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A1 HOUSING BASSETLAW
GYPSY AND TRAVELLER
EMPLOYEES GUIDE
Introduction
A1 Housing is committed to ensuring fair access of services to all communities.
The gypsy and traveller community is no exception, and is highlighted as a hard to reach
group with complex needs and a lack of understanding by many.
This document has been written to provide A1 Housing employees and Board Members
relevant information about the Gypsy and Travelling communities who may visit Bassetlaw or
who already live in or want to settle in one of the properties we manage. It will give
employees the confidence in providing the relevant information to offer services to those who
are living or looking to settle into Council housing, (also see A1 Housings Equality and
Diversity Guidance for Employees).
Background information
Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are legally recognised ethnic groups as they are
identified as having a shared culture, language and beliefs. Case law established Gypsies as
a recognised ethnic group in 1988 (CRE v Dutton) and Irish Travellers in England and Wales
in 2000 (O’Leary v Allied Domecq).
No one knows how many Gypsies and Irish Travellers live in England and Wales due to the
exclusion of this community as a separate category in the 2001 census. The ethnic status of
Gypsy and Travellers has been recognised in the 2011 census. A bi-annual caravan count is
carried out but does not produce reliable data. It is estimated that there are between 200,000
and 300,000 Gypsies and Travellers living in the UK. Even though the Gypsy and Traveller
culture is traditionally nomadic, 85% live in houses (source: Home Space).
When travelling around Bassetlaw you may see Gypsy and Travellers at the side of the road.
The reason for this is since 1994 local authorities used to have a legal duty to provide sites for
Gypsies and Irish Travellers. This obligation was removed following the Public Order Act and
along with a change in the use of land and more land being identified for housing, there are
now too few sites to accommodate all Gypsies and Travellers. The lack of permanent and
transit sites throughout the country has forced Gypsies and Travellers to camp wherever they
can. By parking at the side of the road they are deemed as being “statutory homeless”.
Research has determined that to accommodate all the Gypsies and Travellers within the UK
they would only need one square mile of land. (source: Home Space 2010).
The majority of Gypsies and Irish Travellers live perfectly legally in trailers (caravans) on local
authority owned or privately owned sites; many are also living in privately owned or council
housing. The shortage of sites for Gypsies and Travellers means that we are left with a
situation where thousands of families have nowhere to go – and must either move into
housing, camp unlawfully or develop their own land unlawfully.
In Bassetlaw, at April 2010 bi-annual caravan count there was 4 encampments, 20 caravans
and 9 vehicles. In January 2010, there were 50 pitches available at Danehill Lakes, Stubbing
Lane, Markham Moor and Cheapside. Authorised sites (with planning permission) have 21
caravans that are socially rented and 42 privately rented. Unauthorised sites (without
planning permission) on land that is owned by Gypsies there are 4 caravans that are
tolerated. Due to the fear of increased crime this generates hostility from the local
community, which in turn leads to resistance to planning applications – creating a vicious
circle by exacerbating the lack of sites. A joined up solution would have a hugely positive
impact on race and community relations.
In Bassetlaw, from July 2008 to January 2010 the total of caravans has decreased from 89 to
67 (source Nottinghamshire Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Assessment April 2010). It
is virtually impossible for a Gypsy or Traveller to gain planning permission on land they own,
and there is a raft of eviction and planning enforcement provisions that effectively criminalise
a nomadic existence.
It is perceived by the settled community that Gypsies and Travellers are criminals who steal
and trespass on other people’s land. The criminal justice agencies do not collect information
about Gypsies and Travellers as separate ethnic groups but there is no evidence that
offending is any higher among these groups than any others. When there is an unauthorised
encampment the fear of crime within the settled community increases.
Setting up unauthorised encampments on someone else’s land is not in itself a crime. Either
the council (under section 77 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994) or the police
(under section 61 of the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994) can serve the trespasser
with a notice. The occupants of the encampment will only have committed a criminal act if
they breach the terms of the notice.
