Welcome to the March edition of Spotlight

Welcome to your March Spotlight! Read on to find out about our work over the last month and remember to follow us on social media for regular updates. X, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok

In the Spotlight

Welcome from the CEO

Dear Colleagues,

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Welcome to this month’s update from the Traveller Movement. As always, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advancing justice, equity, and opportunity for Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller communities.

Over the past month, our work has spanned high level policy engagement, frontline advocacy, and grassroots mobilisation. Whether it is challenging systemic exclusion in education, advocating for prison reform, or expanding our casework services to better support our communities, every initiative is strategically aligned to drive meaningful change. We are also mindful of the significance of cultural celebration and identity, which we proudly acknowledged during St. Patrick’s Day. Moments like these remind us of the resilience, strength, and unity of our communities. Thank you to the Irish Embassy London for marking the day and inviting us.

Thank you for your ongoing support. We hope this update provides a comprehensive insight into our work. As always, we encourage you to connect with us, contribute your insights, and join us in advocating for lasting change.

Best wishes,

Yvonne MacNamara

CEO

Key Updates

Community Advocacy & Casework Expansion

Our Community Advocacy Caseworker has been responding to a rising number of education-related cases, highlighting the persistent barriers Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller families face in accessing fair treatment within the education system.

In response, we are exploring the reinstatement of our satellite casework sessions, bringing direct support to communities at key hubs across the country. These drop-in sessions will enable individuals to receive expert advice and advocacy tailored to their specific circumstances.

If you are interested in hosting a session or learning more about this initiative, please contact esju@travellermovement.org.uk.

priorities and strengthen support for the Irish Traveller diaspora.

Education Policy Update

This month, our policy team hosted the official Parliamentary launch of our groundbreaking report, Fought Not Taught: Addressing Coercive Exclusions of Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller Children . The event, chaired by former Secretary of State for Education, Baroness Morris of Yardley, featured an esteemed panel of education and policy experts, including representatives from:

The Difference

Anti-Bullying Alliance

Hope not Hate

The discussion underscored the urgent need for targeted interventions, including:

Improved data disaggregation to capture the specific lived experiences of Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller pupils.

Stronger accountability mechanisms to prevent unjust exclusions.

Cross-departmental coordination to ensure that education, social care, and justice policies address the root causes of school push-out.

Targeted funding and interventions

We extend our gratitude to all attendees and contributors. The fight to end school exclusions for Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller children continues, and we are committed to ensuring that our recommendations translate into tangible policy reforms.

Criminal Justice Policy Update

This month, our policy team joined Baroness Whitaker and sector colleagues, including Roma Support Group and Friends, Families and Travellers, in a critical meeting with Lord Timpson, Minister of State for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending.

This engagement provided an essential platform to highlight the disproportionate challenges faced by Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller prisoners, including:

The urgent need for improved cultural awareness and inclusion within the prison system.

Barriers to rehabilitation and resettlement support for community members upon release.

The necessity for more effective prison data monitoring to ensure targeted interventions.

We remain committed to advocating for structural reforms that enhance the rights and welfare of Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller prisoners. If you or your family members have experiences with the prison system in England & Wales and would like to share your insights, please reach out to our team at cjs@travellermovement.org.uk.

We look forward to continuing these vital conversations and driving forward systemic change. Thank you for standing with us in our mission for justice and equality.

Stay connected, stay engaged, and let’s keep pushing for progress together.

Women's Advocacy and Policy Update

Our Women's Team remains steadfast in delivering direct support and empowerment initiatives tailored for women within the Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller communities. To enhance accessibility and outreach, we are exploring the implementation of satellite drop-in sessions, providing personalized, one-on-one support facilitated by our Senior Women's Worker and Women's Support worker.

In parallel with our ongoing initiatives, we acknowledge and support recent developments in the legal framework addressing domestic abuse. The UK police have announced plans to charge more domestic abusers with manslaughter in cases where their partners have died by suicide following sustained abuse. This initiative aims to recognize and address the profound impact of coercive and controlling behaviors that can lead to such tragic outcomes. We welcome this move as a significant step towards ensuring accountability and providing justice for victims and their families.

For more information or to express interest in the proposed drop-in sessions, please contact us at women@travellermovement.org.uk.

