The wellbeing of Gypsies and Travellers

Outline the social, economic and policy factors behind the increasing settlement of Britain’s nomadic communities. Discuss how the concepts of cultural trauma and collective resilience can aid our understanding of how minority groups respond to external change. Examine the relationship between accommodation and the wellbeing of Gypsies and Travellers. Explore some of the difficulties faced by newly housed Gypsies and Travellers and consider the impact on subjective wellbeing. Consider the role of locally based social networks in boosting individual and collective wellbeing

Roma Children and Early Childhood Education: A Story of Discrimination

This chapter aims to contextualize the special circumstances of Roma children’s early education and support needs, with particular reference to the high level of exclusion experienced by members of the communities in Central and Eastern Europe. It presents the impact on households of the social determinants of health which potentially affect child development and well-being. Regardless of ethnicity, the lack of early childhood education leads to serious problems in terms of subsequent educational attainment. In the case of Roma children throughout Central and Eastern Europe this challenge is accentuated by a range of issues, including language, segregation, exclusion and outright racism. Cultural stigmatization has historically led to deep suspicions regarding public bodies and public education on the part of Roma parents, who are themselves likely to have been on the receiving end of discrimination and a poor-quality education. Throughout Europe Roma children are severely under-represented in educational statistics and families frequently report discrimination at all stages of the school system

“Nothing New Under the Sun”: Romany Gypsies, Travellers and their Entwined Historical Relationships with London Working-Class Communities

This paper presents a historical review of policy enactments and urban development which have impacted accommodation options available to British Romany Gypsies and Travellers over the past four hundred years. A combination of policy review; analysis of primary historical documents (local authority reports on ‘Gypsy encampments’ in their areas; Governmental debates; newspaper reports) and secondary data sources (published memoirs and general histories of working class London) are utilised to present both a general historical overview (mainly focusing on the period 1850-2017) of legislative and policy approaches to regulating ‘Gypsy and Traveller encampments’ within Greater London and a series of focused case studies of ‘Gypsy areas’ within the Metropolis. Importantly, the case studies explore the entwined geo-social relationships and long-term impact on local community demographics and culture, of established Romany Gypsy/Traveller residence in a number of working-class areas of London. The paper ends with a brief consideration of the impact on regeneration and gentrification on traditional working class areas of residence, suggesting that such dislocation may lead to the ending of diverse populations in inner city localities, whilst conversely, widespread relocation of former residents to estates on the edge of the city, may increase contact and rejuvenate community relations between Romany Gypsies, Traveller and other populations, in a way which been increasingly disrupted by the ‘othering’ of nomadic groups in popular discourse in the post World War Two period

Submission to the Justice and Home Affairs Committee Committee’s Inquiry into ‘Family Migration’

This submission to the Inquiry builds on several past and ongoing research and consultancy projects that focus on the areas of family policy in relation to international migration. We do not attempt to respond to all questions, but only those areas within our personal knowledge and expertise. In terms of geographic coverage, findings (differentiated within the text below by locality) relate to the UK-wide picture in terms of policy and reflects findings from studies undertaken across several regions (eg., Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Essex, London and Kent). Our response also includes the perspectives of UK Armed Forces veterans who currently reside in their home countries due to an inability to acquire British citizenship/the right to remain in the UK after leaving service. The key contributions and proposals in this submission relate to the following questions: i. Design of family migration law: questions 1, 2, 3. ii. How family migration policies affect society: question 6. iii. How migration policies affect families: question

Roma populations and health inequalities : a new perspective

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the emergence of “Roma health and wellbeing” as a focus of attention in European research and in policy and the possible detrimental consequences of action founded on a generic representation of “Roma health” Design/methodology/approach Based on discussions with and research conducted by scholars who work directly with Roma communities across European regions from a wide range of academic disciplines it suggests how future research might inform: a more nuanced understanding of the causes of poor health and wellbeing among diverse Roma populations and; actions that may have greater potential to improve the health and wellbeing among these populations. Findings In summary, the authors promote three types of research: first critical analyses that unpick the implications of current and past representations of “Roma” and “Roma health.” Second, applied participatory research that meaningfully involves people from specific self-defined Roma populations to identify important issues for their health and wellbeing. Third, learning about processes that might impact on the health and wellbeing of Roma populations from research with other populations in similarly excluded situations. Originality/value The authors provide a multidisciplinary perspective to inform research that does not perpetuate further alienation and prejudice, but promotes urgent action to redress the social and health injustices experienced by diverse Roma populations across Europe

The campaign for a National Strategy for Gypsy site provision and the role of Public Health activism in the 1960–1970s

We trace the post-war evolution of a national approach to providing caravan sites for Gypsies and Travellers—something essential to protect the health of that population in the United Kingdom (UK). Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, the late Norman Dodds MP championed in Parliament the plight of the UK’s Gypsies and other nomads. He was instrumental in galvanising support for the 1968 Caravan Sites Act. The vision of influential individuals working in public and environmental health surmounted practical considerations and local opposition to implement the national programme of site provision envisioned by the Act. We detail this hitherto neglected aspect of Gypsy politics and policy development. In doing so, we highlight the transformative potential of public health and argue for a return to the comprehensive vision motivating these pioneers in the 1960s and 1970s

Housed Gypsy Travellers, social segregation and the reconstruction of communities

This paper explores the ‘accommodation careers’ and social adaptations of Gypsies and Travellers living in ‘bricks and mortar’ accommodation and the implications of this trend for current concerns pertaining to social segregation and ‘parallel communities’. The paper discusses the ‘constrained choices’ regarding accommodation that Gypsies and Travellers face, before considering the structure of social relations in their respective localities. The strategies by which cultural identities are sustained in housing and how the presence of kin and other Gypsy/Travellers helps to mitigate some of the difficulties experienced are explored. However, the argument is made that while frequent social interaction and the maintenance of a distinct cultural identity provides a crucial source of support, there is also the danger that social relations become restricted to close ‘bonding’ networks, thus intensifying the social isolation of Gypsy/Traveller communities and further fragmenting neighbourhoods along ethnic lines