Accommodation and Planning briefing papers
July 2011: Planning for Gypsies and Travellers: If it’s not broken, don’t fix it, but you can improve on it!
Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles has consistently claimed that the previous Government’s Gypsy and Traveller planning circular hasn’t worked
Read the full briefing paper here
March 2011: The Localism Bill and its implications for Gypsies and Travellers
While not adverse to the concept of localism, ITMB believe there are a number of clauses within the Localism Bill which pose the danger of having an adverse or negative effect on Gypsies and Travellers, particularly in relation to accommodation provision for this community.
Read the full briefing paper here
European briefing papers
November 2010: Irish Travellers: Can Europe help?
It has been evidenced that both the Irish Traveller Communities living in the UK and Ireland are subject to chronic and persistent racism and discriminiation. This is despite the fact that there are a number of race and anti-discrimination directives and legislation coming from Europe which have been incorporated into National law both in the UK and Ireland. However, this has not resulted in any noticeable advancement, in real terms, of the position of Irish Travellers.
Read the full briefing paper here
March 2011: Policy Briefing to Advisory committee on framework convention for the Protection of National Minorities
This report seeks to highlight the range of policy concerns that ITMB have in relation to the treatment of Travellers in the UK. Combined with the deficiencies in policy implementation as required under the Framework Convention on the Protection of National Minorities, ITMB are concerned by the pervasive prejudices, stereotyping and resulting racism towards Travellers in this country and a failure by the authorities to intervene.
Read the full briefing paper here
Education briefing papers
June 2011: Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Education: Improving outcomes
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils are the lowest achieving groups within schools in England. These poor outcomes are not just limited to education but are also present in areas such as health, child poverty and economic inclusion. Education is a key factor in addressing these issues and the root causes of the wider socio-economic inequalities that Gypsy Roma and Traveller communities face.
Read the full briefing paper here
February 2011: Traveller Free schools: The way forward?
The desirability of specialist education provision for Travellers is a question that has always attracted both support and criticism in equal measures. In the autumn of 2010, Education Secretary Michael Gove announced that 16 proposals for free schools had been given a green light by the Government and were expected to open in September 2011. The second call for applications is expected to re-open again in the coming months for schools intending to open in the 2012-2013 academic year.
Read the full briefing paper here
