Minutes EC meeting 18th May 2023

SWOT

Strengths
ACERT is a small, agile organisation, in charge of our own finances, with strong values and skilled volunteers. We have a wide range of supporters and keep them in touch and involved through our website, newsletters, online events (like the Education Support Network) and conferences.
Our conferences provide an opportunity for community activists to share their work; ACERT is seen as an organisation which encourages all our partners to do well; we avoid factional tensions.
We participate in the DfE Stakeholder group, respond to consultations and Parliamentary inquiries and requests from the press and media.

Weaknesses The age distribution of core activists is skewed towards the older end. Younger people tend to have many commitments and opportunities, and may have to focus more on earning a living or studying.
ACERT has insufficient funds to pay staff and there is some reluctance to take on the responsibilities of employing staff directly. Our track record of successful bid applications is not not good.
We are more reactive than strategic.

Opportunities We have charitable status and have a good record of financial prudence and good record keeping. Our reputation among the communities is generally good. We would encourage new leaders to become involved and building on our strengths, take the organisation in new directions.

Threats At present we pose and experience few threats. As we become more ambitious and begin to compete for scarce resources and raise our profile we may experience more conflict.

Ideas for the future

If we want to bring in young people, we need to be come a fun organisation! Our conferences, particularly the social events that follow them, can be fun, giving activists from different localities the opportunity to get to know each other better and plan collaboration. A young people’s council might shape the future direction of ACERT’s development, but that council would need to be built through participation in interesting and relevant activities.

Our conferences and network meetings have identified community members with a wide range of skills such as writing, illustration, poetry, film-making and dance.
The aim would be to promote personal development and self-expression, at the same time as developing skills and materials which could be used to raise understanding and awareness through Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month and wider community events, like exhibitions and poetry slams.
Lisa Smith and Dee Cooper are setting up an online girls writing group (independent of ACERT) which could be used to research the demand and potential of a skills based approach.
Unfortunately, in many areas, secondary attendance appears to have broken down, so it is likely that participants may be younger and interested in a more general educational offer.

Actions

• Siobhan agreed to look into possible sources of funding for the sort of projects we are talking about.
• John Henry Philips may be interested in working with us as he has struggled to involve local families in the Romani Archaeology project.
• Violet Cannon has experience of establishing a Youth Council
• Imogen Di Sapia of Bright Moon Weaving Studio may also be a potential partner and the Crafts Council may be a source of funding. Vardo art and living waggon crafts have been added to the Red List of Endangered Crafts.