| | | | | | | | Welcome to the October edition of Spotlight: Partnerships and Development Bulletin | | | | Welcome to our October 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, LinkedIn and TikTok
| | | | | | | |
As we move into the winter months, the long days of planning and delivery continue here at The Traveller Movement. It’s been an incredibly busy and rewarding period, with our partnership work going from strength to strength. Our Mental Health Project, supported by City Bridge Trust, is a great example of meaningful collaboration bringing together key partners. Lead by our wonderful community engagement and partnerships team, Together, we are focoused on improving access to talking therapies for Romani (Gypsy) and Irish Traveller communities, and to strengthen culturally competent practice across mental health services. You can read more about this very important work below. Alongside this, our team has been busy preparing for our Annual Flagship Conference, and we are really looking forward to catching up with colleagues, partners, and allies from across the UK. The conference is always a highlight of our year a time to share learning, celebrate progress, and plan for the challenges ahead.
We are also entering a crucial period of fundraising, as a number of our programmes come to an end and we begin engaging with new funders and collaborators to sustain and expand our work. If you or your organisation are interested in partnering with us or supporting our mission, do get in touch with myself or any team members.
In addition, we are recruiting for a newly created leadership role, Lead Policy and Public Affairs head an exciting opportunity for someone passionate about social justice, equality, and driving policy change for our communities. If this sounds like you, or someone you know, please do reach out for an informal conversation.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We look forward to seeing many of you soon at our conference, and to building new collaborations in the months ahead.
Yvonne MacNamara CEO
| | | | | |
Annual Conference 2025 – Tickets Now Available | |
Exciting news! This year’s conference is officially CPD certified, enhancing its value for those seeking career development and recognised learning.
Conference Highlights: Workshops: Focused discussions on poverty, youth opportunity, criminalisation, and developing the next generation of community advocates.
Message from our chairperson Pauline Melvin-Anderson OBE, ‘I’m truly excited to welcome this year’s theme: ‘Who’s Left Behind? Rebuilding Trust, Fairness and Opportunity’. It couldn’t be timelier, or more urgent. As we navigate a period of change and challenge, this conference gives us a vital opportunity to listen, learn, and work together to remove the barriers that still hold Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities back. I’m particularly pleased that the event is now CPD certified, ensuring that every attendee leaves not only inspired, but with formal recognition of their learning and development’
For tickets, visit our Conference Hub. Organisations interested in exhibiting should contact officeadmin@travellermovement.org.uk.
For all updates on the Annual Conference, please visit the Conference Hub and follow us on social media: X, Facebook, Linkedin, Instagram and TikTok
| | | |
Equalities & Social Justice Unit (ESJU) – Service Update and Strategic Focus | | Due to the end of current funding cycle, The Traveller Movement is now providing urgent casework support only. We understand how vital this service is to our communities, and we are actively seeking new funding to ensure its continuation. If you or your organisation are interested in supporting this essential work, we warmly invite you to get in touch with our Head of Partnerships, Olivia, at business@travellermovement.org.uk. Together, we can help sustain fair access to justice and equality for Romani (Gypsy), Irish Traveller, and Roma individuals across the UK. Our casework currently focuses on: We are deeply grateful to all our supporters and partners who have stood with us to challenge injustice and discrimination.
| | | |
Coming Soon: Good Practice Guide for Caseworkers | |
We are excited to announce that The Traveller Movement will soon be launching our Good Practice Guide for Caseworkers supporting Romani (Gypsy) and Irish Traveller communities. This guide will share key insights, cultural competency advice, and practical tools to help professionals deliver more effective and inclusive support.
Please keep an eye on our channels for further updates and release details.
| | | | Women's Projects – Service Update and Strategic Focus | |
Our women’s workers are hard at work planning the upcoming Christmas wreath-making workshop for our Women’s Empowerment Network members, which is taking place in early December. The event is now fully booked!
To find out more about our Women’s Empowerment Network, please email our Women’s Research and Development Officer, Lourdes at WEN@travellermovement.org.uk
| | | | | |
We were delighted to have the opportunity to screen our highly acclaimed, ‘Never Going to Beat You’ film in Leicestershire thanks to our colleagues at Leicestershire GATE. The screening took place in Duffy’s Bar and was followed by a panel discussion. It was a great evening, and we are looking forward to delivering similar events in the future!