National research has demonstrated that Gypsy and Traveller populations are one of the
most discriminated against groups in British society. Law in the United Kingdom prohibits
discrimination against them, as well as inciting racial hatred towards them. Legal protection
from discrimination does exist for Gypsies and Travellers under equality and human rights
legislation.
Gypsies and Travellers can encounter considerable problems when first trying to make a
homeless application. Many Gypsies and Travellers are illiterate or have trouble with literacy.
In 2001, the East Nottinghamshire Traveller Association (ENTA) was established as a
voluntary support group. It is led by representatives from the Gypsy and Traveller
communities and campaigns to challenge discrimination and inequality. The Gypsy Liaison
Group is the interagency forum for this service user group and continues to develop links with
local agencies. As the largest Gypsy population is located in Newark & Sherwood, there is
wider representation for this district, but the Group intends to look at issues affecting Gypsies
across Nottinghamshire. Membership includes representatives from the Gypsy and Traveller
community, numerous statutory and voluntary organisations who have an interest in their
welfare.
There are no services specifically for this service user group either as a primary or secondary
group. The body which has the most dealings with the Gypsy and Traveller communities is
the Traveller Education Service based in Newark. The workers from this service act as the
main liaison between Gypsies and other agencies and as such, are involved in many
activities, which could be defined as ‘accommodation-related support’.
Generally, the Gypsy and Traveller communities have relatively high child numbers, low
employment rates, benefit dependency and a high incidence of health need. Public Gypsy
and Traveller sites are generally situated in hostile environments and private sites can be the
targets of local friction and possible violence.
The Supporting People Budget as withdrawn the funding for the Floating Gypsy and Traveller
Officer post which supported 25 households. Within the Nottinghamshire area travellers were
identified in the following areas: Newark and Sherwood, Rushcliffe, Bassetlaw and Mansfield.
The current tenure of Travellers varied from living with parents to living in a Local Authority
property. Even when Gypsy and Travellers live in houses their culture and heritage stays with
them.
A wide range of housing related support needs were identified, from advice/ support, dealing
with other agencies, to help accessing culture specific services. Gypsies and Travellers who
live in houses may feel particularly vulnerable, especially if they are separated from their
extended families and decide to conceal their ethnicity in order to be accepted by the settled
community. This has resulted in a high level of suicides and mental health issues (source:
Home Space 2010)
Those who are open about their ethnicity speak of harassment and intimidation by other
tenants. Either way, Gypsies and Travellers living in settled housing may be susceptible to
acute stress, leading to another spiral of problems, including substance abuse and
depression. Support services are not generally available for Gypsies and Travellers moving
from sites to houses.
Due to years of suffering discrimination the Gypsy and Traveller community have a fear of
“authority”.
Other barriers are:
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Missing appointments because of their culture they have no concept of time.
Low literacy levels for Gypsy and Travellers over 30 yrs so they will not understand written
information or be able to complete forms.
Female Gypsies and Traveller will need to see a female member of staff or be
chaperoned.
Literacy levels are improving for the under 30-year-olds as Gypsies and Traveller children
have a legal right to be educated along with other children. All parents have the same
obligation to educate their children as others do. Families facing problems at school will be
visited by the Traveller Education Service who will work in partnership with the families and
local schools to place children in a school nearby.
Although Gypsies and Travellers travel for some of the year (mainly during the summer
months to accommodate work patterns), most people need a place to stop during the winter
months. Many families prefer to have a safe and secure base from which to travel, this also
allows families to access services that other would take for granted eg GP’s, schools, dentist.
Gypsies and Travellers will also stop traveling for periods in order to care for sick or elderly
relatives and/or children. If a Gypsy and Traveller travel around to various festivals or for work
in the summer months they can lose their tenure due to their lifestyle so this restricts their
tradition of roaming.
