Bastards - Doncaster's Gypsy and Traveller strategy group

Background

Doncaster has the largest Gypsy and Traveller population in the country. This is estimated at between 4,000 and 6,000 people, about two per cent of the population.

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council is therefore well placed in the areas of education and site provision for the travelling community. However, much of the work previously carried out was prescriptive. It did not engage with the communities in a meaningful way.

Gypsies and Travellers live in all areas of Doncaster, on official residential and transit caravan sites, unauthorised encampments and in houses.

Deprivation in Doncaster is severe and widespread. Seventeen out of 21 wards are ranked in the lowest 30 per cent in England. Seventy-five per cent of the borough's population live in these areas. There is evidence to suggest that Gypsies and Travellers are over-represented in all indices of deprivation, and experience high levels of social exclusion.

Gypsies and Travellers are the highest-risk health group in the UK. They have the lowest life expectancy and the highest child mortality rates. These communities have similar support needs to the settled community. They are just as likely to have disabilities, or be older, learning disabled, young or vulnerable. They often have additional support needs, including lower literacy levels, isolation, harassment, prejudice and negative public opinion.

We knew that Gypsies and Travellers in Doncaster had problems accessing information and advice. We did not have a system to research, address or advise on problems that are more acute in travelling communities.

A more joined-up, multi-agency, approach was needed in many areas. Advancement of Gypsy and Traveller issues was, in many cases, fragmented. It was believed that if agencies and organisations worked together they could achieve better results – especially if they included community members in the decision making process.

For these reasons, the Doncaster Gypsy and Travellers’ Strategy Group was established in October 2003. The group meets monthly and includes:

* Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council's cabinet member for human rights and equalities
* members of organisations working with the community
* other professionals
* members of the travelling community themselves

The initial aims were to:

* share information and good practice
* present a more joined-up way of working with Gypsies and Travellers
* dispel some of the myths, break down some of the barriers, and look to making improvement where there was social exclusion
* develop Gypsies and Travellers as a community

Key issues

'Tired of fighting' is a report examining issues affecting black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people in Doncaster. It was published by Professor Gus John in 2002. However it did little to address the needs of Gypsies and Travellers, despite their being the largest BAME group in the borough. This meant they could not secure a seat on the BAME Key Strategic Partnership, established as a result of the report.

Community First, the Traveller Education Service and Doncaster Community Legal Service Partnership (CLSP) teamed up to write another report. They presented it to the overview and scrutiny informal BAME panel in January 2004, to push for a Gypsy and Traveller policy. Several local Gypsies attended this meeting to put forward their thoughts on the report and the general situation.

The mayor commissioned the multi-agency Doncaster Gypsy and Travellers’ Strategy Group to write a report. This informed the Gypsy and Traveller strategy for Doncaster.
Delivery

It was agreed that the strategy should promote equality. It should ensure a consistent multi-agency, partnership-based and borough-wide approach to Gypsy and Traveller issues. It should also allow effective planning to deliver appropriate services to all Gypsies and Travellers in the borough.

The multi-agency Doncaster Gypsy and Travellers’ Strategy Group met regularly. This was both as a whole and in smaller task groups to examine different aspects of policy, or problems concerning the Gypsy and Traveller community.

There were no time limits attached to the completion of the report, but it was agreed that it should be completed as soon as possible, so that it could influence other work.

The strategy aimed to:

* protect the rights of Gypsies and Travellers
* identify and service the needs of Gypsies and Travellers
* identify ways to establish effective two-way communication with individuals and groups from the Travelling community
* respond to the needs of the Gypsy and Traveller communities by maintaining good relationships with them, their representatives and organisations
* develop an up-to-date understanding of Gypsy and Traveller needs nationally and throughout the borough
* promote improved partnership working between agencies, including neighbouring local authorities, the voluntary and community sectors, the Health Authority and the police to address issues of deprivation and social exclusion amongst Gypsy and Traveller communities
* manage unauthorised camping in an efficient and effective way, taking into account the welfare requirements, rights and responsibilities of Gypsies and Travellers, the environment and the potential level of nuisance for local residents
* improve the health of Gypsies and Travellers and reduce inequalities with a multi-agency approach, and in partnership with the Gypsy and Traveller communities
* raise awareness of both the needs and culture of Gypsies and Travellers and inform future policy initiatives in this area

Key outcomes

There is a more joined-up approach to issues concerning the Gypsy and Traveller community. Agencies are generally sharing information and good practice.

