Offering a voice for Gypsies and Travellers - Cheshire

From the Winsford Guardian

THEY are a race many people do not feel very charitable towards.

But in Winsford, one charity has been looking out for Gypsies and Travellers since 2006.

Cheshire Gypsy and Travellers Voice works on behalf of members of the community who live in the area or regularly pass through.

Every year it helps around 500 people, but unlike many other charities it is not always easy to get people to part with their money in support.

“It can be difficult because people obviously have their feelings about the Gypsy and Traveller community,” said Joe Hurn, chairman and co-founder of Cheshire Voice.

“I am a Romany Gypsy and I am no different to my next door neighbour. I get up and go to work each day and go for a drink in the local pub.”

Cheshire Voice’s membership is open to Gypsies and Travellers living in or regularly travelling through Cheshire, Halton and Warrington.

Its aims are to enable Gypsies and Travellers to participate in local decisions, provide support, advice and guidance and to work towards removing the barriers between Gypsy and Traveller communities and the settled population.

“We work with local police, the councils and go into schools,” said Joe, 35.

“We work with the wider community to dispel myths and stereotypes.”

Cheshire Voice aims to support the campaign for the rights of Gypsies and Travellers including addressing issues such as discrimination, health and education inequalities and housing needs.

However, Joe believes programmes like Channel 4’s Big Fat Gypsy Wedding are making it increasingly difficult to achieve its goals.

“The camera doesn’t lie, but the people you see behaving that way on the programme are a minority within a minority,” he said.

“People within the Gypsy and Traveller communities hate that programme.”
In the past two years they have helped nearly 1,000 more people – including non-Gypsies from the Winsford community – to start paying their taxes.

The charity is based at The Edge in Cheviot Square and is run by Joe and his wife Jane.

Despite helping hundreds of people Joe admits there are times when it is difficult to keep going.

“There are days when we receive a lot of negativity and we have to take it on the chin,” he said. “We keep going and we are very proud of what we have achieved.”

To offer support to Cheshire Gypsy and Travellers Voice email info@travellersvoice.org