FFT is funded by Communities and Local Government under the Tackling Race Inequalities Fund to carry out community development work that ensures Gypsies & Travellers have a voice in forums, consultations, residents’ groups, etc.
We have been supporting Gypsy and Traveller groups, such as site residents’ groups, as well as getting lots of groups going at district council level in most of the districts of Somerset. We have also been working with the boating community who are getting very active politically following British Waterways plans to change moorings regulations (see more about the boating community).
We also aim to start Traveller forums in new areas, so local authorities can consult properly with Travellers on all issues, such as sites, planning, discrimination and inequalities.
Introducing our newest member of staff: Charmaine Vallar
Our new Community Engagement Worker, Charmaine Vallar, who joined us at the end of September 2011 will be working in the Surrey area to help Gypsies and Travellers to engage in local civic and democratic processes. At the most basic level this means encouraging people to register to vote so that they have a say in local democracy but there is much that can be done beyond that getting Gypsy/Traveller involvement in Citizens Panels, asking local authorities to set up mentoring schemes and getting local Councillors to come out to visit the travelling communities. A lot of good work has been done to encourage the involvement of other BME groups (e.g. a recent Black Magistrates scheme) but very little to develop a greater civic and democratic role for Gypsies and Travellers. Charmaine will be working to develop good practices in Surrey that can be used as an exemplar for other areas to follow.
