| | | | | | | | Welcome to the June edition of Spotlight | | | | Welcome to your June 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
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As we mark Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month, I want to take a moment to reflect on how important this month is, not just as a celebration of our rich and diverse histories, cultures, and contributions, but as a vital opportunity to build solidarity, visibility, and pride. For us at the Traveller Movement, GRTHM is a time to stand tall in who we are, to challenge the ongoing inequalities we face, and to amplify community voices that are too often ignored. We’ve been busy this month attending a number of events and community celebrations, and I want to give a special shout out to the outstanding GRTHM event organised by Luton Irish Forum, Luton Roma Trust, and HertsGate. Events like these remind us just how powerful grassroots collaboration can be in shifting perceptions and making real change happen.
Later this month, we’re looking forward to hosting our own celebrations at the Hammersmith Community Center, so keep an eye out for updates. We’ll be bringing people together to honor our shared histories, highlight the strength of our communities, and showcase some real talent. I hope to catch up with some of you there. There are still some tickets available for FREE from here.
In this issue of the newsletter, you’ll see just how active and committed our teams have been across a range of issues, from engaging directly with Romani, Roma and Irish Traveller prisoners as part of our criminal justice policy work, to championing inclusive education reform in Parliament, and empowering women and girls with new skills and qualifications. Together with sector colleagues and supportive elected representatives, we’re also pushing for real accountability from London’s decision-makers, calling for a credible and community-led assessment of accommodation needs across the capital.
Our blog this month is written by Michael Reilly, an ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer and makes for required reading. Micheal will be one of our speakers later this year at our annual conference.
There’s a lot happening, and we wouldn’t be able to do any of it without your continued support, partnership, and belief in what we do.
Wishing you all a powerful and proud GRT History Month.
Warm regards,
Yvonne
CEO, Traveller Movement | | | | | | | | | | | | This month, Baroness Janet Whitaker tabled a series of key amendments to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill in the House of Lords. The Traveller Movement has been actively engaging with this Bill, providing briefings and policy support to ensure the needs of Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller children and families are reflected in legislative proposals. The proposed amendments—nos. 250, 267, 309, 310, 368, and 464—seek to: We will continue to monitor progress and advocate for inclusive education policy. Follow our social media channels for live updates. For further information contact education@travellermovement.org.uk
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Criminal Justice Policy Update
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Our criminal justice policy team has been busy this GRT History Month visiting our communities in prisons across the country. Visiting Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller prisoners is essential for our team to understand the lived experience of community members in the secure estate and to ensure that all our policy work is grounded in the lived reality of Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller prisoners. It is also essential to us that Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller prisoners get to celebrate GRT History Month alongside the rest of the community! We visited:
| | | | Concerns around the future of the London GATANA | | As long-standing advocates for Romani Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller rights in London, the Traveller Movement is increasingly concerned about the direction and integrity of the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment (GATANA).
This assessment is a vital tool for determining how many Traveller pitches and suitable housing options should be planned across London boroughs. However, we and others have serious concerns about the transparency of the process, the exclusion of community voices and expert organisations from meaningful decision-making, and the reliability of the methodology being used. These issues risk undermining the entire assessment and could have far-reaching consequences for site provision and housing justice in the capital.
London Gypsies and Travellers (LGT), who have been at the forefront of this work and an active member of the GATANA Steering Group since 2022, have consistently raised important challenges. They have questioned flawed assumptions, demanded transparency, and called for a rights-based and evidence-informed approach to the process. The Traveller Movement fully supports their position and echoes these concerns.
Together with other steering group members, we have written to the Mayor’s Office and Assembly Members urging the GLA to pause publication of the current draft and to commission an independent, expert review of the methodology. We believe this is essential to ensure the assessment is robust, transparent, and truly reflective of the lived realities of Romani Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller communities.
This is not just a policy issue—it is a matter of law. Under the Public Sector Equality Duty (PSED) in the Equality Act 2010, the GLA has a legal obligation to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity, and foster good relations between different groups. Proceeding with a flawed or exclusionary assessment risks breaching these statutory duties. Moreover, any local authorities that rely on inadequate or inaccurate data from this process to shape Local Plans and housing strategies may find themselves open to legal challenge, including judicial review.
We are encouraged that some individual London Assembly Members have responded positively, offering support and recognising the seriousness of these concerns. We welcome their willingness to act, and we understand that plans are already in motion to raise this matter directly with the Mayor of London.
