Gypsy and Traveller communities

One way to understand the impact of inequalities is to look at how social exclusion impacts on a specific group.

Overview

Who are they?

Gypsy and Traveller communities include Gypsies, Irish and Scottish Travellers and other groups such as new Travellers. While Gypsies and Traveller's share travelling lifestyles, each community within this classification has its own distinct culture. 

Romani and Roma Gypsies and Irish Travellers are recognised as groups that have distinct traditions. Other groups are recognised as Travellers through their patterns of movement, such as fairground and circus families and new Travellers. They too have their own history and hopes for the future.

However legal recognition for the ethnic minority status of these various groups has differed across the UK. Case law established Gypsies as a recognised ethnic group in England in 1989 (Commission for Racial Equality v Dutton) and Irish Travellers, already protected by race relations law in Northern Ireland, were recognised as a distinct ethnic group in England and Wales in 2000 (O'Leary v Allied Domecq). In October 2008 K MacLennan v Gypsy Traveller Education and Information Project (CaseCheck Case Reports 2008) led to a landmark ruling that Scottish Gypsy/Travellers are a distinct ethnic group bringing them within the protection of the Race Relations Act.  In Wales the Welsh Assembly Government has a general duty to ensure equality of opportunity for all people without reference to membership of specific groups.

The precise numbers of Gypsies and Travellers within the United Kingdom are unknown. The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) estimates that there are between 270 and 360,000 Gypsies and Travellers in England alone living in bricks and mortar housing, around three times the number maintaining a nomadic lifestyle (Commission for Racial Equality 2006). The populations of Gypsies and Travellers in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are much smaller. In Scotland, the Gypsy and Traveller population varies seasonally from around 1,500 to 2,400 (Scottish Government Social Research 2008 and 2009) and in Wales it is around 2,000 (Equality and Human Rights Commission 2009).

How are they affected by social exclusion?

In 1994 the Criminal and Justice and Public Order Act (CJPOA) was introduced, overturning the Caravan Sites Act of 1968, effectively releasing local authorities from their duty to find sites for Gypsy and Traveller communities. Instead Travellers were encouraged to buy their own land. However Barkham (2005) noted that over 90% of planning applications are refused as opposed to 20% of non-traveller applications.

A target was set for local authorities in England to significantly increase accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers by 2011, though research commissioned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (2009) indicates that most local authorities are far from meeting this target.

However, under the current Coalition Government there is a move towards decentralising the planning system for Traveller sites with the aim of giving local councils the responsibility for determining the appropriate level of site provision (Communities and Local Government 2011). The Rowntree Charitable Trust has provided funding to the Travellers Aid Trust (TAT) to look at the impact of the Decentralisation and Localism Bill on Gypsies and Travellers. The report produced by TAT also considers the potential impact of NHS reforms on initiatives to improve the health and reduce inequalities in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities (Travellers Aid Trust 2011).

While the numbers of Gypsies and Travellers has increased (Barkham 2005) many have poor living conditions. A report published in 2004 showed Gypsy and Traveller communities are the most at risk health group in the UK with the lowest life expectancy and the highest child mortality rate (University of Sheffield 2004).  Persistent inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils are evidenced in continued lower academic attainment (National Literacy Trust 2011)  and research has been dedicated to exploring the issues that impact on educational outcomes (Department for Education 2009).  

A research study,  published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in 2009, presents evidence of Gypsies' and Travellers' experiences of inequalities in a wide range of areas and has highlighted "the extent to which many of their experiences remain invisible and ignored within wider agendas" (Cemlyn et al 2009, p.252). The report covers the experiences of Gypsies and Travellers in England, Scotland and Wales.

Gypsies and Travellers were highlighted as the minority group about which people felt least positively in a survey profiling the nature of prejudice in England (Stonewall 2003). Media reporting of stories about Gypsies and Travellers have usually reinforced negative stereotypes, a situation exacerbated by figures of authority (Power 2004, Commission for Racial Equality 2006). Nurses have an important role in challenging the prejudices faced by Gypsy and Traveller communities (Van Cleemput 2010). 

What is being done?

Options to improve access and services to Gypsies and Travellers include:

  • working in partnership with Gypsy and Traveller communities in delivery and commissioning of services
  • more flexible and imaginative ways of taking services to these communities
  • improving cultural competence of health service staff
  • better coverage of Gypsies and Travellers in NHS ethnic monitoring.

References

The items in this reference list are available online. They were last accessed on 24 January 2012. Some of them are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.

Barkham P (2005) How Gypsies and Travellers were left short of land for campsite. Guardian 22 March. Guardian.co.uk website.

CaseCheck Case Reports (2008) Mr K MacLennan v Gypsy Traveller Education Project, posted by Fiona Davidson 16 July. CaseCheck website.

Cemlyn S et al (2009) Inequalities experienced by Gypsy and Traveller Communities: a review (PDF 1.19MB), (Research report 12). London: Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Commission for Racial Equality v Dutton (1989) 1 All ER 306.

Commission for Racial Equality (2006) Common ground. Equality, good relations and sites for Gypsies and Irish Travellers. Report of a CRE inquiry in England and Wales. London: CRE.

Communities and Local Government (2011) Eric Pickles: time for fair play for all on planning. Communities and Local Government press notices.

Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. London: Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI).

Department for Education (2009) Improving the outcomes for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils: final report. Runcorn: Department for Education.

Equality and Human Rights Commission (2009) Gypsies and Travellers: simple solutions for living together.  London: Equality and Human Rights Commission.

National Literacy Trust (2011) Literacy news: the Equality Strategy. National Literacy Trust website.

O'Leary v Allied Domecq (2000) Central London County Court No CL950275-79 29 August.

Power C, Dr (2004) Room to roam: England's Irish Travellers. Funded by the Community Fund and published by a consortium led by the Action Group for Irish Youth. Made available on the Statewatch website.

Scottish Government Social Research (2008) Gypsies/Travellers in Scotland: the twice yearly count No. 13 January 2008. Edinburgh: Scottish Government.

Scottish Government Social Research (2009) Gypsies/Travellers in Scotland: the twice yearly count No.14 July 2008. Edinburgh: Scottish Government.

Stonewall (2003) Profiles of prejudice: detailed summary of findings (Word 77KB ). London: Stonewall.

University of Sheffield (2004) The health status of Gypsies and Travellers in England: a report to the Department of Health. Sheffield: University of Sheffield ScHARR.

Van Cleemput P. (2010) Social exclusion of Gypsies and Travellers: health impact. Journal of Research in Nursing 15(4) July pp.315-327.