Forum for Gypsies and Travellers re-launched - Leicestershire

From leicestershirechairman.wordpress.com

Last week I attended the relaunch of the Gypsy Council Liaison Group recently, as part of the County Council’s Equality & Diversity Week.

Romany Gypsies, Irish and Scottish Travellers have been part of the cultural scene for hundreds of years, together with Roma from Eastern Europe – part of the many communities that make up the fabric of peoples in our countries.

But we all know how very difficult issues over accommodation, education, health and welfare can be. Too often these reveal themselves in the news media when conflicts and sometimes violence arise. Fear and misunderstanding on all sides can abound. Conflicting traditions and ways of life clash in a perceived need to preserve.

These can prove a barrier to genuine dialogue and I believe this group makes an important contribution, based on frankness, honesty and reality rather than bigotry and fantasy – the old adage: “Jaw-jaw is better than war-war.”

At the Forum for Gypsies and Travellers with some community representatives.

The forum has been active over seven years. Its members contribute their time in a voluntary capacity to meet with planners, councillors, organise conferences and meetings, listen as well as speak – in fact always striving together to build trust.

Our Adult Learning Service at County Hall and several of our departments have always offered support – change may seem slow, but relationships of any depth and trust take time and proof that you genuinely mean what you say and keep your promises.

On this particular evening we discussed 2013 plans to involve more agencies and representatives. One key initiative is to create the new Youth Forum – a series of activities aimed at involving more young people from the Gypsy and Traveller communities.

If anyone reading this would like to come along and get involved, contact verity.nelson@leics.gov.uk