We now urge the Mayor and the GLA to act without delay: pause the current GATANA process, initiate an independent review, and work in genuine partnership with the GRT Steering Group, including LGT, the Roma Support Group, and other community-led organisations.
This is about more than a report, it’s about our future. And it’s time our communities were properly heard. | | | | Women's Advocacy and Policy Update | |
The Traveller Movement has organised for 12 women and girls from the Romani (Gypsy) and Irish Traveller communities to attend a 1-day accredited course where they will learn how to apply eyelash extensions. The course aims to upskill members of the different communities, providing them with an opportunity to receive a qualification that will enable them to secure employment within the beauty industry. The course will take place in July – so stay tuned to find out how they get on!
We are continuing to deliver our highly acclaimed online domestic abuse awareness training. The training includes the viewing our film ‘Never Going to Beat You’ followed by a Zoom webinar training co-delivered by members of the Irish Traveller and/or Romani (Gypsy) communities (and where possible, by community members who are survivors of domestic abuse). The training has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from service providers and professionals working across the women’s sector. If you are interested in booking spaces for your team on the training, please email women@travellermovement.org.uk or visit https://travellermovement.org.uk/training-and-consultation to book in. | | | | | | Mental Health Policy and Participation
| | We are pleased to report that our new mental health participatory research project has launched successfully. The first steering group will meet on Thursday 26th June. Additionally, our first in-person focus group will take place on 22nd July at our Stockwell office. The session will explore experiences of and access to talking therapies in London. This is a community lead programme any Romani Gypsies or Irish Travellers interested in joining can email: Annalise, our community engagement officer on communitydevelopment@travellermovement.org.uk | | | | Dignity Campaign - Stable Way
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That’s a wrap! Charlie Doherty, our film director, and the team have now finished filming our short investigative documentary into the quality and location of local authority sites as part of our Dignity campaign. We are now in the process of editing the film and hope to release it later this year. Thanks to the residents of Stable Way and others who agreed to be interviewed as part of this film.
Work is also underway on our training programme for local authorities as we are currently developing a short training course for local authorities on developing effective Romani Gypsy and Traveller strategies. This is being co-produced with Stable Way site residents group in the Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
| | | | Propel Pan London Partnerships Project - Strengthening Policy and Community Engagement
| | On Thursday 12th June, the Traveller Movement hosted the Pan-London Partnership event at City Hall. A key aim of the event was to raise awareness around the need for the development of a robust and long-term Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy for Romani Gypsies, Roma, and Irish Travellers across the capital. The Traveller Movement shared the findings of research the organisation had conducted across London boroughs, which found that London boroughs were providing limited (if any) targeted support for Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities.
The event sought to highlight the urgent need for action by the GLA, London Councils and London boroughs to improve outcomes for Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities across health, education, accommodation and more. Examples of good practice from other parts of the UK as well as the London Borough of Hackney were also shared at the event.
The Pan-London Partnership event was well attended, with representation from London Councillors, NHS professionals, funding bodies, and staff from both the GLA and London Councils. We extend our sincere thanks to all our speakers and attendees who made the day such a success.
We were especially proud to hear from several young voices on the day, but a special shout out must go to the two young Irish Traveller girls who spoke with passion, clarity, and courage. Their call for the Mayor’s Office to do more for young people was powerful, and we are listening.
In response, we’re now working directly with these young people to organize a Youth Convention. This will be a space for young Romani, Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller voices to be heard, to shape policy, and to speak directly to decision-makers. We'll be knocking on a few doors in the coming weeks—and inviting our sector colleagues to join us in supporting this vital and timely event.
