Letter to Angela Rayner MP

Dear The Right Honourable Angela Rayner MP,  

On behalf of Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller voluntary and community sector, we would like to offer you a warm welcome to your new role as Deputy Prime Minister. We hope to work closely with you and your new government over the next five years to improve the outcomes and lives of all Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Travellers across the United Kingdom.  

Organisations from across the sector are ready and willing to meet with you and your teams across Government Departments to discuss policy impacts and solutions for our communities. We are eager to share insights into the reality of the lived experiences of the communities we represent, and work for and on behalf of. It is a crucial time to reframe the public discussions around Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities and to finally tackle the entrenched disadvantages experienced by these communities in all aspects of public life. 

In particular, we are seeking a commitment to a Cross-Governmental Action Plan to improve outcomes across all areas of public life for Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller communities in the United Kingdom. Such an action plan has been recommended by numerous parliamentary and external actors. Without comprehensive whole governmental action these entrenched inequalities will continue to worsen over the next five years.  

We believe that through collaboration, we can develop and implement effective strategies that address the specific challenges faced by these communities, ensuring equitable access to education, healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities. These measures should include:  

1. Appointment of a Dedicated Task Force: Establish a task force within the government to oversee the development and implementation of the Cross-Governmental Action Plan, including representatives from Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller communities.
2.  Regular Reporting and Transparency: Implement a system for regular reporting on the progress of the Action Plan, with clear metrics and milestones. These reports should be made publicly available to ensure transparency and accountability.
3. Inclusive Policy Development: Ensure that Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller representatives are actively involved in the policy development process, ensuring that their voices and perspectives are integral to the decision-making process.
4. Funding and Resources: Allocate dedicated funding and resources to support initiatives aimed at addressing the specific challenges faced by these communities, including education, healthcare, housing, and employment opportunities. 

Within these focus areas Romani (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Traveller voluntary and community sector organisations have developed solutions ready to implement.  

We would welcome the opportunity to sit down with your new Government to begin to develop a Cross-Governmental Action Plan and to discuss these matters further and explore how we can work together to bring about meaningful and lasting change. We look forward to hearing from you and arranging a meeting at your earliest convenience. 

Kind regards,  

Yvonne McNamara, CEO (The Traveller Movement) 

Dr Siobhan Spencer MBE (Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group) 

Violet Cannon, CEO (York Travellers Trust) 

Elizabeth (Betty) Billington BEM (Kushti Bok) 

Josie O Driscoll (GATE Herts) 

Ellie Rogers (Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange ) 

Thomas Scanlon (Luton Irish Forum) 

Breege McDaid, Director (Irish Community Care) 

Mihai Calin Bica (Roma Support Group) 

Helen Littlewood (Clifton Learning Partnership)  

Brian Dalton, CEO (Irish in Britain) 

Juice Vamosi (KaskoSan Roma Charity) 

Alunica Lepadatu (Roma Voice Centre CIC) 

Petr Torak (Compas Charity) 

Dr Rosa Cisneros (RosaSenCis Film Productions Co) 

Jozef Dome (European Drom Cic ) 

Iveta Janova (Samphire Charity) 

Nancy Hawker (London Gypsies and Travellers)