What is a traveller in the UK?

The term traveller refers to anyone who has a nomadic way of life. It can not only refer to Irish Travellers or Romany Gypsies, but also those who live on the road for economic reasons such as New Travellers or Showmen.

Are Travellers disadvantaged?

Travellers are amongst the most disadvantaged and marginalised groups in Irish society today, if not the most.

What’s the difference between Gypsy and traveller?

Gypsies and Travellers are two distinct societies. While both are nomadic peoples, the two societies have totally different origins, culture, language, and physical profile. The Gypsies are generally found in Eastern Europe while the Travellers usually walk inside the territories of Ireland, UK, and the Americas.

Why do Travellers travel?

Most Gypsy and Traveller families live within close-knit communities, whether in housing or on caravan sites, with strong family and social networks. Gypsies and Travellers now use modern, good quality vehicles and caravans. The main reason for travelling is to work, follow fairs and visit family.

How are Travellers Marginalised?

Cultural marginalisation makes some of them abandon their own cultural values, either by themselves or by not passing it on to the next generation. This leads to an identity crisis and deprives other people in society from Travellers’ knowledge, skills and traditions, which can enhance the general culture.

What percentage of Travellers live in caravans?

70 per cent
Almost 70 per cent of Travellers live in caravans or overcrowded housing, just 1 per cent have a college degree, 82 per cent are unemployed and their health worsens more dramatically than non-Travellers as they age.

Why is it called pikey?

Pikey, formed from turnpike roads, as along with pikee and piker been used in the South East [of England] especially since the mid-19th-century to refer to itinerant people of all kinds and been used by travelling people to refer to those of low caste.

What makes a Traveller a Traveller?

A ‘traveller’ is any other person who just goes on a journey from one place to another. Traveller people call other people ‘settled’. Gypsy/Traveller or Scottish Traveller people are one of the four main groups that make up Scotland’s Travelling communities.

What do we know about Gypsy and traveller culture?

As mentioned previously, the preconceptions many people have of Gypsy and Traveller culture is largely based on sensationalist and negative media. Little attention is given to the strength of the extended family, the sharing of caring duties for both young and older people and other positive aspects of Gypsy and Traveller culture and lifestyle.

Do Britain’s gypsy travellers still face prejudice?

Despite the popularity of shows like My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding, Britain’s Gypsy Travellers still face longstanding prejudice, warns Becky Taylor.

Are there any HMP’s in the UK for travellers?

The Travellers’ Times Magazine is delivered free to many UK HMP’s and the editor receives many letters from prisoners. Travellers were moved on from International House, Willie Snaith Road, Newmarket last September 2017. Nomadism is a shared heritage of Gypsies and Travellers and not a present reality.

How to build up trust with Gypsy and traveller families?

This means that it may be necessary to spend extra time building up trust with Gypsy and Traveller families. You may find it really helpful to encourage them to appoint themselves an independent advocate, perhaps from a Gypsy or Traveller organisation or a family friend who they know is on their side.