A reminder also that we will be delivering our final online NGTBY training session of the year on Friday 28th November. If you are interested in attending this training, please email our Head of Partnerships Olivia at business@travellermovement.org.uk or you can book in here.
To note, we can also offer in-person screenings of the film, accompanied by a training session and Q&A session.
| | | | | | | | With support from City Bridge Trust, The Traveller Movement is delivering a project to improve referral pathways for Romani (Gypsy) and Irish Traveller communities into talking therapy services.
Working in partnership with Leeds GATE, Leicestershire GATE, The Maya Centre, ICAP, Irish in Britain, Rethink Mental Illness, One Call Away, and the Brent Centre for Young People, the project aims to strengthen culturally informed approaches to mental health support.
Through community focus groups and collaboration with our partners, we are developing a CPD-accredited training course to help therapy providers better understand and support our communities.
To date, two focus groups and two partnership meetings have been held, providing valuable insights into access and experiences of mental health services. For more information, visit our Health and Wellbeing page or contact our women's worker Annalise Corcoran at communitydevelopment@travellermovement.org.uk. | | | | | |
We are hoping to publish our Pan-London Evaluation Report before the end of the year, the findings of which were presented at our event in City Hall in June this year. Please keep an eye out on social media for its release.
In other news, we are delighted to announce that we have been commissioned by Brent Council to support their development of a Gypsy & Traveller strategy. As part of this commission, we are looking for Romani (Gypsies) and Irish Travellers living in the borough to fill in this survey: Project: Gypsy, Roma & Traveller Strategy and Pitch Allo... | London Borough of Brent
If anyone needs support filling in the survey, please contact Olivia on WhatsApp: 07923 239696
Residents have until 17th November to share their views, so please make sure you fill in the survey/share with anyone who may wish to fill it in.
| | | | | |
Earlier this month, our Head of Partnerships and Advocacy Olivia Morrison attended the launch of Pride of Romany’s Atchin Tan project. On Monday 6th October, I had the honour of attending the launch of Pride of Romany’s Atchin Tan documentary and exhibition in Nantwich, Cheshire.
Read the full BLOG here | | | | Opportunities to get involved in our work | | We are currently recruiting for a Policy and Public Affairs Lead (Part Time). The closing date for this is Friday 7th November at 5pm, and Interviews will take place in Person in London on Friday 14th November.
Policy and Public Affairs Lead (Part Time)
Lead our public affairs, policy, advocacy, and campaigning work, managing a small team and delivering high-impact strategies, events, and partnerships, and supporting income generation . 21-28 hours per week £40,000 – £45,000 pro rata DOE See the full Job Advert here Read the full Job Description here To apply for this role, please upload your CV and Cover Letter here
Advisory board ongoing recruitment – find out more here.
TM are also recruiting for a new Intern for the Partnerships team. Find out more here. This is an ideal opportunity for anyone with an interest in film making, social media and/or digital design. | | Annual Christmas Card Competition | | | |
This year's Christmas Card Competition will be voted for the Annual Conference on the 20th November and we are still taking entries! If you know of any young Romani (Gypsy), Roma or Irish Travellers wo would like to enter, please get them to send their entry to officeadmin@travellermovement.org.uk or alternatively through one of our social media channels by Monday 10th November with their name and age attached along with a return email address!
There will be a prize for the winner as well as the winning design being used as the TM Official Christmas card for 2025!
Good Luck! | | | | | |
20th November 2025 - Traveller Movement Conference - Book your tickets here.
3rd December 2025 – WEN Christmas Wreath Making Event - Book here | | | | Contact TM's Community Advocacy Caseworker on 07908433413
| | Contacts TM's Domestic Abuse Helpline on 07541637795
| | | | Follow our EventBrite page to keep up to date on what Events we are holding | | Visit our Women's microsite for information and support for Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller Women
| | Visit our Education microsite support Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Travellers in the UK to navigate Education
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
.jpg)
