th October. We have produced a Draft Agenda for this meeting and would like to recieve any further agenda items from partners by Friday 24th October.
Please visit the following links to Roma, Gypsy and Traveller History Month 2008/9 which we would encourage people to read prior to the meeting, as well as discussing possible local event ideas and funding opportunities with your organisations and networks:
http://www.grthm.co.uk/index.html Full of info and details on GRTHM 2008 events and 2009
http://www.hmd.org.uk/press/gypsy-roma-traveller-history-month_2008/ Press release of HMD organisers
http://www.irr.org.uk/2008/may/ha000021.html IRR press release
Many thanks and we look forward to seeing you at the November meeting.
Katie Pratt
Equality Development Officer
To read the funding proposal for a joint funding application to develop a co-ordinated regional or sub-regional support service for Gypsies and Travellers in the South West region please see: Draft CAB Gypsy and Traveller Support Proposal
