Hello and Welcome!
Welcome to the November edition of the Friends, Families and Travellers Newsletter.
The past month has been a whirlwind of activity in our offices and our newsletter will give you insights into some of the work we have been involved in this last month. We couldn't do what we do without your support and want to say thank you!
Warm wishes,
Friends, Families and Travellers
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Highlights from our work this month
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It would be impossible to sum up all our work in such a short space, but here are a few highlights. This month we:
- met with the UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights to highlight the impact of welfare reform and lack of site provision on Gypsy and Traveller families in the UK. Read the FFT and NFGLG submission.
- held a HWAlliance event with Race Equality Foundation to gather evidence on good practice in addressing racial disparities in mental health.
- held our first RSPH training session for young people. Using fun activities and anecdotes from Fortnite, the young people learned ways to improve their health and wellbeing.
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News
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Travellers Times: 'Gypsies and Travellers are filling up foodbanks across the UK'. Read the article.
South Wales Argus: Gypsy and traveller pupils raise £800 for Poppy Appeal with handmade poppies. Read the article.
Health and Wellbeing Fund: Grants of up to £510,000 available for projects which improve children and young people’s mental health. Find out more.
The Independent: 'Gypsy and Traveller families ‘hounded out’ of areas in act of ‘social cleansing’ as councils impose sweeping bans'. Read the article.
Public Law Project: 'Joint Committee for the Welfare of Immigrants challenge to Brexit-related changes to the Immigration Rules'. Find out more.
On the Road: This new podcast from National Prison Radio talks to Gypsies and Travellers about the issues they face. Listen here.
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We are members of the VCSE HWAlliance. Amongst lots of other things, this month we have been:
- working with wider Inclusion Health groups to ensure barriers to accessing primary care are addressed in the NHS Long Term Plan.
- developing guidance and gathering evidence on suicide prevention in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, good mental health in the criminal justice system and closing the employment gap for young people with low level mental health issues.
Get involved:
- Sign up to the DHSC Voluntary and Community Sector Newsletter. Use this link.
- Join the conversation on Twitter using the #HWAlliance hashtag.
We want to gather examples of ways VCSE organisations are addressing health inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. If you have an example you can share, please contact sam@gypsy-traveller.org.
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Your voice matters!
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Human Rights Channel: Create a short film for The Council of Europe on the theme 'Proud of Our Heritage, Open to the World." Find out more.
Equality and Human Rights Commission: An inquiry into legal aid for victims of discrimination asks for responses from individuals and organisations. Respond here.
The Runnymede Trust: Survey on 'Social inclusion, loneliness and belonging in society' asks for submissions from BAME groups. Respond here.
NHS England: Consultation on a review and update of CCG guidance on Items which should not be routinely prescribed in primary care. Respond here.
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Publications
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Friends, Families and Travellers: 'No one left behind: Inclusive care for minority groups' for Practice Management Magazine which goes out to GP practices across England. Subscribe to the magazine.
Public Health Up North: 'The role of communities and the VCSE sector in public health – reflections from Dr Andrew Furber on PHE’s conference 2018'. View here.
Friends, Families and Travellers: 'What does the UN Special Rapporteur Report on Poverty and Human Rights say about Gypsies and Travellers in the UK?' Read the article.
Maternity Action: 'What Price Safe Motherhood? Charging for NHS Maternity Care in England and its Impact on Migrant Women' View report.
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Update from the Secretariat to the APPG for Gypsies, Travellers and Roma
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It's been a busy month so far! Since our last newsletter the APPG have:
- met with the Minister of State for Housing and Planning to discuss the ‘powers for dealing with unauthorised development’ consultation.
- asked parliamentary questions regarding support for Roma communities applying for Settled Status under the EU Settlement Scheme.
- wrote to Baronness Williams asking what steps are being taken to combat online hate crime and discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
If you would like to find out more about the APPG's members, activities and how to get involved, visit the APPG minisite.
Friends Families and Travellers are Secretariat to the APPG for Gypsies, Travellers and Roma.
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Spotlight: A day with Lord Bourne
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This month we were ecstatic to meet with Lord Bourne in London to share the progress we've made delivering Royal Society of Public Health training to Gypsy and Traveller communities in East and West Sussex.
The training, which is equivalent to a GCSE qualification, has supported Gypsies and Travellers in the local area into education and employment.
Find out more.
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Job Opportunities and Events
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[Friends, Families and Travellers] Crystal's Vardo showing with a Christmas Twist on 5th December at 6pm at Lancing Parish Hall. Find out more.
[Romani Cultural & Arts Company] Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Fairground, Circus-folk, Show-people and Bargee Training Day in Cardiff on 5th December. Find out more.
[Romani Cultural & Arts Company] Two vacancies for part time Project Workers in Cardiff, deadline of 12pm on 10th December. Find out more.
[Northumbria University] A PhD opportunity available exploring interventions to tackle service provider discrimination against Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities. Find out more.
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#VoteScarlett
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The beautiful Scarlett Lee, who is from the Romany Gypsy community, is making her way to the X Factor final and we are so excited for her!
Good luck Scarlett! The FFT office have their phones at the ready and we will all be voting for you!
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November in Pictures
Clockwise from Top Left: Wreath Making in the FFT Offices, Odd Socks for Anti-Bullying Week, Lecturing on End of Life Care in Manchester, Spray Tanning and Raising Awareness of Skin Cancer, Community Stakeholder Meetings with the APPG for Gypsies Travellers and Roma, Putting Questions to NHS England on Inclusion Health in the Long Term Plan,Generous Gifts from Clients After Cases Solved and finally Co-Producing Solutions to Race Disparities in Mental Health.
Phew! We think it's time for a Christmas break soon..
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Thank you for your continued support!
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