Know Your Rights

Thanks to support from The Tudor Trust, the Traveller Movement has been delivering a series of webinars titled “Know Your Rights,” over the past few years. The aim of these webinars is to improve communities’ understanding of their rights to ensure that they are being treated fairly in a range of circumstances. The webinars involve a panel discussion/Q&A between The Traveller Movement and a specialist law firm and cover a range of key topics.

To ensure that the webinars are accessible to all at any time, we have uploaded clips from the webinars to our YouTube channel.

This factsheet is for Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Travellers seeking support from legal
professionals.

See the Working with Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Travellers fact sheet here

These Know Your Rights videos bring together Commons Legal, Southwark Law Centre and The Traveller Movement to explain Single Justice Procedure Notices (SJPNs) and how they differ from Fixed Penalty Notices. The series explores the types of offences that can lead to an SJPN, whether you need to attend court, response deadlines, minimum age requirements, and what happens if you disagree with a charge. It also offers guidance on getting legal advice, accessing support with reading or responding to an SJPN, and understanding the possible consequences – including fines, criminal records, impacts on benefits, housing, or children’s school admissions, and whether social services may become involved. With additional discussion about unfair treatment, disproportionate use of SJPNs against Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Traveller community members, and the potential for warrants, these clips aim to equip individuals with the knowledge needed to navigate the SJPN process confidently.

Know Your Rights: SJPNs

Follow this link to the playlist for SJPN’s.

This includes; An Introduction to Commons Legal and Southwark Law Centre, the Difference Between SJPN and an FPN; What Kind of Offences Result in SJPNs; SJPNs and Attending Court; Minimum Age for SJPNs; SJPN Response Time; What is an SJPN; Do I need to get a Solicitor?; Support with Responding to an SJPN; Disagreeing with a Charge; Are Romani (Gypsies), Roma and Travellers More Likely to Get an SJPN?;  Unfair Treatment; SJPNs and Criminal Records; SJPNs and Children’s School Attendance; Could Getting an SJPN Affect Benefits and Housing?; SJPNs and Fines; SJPNs and Social Services; Can an SJPN Lead to a Warrant for My Arrest?; Finding Out About the Court’s Decision; Final Words from Commons Legal and Southwark Law Centre

See the SJPN factsheet here.

These Know Your Rights videos feature The Traveller Movement in conversation with the Criminal Injuries Helpline, offering clear guidance on compensation available to survivors of domestic abuse and other crimes. The series explains what is considered abuse, how the compensation scheme works, and whether incidents need to be reported to the police or within certain time limits. It also covers practical concerns such as providing evidence, claiming without a fixed address, confidentiality, living near an abuser, fear of discrimination, and what documentation is required. With additional information on financial support while waiting for a claim and the different levels of compensation available, these clips aim to ensure that survivors understand their rights and feel supported throughout the claims process.

Follow this link to the playlist for the Criminal Injuries Helpline

This includes; Introduction to Criminal Injuries Helpline; What Compensation is Available for Domestic Abuse Survivors?; What is Considered Abuse?; How Does the Compensation Scheme Work?; Does the Abuse Need to Be Reported?; Are There Time Limits on Reporting Abuse?; Providing Evidence; Will the Police be Involved?; No Permanent Address;  Fear of Discrimination; Financial Support Before a Claim is Granted;  Privacy and Confidentiality; Living in Close Proximity to Your Abuser;  Documentation Required to Claim; Domestic Abuse in the Familial Context; Levels of Compensation; Final Words from Criminal Injuries Helpline

See the Criminal Injuries factsheet here.

These Know Your Rights videos explore the adoption process, featuring The Traveller Movement in conversation with Alison from Bindmans. The series explains the different types of guardianship, the distinctions between fostering, adoption, and special guardianship, and the practical considerations around adopting a child – from costs, eligibility, and whether you need a lawyer, to adopting a family member and the role of social services. It also addresses key questions about consent from biological parents, contact after adoption, and whether children have a say in the process, while outlining the reasons an adoption might be denied. Together, these clips offer clear, accessible guidance to help families understand their rights and make informed decisions about adoption.

Follow this link to the playlist for Adoption.

This includes; Introduction to Bindmans; Types of Guardianships; The Difference Between Fostering and Adopting; Is There a Difference Between Special Guardianship and Adoption? The Cost of Adoption; Do I Get Paid to Adopt?; Do I Need a Lawyer?; Adopting a Family Member; Do Both Biological Parents Have a Say in The Adoption?; Can the Biological Parents Still Have Access?; Do Social Services Get Involved with Adoptions?; Adoption Eligibility; Why Might an Adoption Be Denied?; Does the Child Have a Say?; Final Words from Bindmans.

See the Adoption factsheet here

These clips are part of our Know Your Rights series. The aim of these clips are to improve our understanding of our rights to ensure that we are being treated fairly in a range of circumstances. This time it was a discussion between The Traveller Movement and Ben Hoare Bell Solicitors.

Follow this link to the playlist for Adoption.

This includes; Who are Social Services; Why do Social Services Get Involved?; Unexpected Visits From Social Services; the Social Services Process; Police Checks; Malicious Reports to Social Services; Do Romani (Gypsies), Roma and Irish Travellers face Harsher Judgement?; The Repercussion of Grandparents getting Custody on the Mother; Filing for Custody; What are Child Support Payments?; Stopping the Other Parent from Accessing the Child; Paternal Grandparents Rights; The Impact of Previous Criminality on Getting Custody; Does ADHD/Autism (Neurodivergence) Impact Getting Custody?; Co-Parenting a Child with Health Issues/Disabilities; Does Domestic Violence Impact Custody?; Generational Social Services Involvement; Final Words of Advice from Cris McCurley of Ben Hoare Bell Solicitors; Introduction to Ben Hoare Bell

See the Child Custody factsheet here

Know Your Rights session with The Traveller Movement and Clare Cruise from Southwark Law Centre.

Follow this link to the playlist for School Attendance.

This includes; Missing School for Cultural Events; Attending Sex Education; College Admissions; What is a SAO?; School Doesn’t Share Religious Views; Educating Other Pupils about Heritage; Speaking Rumnus/Cant in School; Starting Off Well; For Professionals – Pupils At Risk Of Leaving School

See the School Attendance factsheet here

Know Your Rights session with The Traveller Movement and Simpson Millar

Follow this link to the playlist for Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND).

This includes; Home schooling; Declaring Ethnicity in School; Learning Whilst Travelling; Off-Rolling; Legal Aid; Bullying; Deregistering from School; Age and EHCPs; Privacy for SEND Learners; Travelling and EHCPs; What is an EHCP?; Waiting for a SEND Diagnosis; What Does SEND Mean?

See the Special Education Needs and Disabilities factsheet here