The electronic age has not ignored the existence of Roma, Gypsy and Traveller communities. Detailed below are thirty key websites that provide a variety of information regarding the position of Roma, Gypsies and Travellers across the UK and internationally. The sites are divided into three main categories: government sources, independent sources and international sources. Although this list is not exhaustive, it does illustrate the range of policy issues that touch the lives of Roma, Gypsies and Travellers across the world.
Government sources
Communities and Local Government (CLG)
www.communities.gov.uk/index.asp?id=1153486
This is a key source for information on government policy relating to, primarily, accommodation and planning issues. Various Circulars and guidance notes can be accessed from this site (for example, Circular 01/06 on planning aspects of local authority sites).
National Association of Gypsy and Traveller Officers (NAGTO)
NAGTO was established in 1997 to assist Local Authority Gypsy Liaison Officers share knowledge and best practice regarding the services they provide to site residents and other professionals working with the Gypsy and Traveller community.
The Commission for Racial Equality (CRE) – Gypsy and Traveller Strategy (England)
www.cre.gov.uk/policy/gypsies_and_travellers.html
Although rather hesitant in the past to get involved in issues concerning Gypsies and Travellers, the CRE is now committed to seeking racial equality for the community. The 2004–2007 strategy gives some indication of how much work remains to be carried out to achieve this goal.
Scottish Government (SG) – Gypsies and Travellers
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/Equality/gypsiestravellers
Under the title of ‘people and society’, this is the main section of the Scottish Government website analysing the place of Gypsy-Travellers in Scotland. From here you can access reports across a wide range of policy areas, especially education, accommodation and health.
Traveller Policy Unit (TPU) – Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform
www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/Traveller_Policy_Unit
The Traveller Policy Unit aims to support and coordinate policy work in relation to Ireland's Traveller population. One of its main tasks is trying to enhance communications between the Traveller community and settled neighbours.
Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (OFSTED)
OFSTED has a long history of concern with the school-based education of Gypsy and Traveller children. A number of (highly critical) reports have been authored by OFSTED and the work of Arthur Ivatts stands out in particular.
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIE)
The CIEH has taken a critical look at the costs (in terms of health as well as economics) of evictions from unauthorised sites. It has suggested some innovative ways forward in terms of improving services for Gypsies and Travellers in relation to sites and health.
Department of Health (DoH) – health inequalities
www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Healthandsocialcaretopics/Healthinequalities/index.htm
This section of the Department of Health website looks closely at health inequalities and this has included an examination of the ways in which Gypsies and Travellers suffer from health inequalities. A recent (2004) study by Sheffield University is a useful resource as well – a summary (in PDF format) can be found here: www.shef.ac.uk/content/1/c6/02/55/71/GT%20report%20summary.pdf
DirectGov (DG) – Gypsy and Traveller information
www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/InYourHome/MobileHousing/DG_10030273
The DirectGov site is increasingly being used as an access point for a range of public services. The ‘home and community’ section concerned with the Gypsy and Traveller community is relatively brief but offers some useful information.
Cambridge City Council (CCC) – advice for Gypsies and Travellers
www.cambridge.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/housing/housing-advice/gypsies-and-travellers/
This link is included as an example of how local authority websites tend to address issues relating to the Gypsy and Traveller community. In this case, Cambridge offer advice to three constituencies – Gypsies and Travellers, landowners and (settled) residents. Most (but not all) local authorities have similar pages but finding them can sometimes involve a hunt.
Independent sources
Traveller Law Reform Project (TLRP)
Although the Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform Coalition was formally disbanded in April 2006 the work of this group continues in the form of the Traveller Law Reform Project. It campaigns for legal changes to address discriminatory practices in various areas of the legal system, with a focus on accommodation and planning issues. Various Gypsy-led civil rights groups are associated with the TLRP such as the Canterbury Gypsy Support Group and the London Gypsy and Traveller Unit.
Travellers' Times (TT)
www.travellerstimes.org.uk/index.php
The Travellers’ Times magazine is one of the brightest, boldest and well-read magazines aimed at the Gypsy and Traveller community across the UK. It has a wide readership and the content of the magazine is increasingly being authored by members of the Gypsy and Traveller community.
Scottish Traveller Education Project (STEP)
STEP is based at the University of Edinburgh and receives the majority of its funding from the Scottish Government. Its main aim is to help improve the educational opportunities for Gypsies and Travellers across Scotland. STEP conducts research in the area of best practice in education and its reports are available via the website (the ‘resources’ section is particularly useful).
Pavee Point Travellers Centre (PPTC)
The Pavee Point Travellers Centre is a productive partnership of Irish Travellers and settled people who work together to improve the lives of Irish Travellers. The centre works across a number of areas but the promotion of human rights and social justice are central to its activities. As well as the activist work it is engaged with, it also has a research programme.
Irish Traveller Movement (ITM)
The ITM was set up in 1990 and is a national network of organisations and individuals that work with or are a part of the Irish Traveller community. The network consists of more than 80 organisations. Its core activities are all concerned with achieving equality for Travellers in Irish society. The ITM has a UK section and they operate a website that can be found here:
Roma Support Group (RSG)
The Roma Support Group is a community organisation and was established in 1998. The group has a strong London focus and is run by Roma refugees and migrants living in the city. It operates a range of projects covering areas such as training, mentoring, education and health.
Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT)
FFT, based in Brighton, advocates the ‘right to travel and to stop’ without fear of persecution because of lifestyle. Although the group initially worked with New (Age) Travellers, it now works with all sections of the Gypsy and Traveller community in the UK. It is one of the most respected NGOs working in the area of Gypsy and Traveller civil rights.
Romany and Traveller Family History Society (RTFHS)
The RTFHS has built up a considerable reputation as the society to join if you are interested in researching your family history (and you suspect there is a Gypsy or Traveller connection going back a few generations). It has over 600 members and publishes a quarterly journal entitled ‘Romany Routes’ as well as hosting an annual conference and various open days.
Romani Project (RP) (University of Manchester)
www.llc.manchester.ac.uk/Research/Projects/romani/
Much research has been conducted on the Romani language over the years and the Romani Project, based at the University of Manchester, has been instrumental in pushing forward the debates. Led by Yaron Matras, the project has recently issued an innovative DVD that offers an ‘interactive journey’ through the Romani language.
Liverpool University Special Collections (LUSP)
http://sca.lib.liv.ac.uk/collections/colldescs/gls.html
Although there are a few University archive collections that could be referred to, such as Sheffield and Leeds, the archives at Liverpool are something quite special. Over 10,000 items are contained in the Gypsy Lore Society and Scott Macfie collections and this is an essential source for historians and other interested parties.
International sources
European Roma Rights Centre (ERRC)
The ERRC is based in Budapest and is one of the leading international public interest organisations that works in the socio-legal arena to challenge anti-Romani racism and the human rights abuses of Romani communities. As well as being involved in litigation and advocacy work, it also trains Romani activists and has a research and policy development remit.
The Patrin Web Journal (PWJ)
The Patrin is an online web journal authored by Marko Courbet. It contains a wealth of information and articles covering a number of areas relating to the historical and contemporary position of the Roma. As well as covering subjects via specific countries, it also has themed articles on topics such as the Romani Holocaust, customs and traditions and culture and arts.
The Gypsy Lore Society (GLS)
The GLS is an international organisation that is an association of people who have an interest in Gypsy and Traveller studies. It was founded in England back in 1888 although it has been based in the United States since 1989. It publishes a journal, Romani Studies (Liverpool University Press), and holds an annual conference.
Roma Decade programme (RDP)
The Decade of Roma Inclusion (2005–2015) is a major anti-poverty and anti-discrimination project that aims to commit various governments in central and Eastern Europe to far-reaching, structural changes to the socio-economic and social inclusion status of the Roma. The project focuses on the major areas of social policy (education, employment, health, housing) as it is recognised that across the region current policies are ineffective and failing.
Council of Europe Roma and Traveller Division (CoE-RTD)
www.coe.int/T/DG3/RomaTravellers/Default_en.asp
The Council of Europe, as an intergovernmental body, attempts to encourage member states to adopt a comprehensive approach to issues of common concern. This is certainly the case for the Roma and Traveller Division of the Council and it promotes an active role in the decision-making process for the communities themselves (which is rarer than you might expect). The Division operates Roma traineeship schemes and offers training for lawyers working in Roma Rights.
Open Society Institute (OSI) / Soros Foundation Network (SFN)
The OSI and SFN are public policy organisations, based in New York, that have an interest in promoting democratic governance, human rights and economic and socio-legal reforms. George Soros, the founder and Chairman of both bodies, has a longstanding interest in the situation of the Roma in Europe and through the grant-awarding functions of the two bodies has offered substantial funding to Roma groups across central and Eastern Europe. The OSI is a central figure in the Roma Decade programme.
The World Bank – Roma (WB-R)
Perhaps surprisingly the World Bank has also, like Soros, had a longstanding interest in the poverty and social exclusion endured by Roma communities across the globe (but specifically in central and Eastern Europe). It has funded a lot of research and published a number of key reports concerned with Roma poverty and discrimination. The World Bank is also a key partner in the Roma Decade programme and is actively monitoring the progress of the countries involved in the project.
RomNews (RN)
The RomNews network is based in Germany and is operated by Marko Knudsen. The network acts as a kind of electronic ‘Roma CNN’ that reports major news items (as they break) concerning Roma communities across Europe. The site also contains a good links section.
European Roma Information Office (ERIO)
The ERIO is a not-for-profit international network organisation that is primarily concerned with Roma advocacy. Based in Belgium, it was founded in 2003 and runs a number of programmes across Europe that challenge discriminatory treatment towards Roma minorities. It hosts regular conference and networking occasions.
Romani Archive and Documentation Centre (RADOC) (University of Texas)
RADOC is based at the University of Texas and is an archive collection that currently has over 25,000 items in stock (books, articles, letters, photographs etc.). It is overseen by Professor Ian Hancock, one of the leading academic (and activist) authorities in Romani Studies. The archives can be visited by appointment and there is an online archive as well.