Doncaster Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) has established the post of inclusion officer for Gypsies and Travellers.

The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund is funding a Gypsy and Traveller Resource Centre and coordinator.

Gypsies and Travellers are generally happier with the way their issues are being dealt with. Community relations have improved and the Gypsy and Traveller community is more willing to get involved with the council.
Impact

The impact of the strategy, outcomes and progress of the action plan will be measured and monitored as it progresses. To date it is too early to see any tangible outcomes for the community. However, the establishment of the two posts and resource centre are significant outcomes so far.
Resources

The research and production of the initial report and action plan were completed from existing budgets. The printing of the finished report and launch cost £6,000 and was financed by the BAME Key Strategic Partnership from allocated funding.
Who was involved?

The strategy group consists of:

* South Yorkshire Police
* A Junction Network North
* Doncaster West Primary Care Trust
* Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council officers and members
* Doncaster Council for Voluntary Services
* Sheffield Learning English Education Programme
* Streetlaw Plus
* Travellers’ Education Service and education welfare officer
* Sure Start Moorends and the Willows
* Doncaster Community Legal Service
* NHS Community Mental Health Team
* Gypsies and Travellers

The strategy report and action plan were joint projects written by this group.
Barriers

The main barriers were in getting people from the Gypsy and Traveller community involved. This was because they had:

* a natural distrust of outsiders and authority
* a lack of awareness of the project
* a fear that nothing would be accomplished

Several meetings – often with very small groups or even individuals – explained the process. Information was published on compact disc. This proved key to engagement, as there are generally low levels of literacy in the community.
Critical factors

The establishment of the multi-agency strategy group was pivotal to this success. The strategy could not have been produced without it.
Communication

The initiative was initially promoted amongst Gypsies and Travellers, through public meetings. These were not as successful however, as might have been the case with the settled community. The next step was to prepare and issue information on two separate audio compact discs, which was very successful. The initiative was also widely reported on the council’s intranet and website.
Is there a next stage?

We expect other issues to be raised by Gypsies and Travellers as their forum becomes more active. The project will evolve according to events and the completion of items contained within the action plan.

Burn the hedge hog chomping cunts

Agree.

lol funny

onandon wrote:

lol funny

Far from funny.

whats your problem with them?

thieving parasites

Fucking scumbags.

That will explain why Donny's the 15th worse place in England. I didn't think the town was that bad.

yeah but if those 6000 gypo's get kicked out of donny, the club's attendance will go down by that much an all lolz

tarmacing, sofat fitting, lucky heather peg selling cunts
all should be castrated at birth to stop em breeding

Meefloaf wrote:

yeah but if those 6000 gypo's get kicked out of donny, the club's attendance will go down by that much an all lolz

fuck off yokel

We don't get any chompers at Donny, thats weird.

ROFL

you wont actually belive this but theres a group of gypo cunts about 2 mile from my house who went to court to appeal against yobs who damaged there caravans and all that, and theyve won there appeal even though the damaged items have founbd out to be stolen <_< how fucking wrong is that?

Theres a gypsy camp in armthorpe its a proper one though.

whatever

Barnsley's chav culture chases them out

Who invented "Chavs"?

fred perry, rockport etc <_<

Rover98 wrote:

Theres a gypsy camp in armthorpe its a proper one though.

no reservation is proper the tax dodging twats want burning

hi ho super barnsley wrote:

fred perry, rockport etc <_<

Woah Woah I thought you were a casual? Lets get this straight only certain pieces of Fred Perry are chav, the fred perry twin tip polos arent chavvy but most of the other stuff is.