Gypsies and Travellers traditionally found work as licensed hawkers or peddlers, basket
makers, horse dealers and seasonal agricultural labourers. Today, many Gypsies and Irish
Travellers are self-employed as landscape gardeners, tarmacers with others employed as
teachers, academics and health workers, whilst others work in the financial sector and in the
sport leisure and entertainment industries. Unfortunately, there are no national employment
figures, since Gypsies and Travellers are not included in the Labour Force Survey, and no
comprehensive research has been conducted in this area.
Gypsies and Travellers do pay taxes. All Gypsies and Travellers living on a local authority or
privately owned site pay council tax, rent, gas, electricity and all other associated charges.
These vary between sites but are often higher than comparable charges for conventional
housing. Those living on unauthorised encampments, generally speaking, do not pay council
tax rates, but they also do not receive services. This is not because they are avoiding paying
the tax, but because encampments need to be in place for one year before tax becomes
payable, and most encampments are far more temporary in nature.
Even though everyone in the UK is entitled to a health service, whether people are traveling
or not Gypsies and Travellers tend not to access mainstream health care services as much as
the settled community, this leads to grave health disparities. The reason for this is they won’t
admit to have health problems.
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Levels of prenatal mortality are significantly higher than the nation average.
Gypsy and Irish Traveller women live 12 yrs less than women in the general population
Gypsy and Irish Traveller men 10 yrs less than men in the general population.
Three times more likely to commit suicide
A1 Housing Commitment
It is important for Board members and employees of A1 Housing to understand the issues
facing Gypsies and Travellers who already live or may be looking to come into Bassetlaw for
accommodation. A1 Housing is committed to ensuring that the relevant support is offered
and organised for the transition to take place from a travelling lifestyle to settled housing.
It cannot be taken for granted that travelling communities can be easily identified by an ethnic
monitoring form, the company therefore needs to disperse local myths about Gypsies and
Travellers to give a general awareness, understanding and acceptance of this section of the
community just as we would with any other hard to reach group.
The Equality and Diversity Officer has links to the Gypsy Liaison Group who will refer Gypsy
and Traveller customers who are having problems accessing our services or neighbour
problems as a central contact. However, in the main the first contact will generally be with the
Neighbourhood Housing Officers and should be the start of a process, which initiates trust
and understanding of issues, which may arise. It is not wrong nor should it be embarrassing
to ask questions. It is only through this process we can ensure that all needs are met and any
issues are dealt with in the best way possible.
Neighbourhood Housing Officers will give support and practical help to ensure that the
maximum benefits are accessed, tenancies are maintained and all information is relayed in a
format, which suits the needs of this client group.
Information and the offer of Tenancy Support should be given to members from this
community on sign up stage.
Tenant Participation will be an important factor for the Travelling Communities transition,
tenants will be encouraged to get involved in any joint meetings and activities organised by
ENTA or A1 Housing.
All tenants have an invitation to attend the focus group meetings for various services within
A1 Housing, dependant on where their interests lie. The Travelling community has equal
access to all focus groups and will be actively encouraged to participate in a way which best
suits their needs.
With this in mind A1 Housing is committed to the principles of the Supporting People Action
plan and will:
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Continue to gather information about the needs of Gypsy/Travellers;
Ensure the ‘housing’ related support needs of Gypsy/Traveller communities
are catered for;
 Ensure all new developments specifically consider responses to Black and Minority Ethnic
need;
 Ensure services are responsive to the needs of Black and Minority Ethnic service users;
 Raise awareness and knowledge amongst employees and tenants about the numbers and
needs of Gypsy/Traveller communities.
USEFUL CONTACTS
Area Housing Offices
Head Office 01909 534484
Area Office East 01777 713202
Area Office West 01909 533426
East Notts Traveller Association
Plot 16
Sandhill Sconce
Tolney Lane
Newark
Nottinghamshire
NG24 1DA
Email Address: [email protected]