Minutes EC Meeting 2nd December 2021

Thomas ActonApologies
Colin ClarkPresent
Brian FosterPresent
Valdemar KalininApologies
Hazel MarshApologies
Sue MutterApologies
Lisa SmithApologies
Siobhan SpencerApologies
Anne WalkerPresent
Margaret WoodPresent
Candace ThomasPresent

Minutes

Previous meeting was inquorate. All business carried forward to this meeting

Correspondence

  1. George Marriot’s son has emailed all the correspondence which Margaret has saved to the ACERT dropbox. Brian and Margaret to discuss how it might be incorporated into the website.

Working with show people

  • Candace informed us that Colleen Roper of Futures for Fairgrounds had written to the DFE seeking recognition. The reply suggested that the Department did not recognise Showmen within the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller category.
  • EC members explained that ACERT does include show people within its definition of other Travellers and up till October Tyler Hatwell, SE region Education Officer for the Showman’s Guild had been an EC member.
  • ACERT can share information on its website, mailing list, Facebook and Twitter as well as through the Education Support Group. We contributed to the NEU executive motion on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller education and we plan to follow up on developing a National Policy for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller education.
  • Campaign in Scotland to gain recognition of Fairground families as minority group though Showmen’s Guild prefer to be seen as business grouping
  • Candace to contact Colleen Roper, Tyler Hatwell, Shelby Holmes and invite them to the EC meeting on 3rd February 6:15 pm to discuss how best ACERT can support organisations promoting improved educational opportunities for show people.

Conference feedback

  1. ACERT was given credit for organising face-to-face event.
  2. Hybrid style allowed greater participation and produced a good quality video which is a valuable resource on the website.
  3. High quality speakers, well chaired by Richard O’Neil who kept to time and maintained focus.
  4. Excellent venue with very co-operative staff who assisted planning and resolved issues.
  5. Pricing policy seemed fair, reduced costs somewhat and encouraged participants to take the event more seriously.
  6. Generated a new partnership with Mid-Befordshire which could lead to us being involved in an event in Milton Keynes in 2022.

Next meeting

6th January at 6:00pm

Share