ACERT

“On the Road Again?” Gypsies, Roma, Travellers accommodation Training day Monday 24th April, 2017

John Cole served as an Executive Committee member of ACERT until he became ill early in 2016. John worked as the coordinator of Traveller Education in Liverpool for 25 years, after training as a youth worker at Cartrefle College in North Wales. 

In his Eulogy, his  younger brother said “John was the loveliest, kindest, sweetest most caring person you could wish to know.” That was the experience of those of us who worked with him. He added, “John never liked to talk about his achievements, but from what others have said, he was well liked and much respected by the people he worked with, and worked for.”

John spent his teenage years in a Children’s home, after his mother died, but characteristically had fond memories of that time. He had two daughters, six grandchildren and an extended family to whom he was very close; “Family meant everything to John.”

He was multi-talented, forming a vocal group with friends and becoming a hospital DJ. He read widely, wrote poetry and prose, sketched, painted and was a good photographer. His pictures were exhibited at the Caribbean Centre and Charles Wooton Centre in Liverpool.

John would strike up a conversation with anyone, anywhere – a pub, shop, hospital or taxi rank, laughing and joking with strangers as if he’d known them for years.

Less than a year ago, and shortly after embarking on a new relationship, he was diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer. He never showed self-pity, telling his brother he felt blessed and had had a good life.

His brother described him as “a beautiful, remarkable, loving man” which is a description we recognise and endorse. Rest in peace John.

The Welsh Assembly’s Children, Young People and Education Committee have published the final report from their Inquiry into the Education Improvement Grant, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller and Minority Ethnic Children. 

The overall aim of this inquiry is to consider the impact of amalgamating the previously ring-fenced grants into the new Education Improvement Grant from 2015-16 on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller, and Minority Ethnic children. The inquiry will focus specifically on their educational outcomes and considered:

• How the Welsh Government monitors the way local authorities use the Education Improvement Grant and how the new, amalgamated grant supports Gypsy, Roma and Traveller, and Minority Ethnic children, with specific reference to improving educational outcomes;
• the effectiveness of other Welsh Government policies and strategies for supporting the education of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller, and Minority Ethnic children; and
• any key issues arising from amalgamating the other previously separate grants into the Education Improvement Grant.

The report highlights weaknesses in decision-making, data gathering and accountability around provision for these groupings of learners, linked to the implementation of the Education Improvement Grant and the delegation of funding and monitoring responsibilities to Consortia.

Dr Julian Benthall has written:

This is the first substantive official outcome we have had from sustained pressure and work carried out over the past couple of years to question the cuts and changes made between 2013 and 2016. Several of you provided me with help or advice to inform my presentations and evidence to the Committee for which I am very grateful. Whilst the recommendations are not quite as much as we’d hoped for, they are perhaps better than we expected.