2004 - 2005 Annual Report

Chair's Report

I can't believe another year has gone by, it's been hard work but very rewarding. We have kept our involvement in national policy on an independent level as well as being part of the Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform Coalition. The Moving Forward national police training project has continued to develop and the Pride not Prejudice Conference was again a great success, this year being held in Cheshire. We have had a lot of exciting developments i.e. the police training within the Pride not Prejudice project which is now constituted in its own right with admin support from DGLG and is a national project.

Consultations with the ODPM seem to be making good headway. We look forward to working and consulting further with the ODPM in the future. I am pleased that the Traveller Law Reform meetings have managed to obtain further funding and look forward to meetings with Lord Avebury and Luke Clements in Parliament. Already we are ready for the next round of lobbying and one of our volunteer workers has already copied 1000 copies of the Security of Tenure Bill. We all hope that this will get an MP to take it forward. We have added a development plan to our report this year and we look forward to achieving these goals. I think we have forged some really worthwhile relationships this year and hope to strengthen them in the years to come. We have worked hard and will continue to do so.

Muzelley McCready

Co-ordinator's Report

The office has been extremely busy to get through all the work that comes in. The work needs careful prioritising. The plan for this year has been achieved apart from the update of the health leaflets which is included in the next development plan for DGLG.

I have paid employment with the G&TLRC but continue to work with DGLG also. In April I started to develop more groups within the north of England. This work is closely attached to work that the DGLG started last year. The planning aspect of DGLG is still going very strong and this has been a priority and will remain so for the future. Every week I shall hold the planning drop-in at DGLG offices. This has to be by appointment only as some weeks the day will change depending on work commitments. I look forward to the further development of the group and will continue to be committed to the ideal of a Self Help Voluntary Group.

Siobhan Spencer

Local Work

• Gypsy and Traveller Needs Working Group working with Derbyshire County Council and the districts. Future work will be on Needs Assessment.
• Working in conjunction with the Derbyshire Traveller Education Service, Connexions, Youth Service, Early years and Childcare. CAB and other agencies with the sites in Bolsover, Chesterfield & North East and South Derbyshire with the various Gypsy and Traveller Network Agency Groups.
• Planning applications across County.
• Homeless applications and general advice.
• BME Ethnic Healthcare Needs Group.
• Children's play area completed this year at Corbriggs Caravan Site.

National Work

• ODPM consultation on the new planning circular that will replace the 1/94 guideline. On the 9th September Michelle Banks, the new Head of Gypsy Sites at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister came and visited with us. Michelle visited 3 private sites, Corbriggs and an unauthorised site.
• CRE on their report on the findings of their scrutiny into District and Borough councils. We fed a lot of the information into the scrutiny especially around the planning issues. Siobhan attended the draft report meeting in August. Due out October.
• G&TLRC - We attended all the Gypsy & Traveller Law Reform Coalition meetings and DGLG are working committee members. Planning workshop at the conference in May 2005.
• Conference work also included the LGA (Local Government Association).

Local Aims & Objectives for 2005-2006

• Update health leaflets.
• Produce mental health information.
• Continue to develop children's reading scheme.
• Build up resources regarding planning issues.
• Hold an open day and advertise the photograph collection that we have to see if we can identify the families for heritage records.
• Highlight the specific problems that the elderly and disabled have within the travelling community.
• Work towards a conference to look at the specific needs of the elderly and infirm.

National Work Aims & Objectives for 2005-2006

• Continue to support the Pride not Prejudice conference and the Moving Forward project. This is to develop a training package so that members from the community can train to be trainers with the police and other agencies. Pride not Prejudice will work to get this training accredited.
• Continue to lobby Government and consult over legislation that comes out regarding the Gypsy community. Idependently as well as with the Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform Coalition.
• We are a member now of the European Roma and Traveller Forum. We already have a lot of contact and network in Europe.
• Lobby all MP's regarding tenancy rights on Gypsy/Traveller sites.

Page created . Last updated 4th May 2006

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