Welcoming Shaun to the Team

By Shaun Mongan, Policy Intern

Hi, my name is Shaun Mongan and I have recently joined the Traveller Movement as a policy intern.  

I initially heard about the Traveller Movement through a social worker, Franics, who works at the Lewisham Irish Centre.  My interest was caught following my attendance at the TM annual conference in November 2023 in which I recognsied a space where I could utilise my degree to further help travellers. Whilst coming towards the end of my degree, I applied for a managerial role within the Traveller Movement. Understanding that I lacked the experience to attain such a role, my attempt of simply ‘getting my foot through the door’ was successful and I managed to secure a spot as an intern in May 2024. 

Following the completion of my degree in Politics and International Relations at the University of Nottingham, I have gained several key skills, including critical thinking and problem solving which will allow me to tackle issues and provide solutions for issues facing travellers on a daily basis. I hope to be a representative for young travellers showing that there is an alternative outlet than the traditional pathway for travellers, and that there should be value held in education. By changing this attitude towards education, young travellers will be provided with more options, allowing them to make their own decisions for their future on an equal playing field with the rest of society.  

Coming from an Irish Traveller background myself, I hope to provide ideas and a different level of insight based on both anecdotal and factual experience. My willpower to overcome adversity is showcased through my completion of GSCE’s, A Levels and a degree through all mainstream institutions. I am determined to change the notion that travellers will always struggle in education. Whilst the government website provides the statistics that members of the Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities are the lowest attending and achieving ethnic minorities in education, I hope that with my help, the attendance of young travellers will improve which hopefully would directly correlate with an improvement with results.  

Whilst at the Traveller Movement, I hope to leverage education and training, which will allow me to improve and hone my skills, and in turn, offer the best to help improve the Traveller Movement.