Travellers Health Partnership Study

Making a Difference

The following is just a summary of the report. You can order copies of the report from the address on the right hand side of this page, or alternatively, download a copy to print and read yourself (pdf file 1.1mb).

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Our Thanks to the Leeds Health Authority and Leeds Health Action Zone for funding this Report and Marianne Tavares for her excellent work in producing this ground-breaking Report.

Making a difference The Travellers Health Partnership work to improve the health and living conditions of Travellers in Leeds and the following information is from their report 'Making a Difference.'

Travellers suffer from poor health
Travellers face discrimination and abuse on a daily basis
The Traveller community is one of the most disadvantaged, yet most under resourced

Our greatest hope is that this initiative will make a real difference in helping Traveller families live happier, healthier lives.

History

There have been Gypsies and Travellers in Leeds for over 500 years. They have their own heritage, language and long established cultural traditions and are recognised minority ethnic groups.

They may be settled and live in housing, have their own private sites, live on local authority sites, or, have no legal place to stop at all. They may travel all year round, seasonally, or just occasionally.

The Official Sites at Cottingley

These accommodate 41 families. Travellers question the cost, “about £94 a week for two caravans; when there is nothing here, just an empty piece of ground with a shed.”

“Council tenants have a rent book and a Contract of Tenancy which protects them, whereas Travellers on the Site only have a License, which means they cannot defend themselves in court.”

Despite all this though, many families still have strong links with the Site:

“That’s what binds us to this site, a lot of connections, the grandparents and the graveyard.”

Life on the Roadside

As the official sites are full, many families are forced to live on unofficial sites and having to move every few days takes it’s toll.’

“I can’t travel anymore, it’s getting to me, I want to be settled for me children and meself. When you’re getting on in age you don’t want to be dragged up and down, having to shift early or late at night. We haven’t the energy anymore.”

"The problem is prejudice. It’s all about giving people the chance.”

Health

Travellers’ problems are complex and are often caused or exacerbated by the environmental living conditions. Many families live with a tremendous amount of anxiety – fear of eviction, finding a place to stop and the constant battle against discrimination and poor access to medical care in some parts of the country.

The Report’s Findings

The Report discovered that Travellers:

Are warm and welcoming
Are eager to learn and access educational opportunities for themselves and their children
Have a strong sense of family and family loyalty
Are hospitable, generous and caring people
Have a rich and varied culture and history of which they are proud
Have strong traditions.

The Report also found that some Travellers:

Live in conditions which lack the basic necessities e.g. clean running water, security and privacy etc.
Live on sites which are cramped and inaccessible to mainstream services e.g. shops, leisure centres etc.
Face major obstacles in accessing basic health, education and social services e.g. G.P.’s, health centres etc.
Face unacceptable discrimination from a number of quarters – in some cases, from service providers including the Police, local communities, local shops and pubs.

The Report’s Recommendations

1. Improve the health of Travellers by:

Increasing health visiting hours and appointing a specialist G.P.
Organising health education sessions for Travellers in a variety of settings
Deliver health care services in accessible, appropriate and creative ways.

2. Encourage Agencies to work together by:

Establish an effective forum for discussion and joint working
Draw on long-standing expertise and experience of agencies working with Travellers
Tackle areas of conflict and resolve them.

3. Increase Travellers’ participation and involvement by:

Keeping Travellers fully informed of decisions that affect their lives
Organise a conference on Traveller issues
Involve Travellers in the training of staff
Ensure that all services are accessible and user friendly.

4. Improve the living conditions of Travellers by:

Expanding the number of sites available
Planning additional official sites, involving Traveller representatives
Developing accommodation – transit site/extended family sites/group housing.

5. Establish an independent Travellers’ organisation

Provide advice, information, advocacy and practical help
Influence the development of social policy
Improve Training for staff working with Travellers
Promote the cultural richness and identity of Travellers
Enable community development work with the Traveller communities, establishing community groups, projects and initiatives to meet their needs.

6. Improve Services available for Travellers by:

Increasing advice provision
Increasing adult literacy and basic skills provision.

Leeds Traveller Health Partnership Visit to Ireland

In November 2002, a group of six Travellers and Gypsies from across Leeds accompanied by eight professionals representing Leeds Voice, South Leeds Health For All, Travellers Education Service, Irish Health and Homes, Harehills Irish Music Project and the N.E. Primary Health Care Trust spent nearly 4 days looking at provision for Travellers in Ireland.