Gypsy and Traveller communities - policy

Each country in the United Kingdom is pursuing social inclusion policies. We will ensure you know which policies are operating where you work and also include key reports and legislation that have informed the policy.

Government departments and other national bodies are arranged in alphabetical order, items which are dated are arranged chronologically with the most recent first.

You might also like to refer to the guidance and agencies and communities sections for further information on Gypsy and Traveller communities.

The resources below were last accessed on 14 March 2013. Some of them are in PDF format - see how to access PDF files.

England

Cabinet Office (2010) Inclusion health: improving the way we meet the primary health care needs of the socially excluded
This was a joint project between the Social Exclusion Task Force and the Department of Health which provided a framework for action in improving the health outcomes for socially excluded groups. The underpinning evidence pack brings together existing and new analysis on the primary health care needs of the socially excluded and highlights the case for change. A section within the evidence pack entitled ‘Lenses on the system’ includes detailed information on Gypsies and Travellers along with a case study and examples of promising practice. The guidance resulting from the project can be found on the Department of Health website at Inclusion health: improving primary care for socially excluded people.

Department of Communities and Local Government (2012) Progress report by the ministerial working group on tackling inequalities experienced by Gypsies and Travellers
The progress report by the Ministerial working group on tackling inequalities experienced by Gypsies and Travellers contains 28 measures from across Government that will improve outcomes for Gypsies and Travellers across education, health, accommodation, employment and in the criminal justice system. The section on health highlights the key issues raised by a number of studies. It then sets out the actions to improve health outcomes which includes the work being done through the Inclusion Health programme.
This work is also being carried out as part of the Bringing people together in strong, united communities policy which is promoting social integration in communities - see Tackling inequalities for Gypsy and Traveller communities.

Department for Education: Gypsy, Roma and Traveller achievement
This page in the Department for Education website presents the Ministerial working group report on tackling inequalities experienced by Gypsies and Travellers which was published in April 2012. The report contains 28 measures from across Government designed to improve outcomes for the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. There are also related resources including the final report of a research report, published in 2010, relating to secondary education Improving the outcomes for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils: final report.

Equality and Human Rights Commission (2009) Gypsies and Travellers: simple solutions for living together
This publication looks at progress made in the provision of authorised sites for Gypsies and Travellers since the publication of Common ground: equality, good race relations and sites for Gypsies and Irish Travellers by the Commission for Racial Equality in 2006, and in relation to the Government's requirement that all local authorities address the under-provision of authorised sites by 2011. It includes some good practice examples.

This report is informed by two pieces of research which can be accessed from the same page:

  • Inequalities experienced by Gypsy and Traveller communities: a review (Research report 12) which draws together the evidence from across a wide range of Gypsies' and Travellers' experiences in order to illustrate the full extent of the inequalities and discrimination experienced by these groups.
  • Assessing local housing authorities' progress in meeting the accommodation needs of Gypsy and Traveller communities in England (Research report 13) which looks at the extent of improvements in accommodation provision since the publication of the Commission for Racial Equality's 2006 report 'Common ground'.

Summaries of this research can also be found on the EHRC website at Gypsies and Travellers - research reports.

Travellers Aid Trust (2011) A big or divided society? Interim recommendations and report of the Panel Review into the impact of the Localism Bill and Coalition Government Policy on Gypsies and Travellers
The Travellers Aid Trust (TAT) has been funded by the Rowntree Charitable Trust to establish a panel to evaluate the impact of the Decentralisation and Localism Bill and other policies affecting Gypsies and Travellers and to produce a report to determine means by which Government proposals can be strengthened and made more effective in terms of site delivery and social inclusion. This interim report contains a number of recommendations and a summary of the main points raised by the panel participants at a panel review held in February 2011.

Northern Ireland

Department of Health and Children (2010) All-Ireland Traveller health study
This is the first study of Traveller health status and health needs involving all Travellers living in Ireland, both north and south.  The report captures the 'complexity and heterogeneity of the modern Traveller community in Ireland as well as its commonalities currently and its links with the past.' It reveals disadvantages compared with the health profile of the general population and although the Traveller community has enlarged since a previous study twenty two years earlier there are still “relatively modest numbers of people aged 50 years and upwards”. Because of its scope the report is presented as three technical reports which include a quantitative study of health status and health utilisation; qualitative studies; a Birth Cohort Study and a Travellers in Institutions study. Discussion and recommendations based on all three technical reports can be also be accessed as a separate document.

Department for Social Development: Travellers
A key policy objective is 'to improve the living conditions for Travellers in Northern Ireland'. Main areas for the department's responsibilities, policies and actions in relation to Travellers in Northern Ireland include: accommodation, targeting social need and co-operation policy.

Department for Social Development: Travellers: Targeting Social Need Initiative
Under this initiative, the department set up a working group on promoting social inclusion to consider factors that could put Travellers at risk of exclusion. The final report which was published in 2003 made 33 detailed recommendations to Government aimed at improving the lives of Travellers in areas such as health, education and accommodation.

Northern Ireland Housing Executive: Travellers Strategy
The NIHE has undertaken a comprehensive strategic needs assessment of current and projected accommodation requirements of all Travellers in consultation with Traveller organisations, members of Traveller communities and district councils.

