Gypsy & Traveller Traditions in Dorset .....

Gypsies & Travellers have a long tradition of moving to & from Dorset. Gypsy & Traveller groups form a significant minority in Dorset. The largest Black & Minority Ethnic (BME) Group in Dorset are Gypsies & Travellers

The County Council provides a Gypsy & Traveller Liaison Service which provides a basic advice service to these groups whilst its priority is to protect county council owned land from extended trespass. The council also has a number of designated sites, providing homes for a number of families. At the last count there were 46 "family" pitches and 14 "unauthorised" sites in Dorset.

DCA has taken forward a number of recent Initiatives including staff training on Black & Minority Ethnic issues (included an element of G & T work).

The Dorset & Wiltshire Gypsy & Traveller Liaison Group is made up of statutory & voluntary agencies across the Salisbury Diocese, meets periodically to discuss current issues & trends, and is chaired by Colin Brady, who is also chair of DCA.

DCA has an obligation to work with ALL GROUPS within its area of benefit, but has not been able to demonstrate any engagement or working with the Gypsy & Traveller community. A start was made a year ago thanks partly to the Commission For Racial Equality funding stream " Getting Results”. An award of £6,500 was given to DCA to run training events for up to 40 staff and to provide a Resource & Reference Library.

Two training sessions were organised in September 2006 at Stratton Village Hall, Nr. Dorchester and in October at Tarrant Gunville Village Hall, Nr. Blandford. The training, which included lunch, was delivered by Pauline Cole, who works for DCA as a Partnership Officer in Dorchester. Pauline has previous experience of working with Gypsy & Traveller groups in Southampton.

To find out more about DCA's work and to obtain more information on Gypsy & Traveller issues, please click on any of the links below.

* Resource Materials & Reading list* News, Reports & History * Training * Contacts & Web Links *
 

Gypsy & Traveller History Project

In 2008 DCA was funded by the Equality & Human Rights Commission (formerly the Commission for Racial Equality), to research the history of Roma Gypsies and Irish Travellers in Dorset. A good part of this work involved oral history - that is capturing memories of both Gypsies and Travellers themselves and hearing from local people about the part Gypsies and Travellers played in rural life in the county, decades ago.

Seven presentations were given by Project Officer Pauline Trimming (including one in each of Dorset’s three prisons). The presentation slides can be viewed by clicking here:- SLIDE SHOW

Listen to a recording of Oral History Project interviews by clicking here:-

GYPSY & TRAVELLERS ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

If you can provide information about the positive contribution Gypsies and Travellers have made to Dorset life over the past century or so we would be pleased to hear from you.

Please contact Simon Thompson on : 01305 216412 or email rachelle.smith@dorsetcommunityaction.org.uk 

                 Health Visitor Val Rose working with Gypsy families 1992-1993.