Gypsy Campaigner Janie Codona gets MBE

A member of the travelling community, who works to promote understanding, has been made an MBE.

Janie Codona, of Marshland St James, between Wisbech and King’s Lynn, was a finalist in the EDP Norfolk People of the Year Awards 2010 and works tirelessly for the travelling community.

She is the manager of One Voice 4 Travellers – a group of women, children and young adults from within the travelling community who work to reduce violence both to the Travellers and from them.

The charity works across the Midlands and East Anglia with members of the Gypsy and Traveller community, particularly women and young girls, who have been affected either directly or indirectly by violence.

Her citation said: “She is a role model for the community and well respected by government, local government officials and service providers alike. She uses her past experiences constructively to raise awareness of the problems facing the community and seeks to build bridges.”

Mrs Codona, 54, was appointed as a commissioner on the Commission for Racial Equality. She is the first traveller woman to take on the position.

She is also a member of the Metropolitan Police’s Gypsy and Traveller Advisory Group and provides cultural awareness training to a number of organisations including prison officers, police and schools.