Stay tuned—we’ll share more details soon. | | | | | | | | Parliament and Government Announcements
| | Ensure you have your voice heard in the government's call for evidence on general equalities legislation. The call for evidence invites feedback on areas of existing equality legislation and possible equality law reform. Find more details here
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By Michael Reilly, an ESF+ Social Innovation in Sport Officer Too Settled for the Traveller, Too Traveller for the Settled
I’ve spent my whole life sitting between two worlds, Traveller and settled, and never feeling fully accepted by either. My father is a Traveller. My mother is not. I was raised to know and love both sides of my heritage. I grew up with both families, learning their stories, values, and ways of life. But knowing both doesn’t mean you’re embraced by both. In the settled world, I learned early to keep parts of myself quiet. In school and work, I heard the jokes, the slurs, the stereotypes. “You’re not one of them, are you?” they’d ask, and I’d shrink a little inside. Even friends and colleagues would say, “Don’t say that, Michael, you’re not a Traveller,” as if they were doing me a favour. As if being a Traveller was something to be ashamed of, something I could, or should, distance myself from. But in the Traveller community, it wasn’t much easier. Any time I spoke about my mixed heritage, I was accused of denying who I was. But when I tried to fully embrace my Traveller identity, I was laughed at. “You’re not true blue,” they’d say. “You’re not a real Traveller.” It didn’t seem to matter how much I loved my culture, how much I gave back, or how deeply I cared. Because I didn’t fit the stereotype, I was seen with suspicion. I went to college. I got a degree. I bought a house. I built a career. For some, that meant I’d abandoned my roots. I wasn’t proud, I was hiding. I became a Traveller on their terms when it suited them. I remember my first job. A group of Traveller lads came in and spotted me behind the counter. One of them said, “Why are you working here? You’re only a knacker like the rest of us.” From that day on, my boss started calling me Mikey the Pikey. I was just a teenager. I didn’t know my rights, and I was afraid to speak up. So, I said nothing. I laughed along. And every time I did, it chipped away at me. Even now, on a professional level, I feel the sting of exclusion. I sit on a Traveller Interagency Group, a place where we’re meant to advocate for the community. At one meeting, I spoke honestly about being mixed. A Traveller woman, representing a local health project, looked me dead in the eye and said, “Michael, the way we see it, either you are, or you’re not. There is no in-between.” And just like that, I was dismissed. Not because of what I said. Because of who I am. I work hard for my community. I’ve delivered talks on national stages about the challenges Travellers face. I lead a national research project focused on the barriers to physical activity for Traveller and Roma communities. I’ve represented my ethnicity, my county, and my country at an EU roundtable as an expert in sport inclusion. I do this work because I care. And yet, my identity is still debated. Still dismissed. Still measured by other people’s comfort. But here’s what I’ve learned: I don’t need permission to be who I am. I’m not “too settled” and I’m not “too Traveller.” I’m both. Fully. Proudly. Unapologetically. And I know I’m not alone. There are others like me, growing up in the middle, made to feel invisible in both communities. Told they don’t belong. Treated like a contradiction. To them, I say this: you don’t have to choose. You are already enough. You don’t need to fit anyone’s definition but your own. Your story matters. Your voice matters. To policymakers, educators, community leaders, I say this: make space for mixed voices. Don’t just include us when it suits a narrative. Include us because we are part of the narrative. Start recognising the complexity of identity. Start asking better questions about what belonging really means. Because if we truly care about inclusion, we need to stop drawing lines around who gets to belong. The in-between deserves a home too.
| | | | Opportunities to get involved in our work | | 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.
Have you ever thought about Volunteering? As we move in to Volunteering week, think about some of the volunteering opportunities that may interest you. These could range from Research skills, administrative experience, community development experience to public affairs. Find out more here.  | | | | 🚨Important Update:Traveller Movements new replacement LinkedIn account🚨
Dear Followers,
Unfortunately, we have lost access to our original LinkedIn account, and despite numerous attempts, we have been unable to recover it. While this is frustrating, we’re not letting it slow us down!
We’re excited to announce that we’ve set up a brand-new LinkedIn account, and we’d love for you to reconnect with us there. By following our new page, you’ll stay up to date with our latest work, campaigns, and advocacy efforts.
🔗 Click here to follow us: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-traveller-movement-tmofficial/
Your support means everything to us. Please take a moment to follow, share, and help spread the word so we can continue building a strong and engaged community. Let’s keep the momentum going! | | | | 🚨 Traveller Movement is now on Blue Sky 🚨
Social Media platforms are constantly growing, and the Traveller Movement have now joined Blue Sky. If you would like to follow us on there, a profile can be found here: https://t.co/iJn2ZM71Vy | | | | | |
21st June – Mass for Traveller Communities in Hemel Hempstead at 12 PM. Our Lady Queen of All Creation HP38PG. 25th June TM’s GRTHM event at Hammersmith Irish Centre – Book here 27th June – GRTHM City Hall Event 27th June – Never Going to Beat You Online Training - (Spaces Available!!!!) - Book here 18th July - ever Going to Beat You Online Training - (Spaces Available!!!!) - Book here 22nd July – Mental Health in person focus group – Booking link coming soon 31st July – TM Summer BBQ – Book here 20th November – TM Annual Conference (Tickets on Sale from 1st September) – Find out more here | | | | Contact TM's Community Advocacy Caseworker on 07908433413
| | Contacts TM's Domestic Abuse Helpline on 07541637795
| | | | Follow our EventsBrite 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
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