GYPSIES AND TRAVELLERS

Contemporary Political and Social Influences in Gypsies and Travellers Health Care

Contemporary Political and Social Influences in Gypsies and Travellers Health Care

INTRODUCTION

Gypsies and Travellers are an ethnic minority group who have suffered and continue to suffer complex and extensive forms of inequality and exclusion within British society. The central recurring themes that can be identified in respect of Gypsies and Travellers include prejudice and discrimination, negative public perception and stereotyping (especially through the media), lack of cross-cultural understanding and intolerance from the wider community, barriers to housing, employment and social services, including welfare benefits and health provision. This report will examine each of these themes together with the government policies that seek to address them.

Accommodation

Gypsies and Travellers are often caught in a cycle of evictions and are constantly forced to relocate from one unauthorised site to another (EHRC, 2009a). Current planning policy proposes that Gypsies and Travellers purchase private sites themselves and apply for permission to develop the site as an authorised encampment. These planning applications frequently lead to conflict with neighbouring `settled community' residents, usually because of misconception and fear of the group's traditions and culture (EHRC 2009a). In respect of social housing, Gypsies and Travellers are often excluded due to the nomadic nature of their lifestyle. Generally, Gypsies and Travellers do not to qualify for social housing due to being deemed `intentionally homeless' (EHRC, 2009a).

Most Gypsies and Travellers live on rural sites and usually reside in mobile vehicles. Although few have to meet traditional domestic housing bills, most Gypsy and Traveller families own more than one vehicle for transport and accommodation and must contend with high vehicle-related costs, including MOT, fuel, insurance, repairs and vet bills (for horse-drawn vehicles) (EHRC 2009a).

Employment

The typical negative stereotype of Gypsies and Travellers is of a group of marauding criminals who spend their time sponging off the wider society and enjoying welfare handouts. Research undertaken in respect of Gypsy and Traveller work habits and household income levels (Webster and Millar, 2001) has revealed that this is not the case for the majority of the community.

Conventional employment was usually "only available to Travellers who possessed both a mobile phone and bank account... Moor doors were open to participants with these facilities than those who did not have them." (Webster and Millar, 2001, p14).

For those residents who are largely nomadic, the common alternative is short-term seasonal or casual employment, with regular eviction from illegal sites being cited as a significant factor in the cessation of employment. The report further notes that the main sources of income for Gypsies and Travellers is acquired through work in agriculture, festivals, horticulture, building and art (Webster and Millar, 2001).

ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT AND OTHER WELFARE SERVICES

For those claiming government benefits, it was reported that some benefits offices made it compulsory for Gypsy and Traveller residents to physically attend their offices to sign on each day. Residents involved in the case study emphasised that the main problem with this requirement was the cost of travelling long distances to ...