Five-year vision aims to bring better life for traveller groups

York Council has pledged to address a range of challenges affecting the traveller community through a five-year vision which is aimed at improving healthcare, living conditions and employment opportunities.

It is estimated there are about 350 traveller households living in the city, and senior councillors on the council’s cabinet will consider plans for the York Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Strategy when they meet on June 4.

York Council’s cabinet member for health, housing and adult social care, Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, said: “This is the first multi-agency gypsy and traveller strategy for the city of York and, should it be adopted, marks a significant opportunity for collaboration to improve community cohesion and engagement and improve the lifelong outcomes and opportunities of this distinct community.”

The strategy is aimed at boosting education and raising awareness of the culture and traditions of travellers through training and communications to front-line service providers, councillors and other key stakeholders.

The proposals also include plans to increase the availability of land for travellers to develop and improve the condition of the city’s three existing sites.

National research by the Equality and Human Rights Commission in 2009 revealed that the life expectancy of both men and women living in traveller communities is 10 years lower than the national average.

The study also found traveller mothers are 20 times more likely than the rest of the population to have experienced the death of a child.

In 2003, less than a quarter of traveller children obtained five GCSEs with A* and C grades, compared to a national average of over half.

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