In addition, our Partnerships and Advocacy team hosted a wonderful Parliamentary event celebrating the achievements of the Women’s Empowerment Network (WEN) and to celebrate International Women’s Day. The event, supported by Mary Kelly Foy MP, featured inspiring women and role models from across the communities including:

Charmaine Abdul Karim (Pride of Romany)

Pauline Melvin-Anderson (Chair, Traveller Movement)

Mania Malik (St Mungo’s Roma Rough Sleepers Team)

Jenifer Kovacova (Bradford Connecting Roma)

Mary-Ann Stephenson (Women’s Budget Group)

Padmini Ravi (London Gypsies and Travellers)

Key messages from the event emphasized the need for more targeted initiatives that specifically support Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller women. Speakers highlighted the power of lived experience as well as the importance of recognising and celebrating one's heritage.

Lived experience is distinct, it is raw, direct, and deeply personal. Whilst those with Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller heritage are able to speak to certain experiences, these experiences are different to those with lived experience. Both have a powerful role to play, but it is crucial to acknowledge and respect this distinction. Speakers emphasised the importance of centering those with direct lived experience while also recognising the valuable contributions of those with cultural heritage and insight in shaping meaningful solutions. The discussion also underscored the vital role of solidarity and sisterhood, reinforcing the importance of collective empowerment in amplifying women’s voices and driving meaningful change.

Students from Harris Academy Orpington also presented a powerful piece of artwork showcasing their vision of empowerment as young Romani (Gypsy) and Irish Traveller women.

We were thrilled by the turnout and the engagement from everyone who attended. If you couldn’t make it, we hope to see you at our future events!

For more information, email women@travellermovement.org.uk.

The Mystery in being a Gypsy

We were also delighted that Gentylia Lee, (Genty) author of The Mystery in Being a Gypsy, attended the event. Genty presented a copy of her book to Mary Foy MP, contributing significantly to the wider discourse. Her work offers an authentic portrayal of Romani Gypsy life in England, providing profound insights into the community's history, struggles, and systemic challenges. Aimed at professionals across various sectors, including law enforcement, education, social services, and healthcare, the book serves as an educational tool to dispel stereotypes and foster understanding.

For those seeking a genuine narrative that balances moments of both laughter and reflection, this book is an invaluable resource. It is available for purchase on Amazon.

Dignity Campaign - Stable Way

Our Dignity Campaign, focused on Stable Way Traveller site in West London, is now in full swing. This community led initiative seeks to amplify the voices of residents, ensuring their lived experiences and challenges are at the forefront of advocacy efforts. The campaign aims to highlight and bring awareness to the poor living conditions experienced on local authority sites across the country.

Through this initiative, we are working to hold decision-makers accountable and push for sustainable, long-term improvements that respect the dignity and rights of the Romani (Gypsy) and Irish Traveller communities living on local authority sites.

For more information or to get involved, contact

business@travellermovement.org.uk

Propel Pan-London Partnerships Project - Strengthening Policy and Community Engagement

Our work on the Propel Pan-London Partnerships Project is progressing, with a strong focus on policy engagement, local government accountability, and inclusive service delivery. We are pleased to announce a key event at City Hall on June 12, 2025, bringing together London Councillors, MPs, and key stakeholders to drive forward meaningful change for Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller communities.

This event will:

✅ Showcase best practices from local authorities actively supporting Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller constituents.

✅ Identify policy gaps and areas requiring urgent intervention, particularly in health inclusion, housing, education, youth provision and community inclusion.

✅ Strengthen multi-agency partnerships between councils, MPs, and Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities to ensure a coordinated and rights-based approach to policy development.

This initiative is critical in addressing systemic inequalities, ensuring inclusive decision-making, and holding public bodies accountable for their legal and moral obligations under equalities legislation.

We appreciate your ongoing support in advocating for fairer policies and greater inclusion. If you would like to learn more, contribute to this initiative, or attend the event, please contact us at Partnerships@travellermovement.org.uk

Parliament and Government Announcements

The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Miscarriages of Justice has launched an inquiry into Joint Enterprise. The Traveller Movement will submit evidence to the Committee, if you or your family have been affected by the controversial law please reach our criminal justice worker at cjs@travellermovement.org.uk.

Our Public Affairs Team is continuing to work on the Children’s Wellbeing Bill, ensuring that all changes to social care and education are culturally competent and inclusive. Our evidence to the Public Bill Committee was published recently. We are collaborating closely with Janet Whitaker and other MPs and Lords to table amendments that will better reflect the needs of Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities.

If you want to have your say on this important issue, we encourage you to contact your local MP and share your views. Your voice can help shape a more inclusive and equitable future for all children.

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Women's Empowerment Network at Parliament

As part of HAO's equality initiative, some of our students had an amazing opportunity to attend an exclusive event at Parliament on Wednesday 19th March 2025 to celebrate the success of the Women's Empowerment Network, which is a group that has stemmed from the Traveller Movement organisation.