ACERT – Page 9 – Advisory Council for the Education of Romany and other Travellers

National Survey provides evidence of racism, disadvantage and ill health

Here are some of the key findings relating to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities from the Evaluating Equality National Survey (EVENS).

Over half the respondents from the Gypsy/Traveller ethnic groups , reported having experienced a physical racist assault
More than a third of the Roma and the Gypsy/Traveller ethnic groups reported racial discrimination from the police
Close to half of the Gypsy/Traveller ethnic groups reported having experienced racial discrimination in public places
Roma and the Gypsy/Traveller ethnic groups, had the highest rates of reporting increased police activity within their community and the highest rates of reporting being stopped by the police during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic
On average, ethnic minority groups fare well in comparison to the White British group in relation to educational attainment (although this is markedly not the case for the Mixed White and Black Caribbean, Gypsy/Traveller and Roma ethnic groups).
Gypsy/Traveller and Roma men had a higher risk than White British men of being in precarious employment (that is, with temporary and zero-hours contracts, or solo self-employed)
Gypsy/Traveller, Mixed White and Black Caribbean and White Eastern European people are much more likely to be in semi-routine and routine occupations
Given its coverage of the experiences of Gypsy Traveller and Roma people, EVENS has also been able to uniquely document that the majority of Gypsy/Traveller people (almost three in five) and just over a quarter of Roma people lived in caravans and mobile homes.
Gypsy/Traveller and Roma ethnic groups were less likely to experience loneliness during the pandemic than the White British group.

Community researchers provide powerful evidence of discrimination

The largest number of Roma, Gypsy and Traveller participants in any national survey to date were reached by six Roma and Traveller researchers being employed and trained in research techniques to go out and record responses from community members.

The figures were recorded as part of the Evidence for Equality National Survey (Evens) of ethnic and religious minorities.

Prof Nissa Finney, who led the project, said: “Evens allows us to compare the pandemic experiences of Roma and Traveller people to other ethnic groups, which hasn’t been possible before now. The disadvantage that we’ve found with the data is striking.

“Rigorous, robust, reliable data like that in Evens is essential for designing appropriate and effective policies and interventions. There’s still work to do to improve data and data collection – marginalised communities can be mistrustful of research and of its ability to bring change.

“A clear message from our study is the need for political commitment to better monitoring and measurement of the full range of ethnic groups. This is how we’ll make visible in evidence and policy those people who have been invisible.”

The study was funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and undertaken by the Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity, in collaboration with community groups and charities.

Racism and Ethnic Inequality in a Time of Crisis Findings from the Evidence for Equality National Survey
Social barriers faced by Gypsies, Roma and Travellers Guardian article

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller women co-create “Sisterhood”

Film Director Rosa Cisneros and editor Maria Polodeanu have compiled an inspiring short film about the importance of equity, motherhood, friendship and education in our communities for March 8th International Women’s Day

Rarticipants from across the UK contributed materials, including the poems of Dee Cooper – Family, It hurts you know, Romany Queen, Our Daughters.

Reestablishing the National Roma Network

The Renewed National Roma Network (NRN) survey, undertaken by Liverpool John Moores University, explored whether there is a need and/or energy to re-establish the NRN and, if so, what the renewed NRN aims/objectives be.

Founding members of the National Roma Network and Roma community members collaborated with Liverpool John Moore’s University, to co-design and develop through open consultation a ‘Renewed National Roma Network Survey’. The consultations took place over several weeks through online meetings and sample questioning.

KEY FINDINGS

• 72% state they miss the collective knowledge sharing provided by NRN. Since the NRN Disbanded in 2017 most people miss the collective knowledge sharing and networking. Furthermore, respondents miss the opportunity to learn from other Roma communities in the UK.

• 59% miss the NRN best practice models and 51% miss the collective Lobbying of the Government.

• Most respondents believe there is a clear barrier for the Roma community when getting access to support/ basic access needs.

• Most respondents believe language is the largest barrier with very few translators in schools/health care.

• Further barriers include literacy, digital exclusion, poverty, discrimination/trust.

• 70% of people believe funding is the biggest barrier to supporting the Roma community in the future.

• 48% of respondents said there is a barrier to engaging with the Roma community

• 61% of respondents believe it is difficult for Roma to access Universal Credit.

• Most people believe the local government does not have significant understanding of the local Roma community community’s

• 26% of respondents believe there is not enough in place within their organisation to support the Roma community.

The findings are that there is a need for a Roma support network for knowledge sharing, learning from other Roma and influencing government policy and practice. It recommends the formation of a support group for Roma through a bid.

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