Scotland

Amnesty International (2012)  Caught in the headlines: Scottish media coverage of Scottish Gypsy Travellers
A media clippings agency was commissioned by Amnesty International Scotland to identify all Scottish coverage relating to Scottish Gypsy Travellers in the media over a four-month period. The agency found 190 articles which was felt to represent a disproportionate level of scrutiny relative to the size of the Gypsy Traveller population, and most of the articles did not involve the Scottish Gypsy Travellers themselves. "Nearly half (48 per cent) of stories were categorised as presenting an overtly negative picture of Scottish Gypsy Travellers (with 28 per cent positive and 25 per cent neutral)". It was also felt that certain stereotypes featured strongly and nearly half of the stories  presented "an overtly negative picture".

Amnesty International Scotland (2012) On the margins: local authority service provision for Scottish Gypsy Travellers
This report is based on findings from a Freedom of Information request sent out by Amnesty International Scotland in 2009 to all 32 Scottish local authorities. The FOI request asked for documentary information concerning four of the 37 recommendations made  in Inquiry into Gypsy Travellers and public sector policies published by the Scottish Parliament’s Equal Opportunities Committee in 2001. This had focused on local authority service provision with respect to the right to housing. Although there were examples of good practice the implementation of the recommendations was found to be “slow and patchy’. This report presents the findings and makes a series of recommendations.

Black and Ethnic Minority Infrastructure in Scotland (BEMIS) (2011) Gypsy Travellers in contemporary Scotland. The 2001 ‘Inquiry into Gypsy Travellers and Public Sector Policies’: ten years on (PDF 4.2MB)
This report has been written in the context of changes within Europe and in Scotland and focuses on an analysis of the current situation for Gypsies and Travellers in Scotland. “There seems to be a sense that a lot has been said and written about Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland, but little action has been advanced”. The study aims to review the situation and included active engagement with the Gypsy/Traveller community in order to suggest ways forward in achieving a more holistic approach to policy revolving around Scottish Gypsy/Travellers. Chapters cover specific topics such as education and accommodation and include one on health. Recommendations made align with each of the chapters.

See also the report, published in 2004, of an audit of the original recommendations Delivering for Scotland's Gypsies/Travellers: An Updated Response to the Equal Opportunities Committee Inquiry into Gypsy Travellers and Public Services 2001.

Scottish Government: Gypsies/Travellers in Scotland: the twice yearly count
The Scottish Government undertakes a twice yearly count of the Gypsy and Traveller population in Scotland in order to more fully understand the characteristics of this population and to assist and inform the development of public policies and services for Gypsies and Travellers.  
Gypsies/Travellers in Scotland: the twice yearly count - no.15 January 2009.
Gypsies/Travellers in Scotland: the twice yearly count - no.16 July 2009.

NHS Health Scotland: Gypsy/Travellers
This section of the NHS Health Scotland website sets out policy, legislation, issues relating to workplace and employment, research on access to services and practice guidance around this. There are also case studies from the programme funded by the Scottish Government to tackle health inequalities in Gypsy/Traveller communities.

Scottish Government (2010) Main report of findings of a review into the Twice Yearly Count of the Gypsy/Traveller population in Scotland, including recommended options for the future of the Count
The report recommends that a separate count of Gypsies and Travellers in Scotland should continue and further recommendations are made around: appropriate scope and format; clarifying the objectives of the count and modifying content to maximise the value of information collected; improving readership of the count to ensure outputs contribute to service delivery and policy/strategy development at a local and national level.

Scottish Parliament: Where Gypsy/Travellers live
Two separate inquiries were undertaken by the Equal Opportunities Committe in 2012 and early 2013. This page within the Scottish Parliament website reports on a call for evidence around the provision of sites for Gypsy/Travellers, and how living on a site impacts on community support and access to services. A summary of the evidence gathered is available.
Gypsy/Travellers and care
The other inquiry looked at the situation for Gypsy/Travellers with caring responsibilities which began with a myth-busting exercise which underlined the poor living conditions and poor health experienced by many Gypsy/Travellers, the barriers to accessing support and understanding what support is available. The report highlights difficulties around identifying carers and the importance of trust in individuals providing support services. Also available is the Scottish Government response to recommendations made in the report and an update of the progress made on these recommendations.

STEP (Scottish Traveller Education Programme)
STEP is based at Edinburgh University. Its remit is to promote development of innovative, diverse and flexible approaches to education for Travelling people within Curriculum for Excellence and support educators and other services in increasing their awareness of the histories, cultures, and traditions of Scotland’s travelling communities .
It has been involved in a number of projects which are detailed in background information. There is also a section on current research and publications available.

Wales

Welsh Assembly Government: Community cohesion: Gypsies and Travellers
Gypsy Travellers are one of the most disenfranchised groups in society. The Welsh Assembly Government is working to tackle this and ensure equality of opportunity for all Gypsy Travellers across Wales.

Welsh Government (2011) 'Travelling to a Better Future'- A Gypsy and Traveller framework for action and delivery plan
This sets out the policy direction for the Welsh Government and partners and focuses on several key policy areas which affect the way Gypsies and Travellers access services including accommodation, health, education, participation and planning and other barriers facing the Gypsy and Traveller community. Each chapter sets out a series of objectives. The framework follows on from a consultation process based on the consultation document published in 2009 A road less travelled - a draft Gypsy Traveller strategy.

Welsh Assembly Government (2006) Accommodation needs of Gypsy-Travellers in Wales
Report of research on the accommodation needs of Gypsy-Travellers in Wales which was commissioned to inform policy development.