Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project (Mecopp)
Argyll and Bute Council · 5 February 2025
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group — 5 February 2025 and its agenda
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MECOPP Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project “MECOPP actively seeks to challenge and dismantle barriers that deny Black and Minority Ethnic carers access to health, social work and other social care services in Edinburgh, the Lothians and further afield.” What MECOPP does: Ø Works specifically with Gypsy/Traveller communities in rural and urban Scotland. Ø Supports Black and Minority Ethnic carers to access supports and services appropriate to their caring situation. Ø Develops a strategic response to identified gaps in service provision. Ø Assists service providers, both statutory and voluntary, in the development of culturally competent services. Ø Develops opportunities for the active involvement of Black and Minority Ethnic carers in consultation planning. Ø Raises the profile of Black and Minority Ethnic carers and their needs at national level.
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Who Are Gypsy/Travellers Gypsy/Travellers are individuals – they are mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, colleagues and neighbours. See the person not the label, Gypsy/Travellers are not all the same. They are the same as you but different
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The term ‘Gypsy/Traveller’ is used by the Scottish Government. However, it covers a range of distinct identities and people may identify as Scottish Traveller Traveller Gypsy Romany Gypsy Roma Nawkin or Irish Traveller.
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Roads from the Past: A short history of Britain’s Gypsies, Roma and Travellers Travellers Times www.travellerstimes.org.uk
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Gypsy/Travellers are proud of who they are, their culture and their heritage. “It’s in our blood”. “We feel most comfortable living close to our own community.”
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Where Gypsy/Travellers Live - In trailers (caravans) on the side of the road. In trailers on council sites or private sites. Bricks and mortar in social housing, the private rented sector and can be home owners.
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Where Gypsy/Travellers Live Quotes: “Living in a house doesn’t stop you being a Gypsy/Traveller because it’s in our blood.” “I live on a council site but my sister lives in a house.” “Living in a house feels like being in a cage, I’d rather live on a site.”
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Myth Buster Quiz In Scotland Gypsy/Travellers have been recognised as an ethnic group and are therefore protected by the Equality Act 2010. True or False
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TRUE Following a successful legal challenge, Gypsy/Travellers were recognised as a distinct ethnic group and so afforded protection under the Race Relations Act (1976) in 2008. As such, they are also protected under the provisions of the Equality Act (2010). Many public authorities and Gypsy/Travellers remain unaware of this ruling. The term ‘Gypsy/Traveller’ is used by the Scottish Government. However, it covers a range of distinct identities and people may identify as Scottish Traveller, Traveller, Romany Gypsy, Gypsy, Roma, Nawkin or Irish Traveller. Just as some Scottish people can be offended if called English, some Travellers, for example, can be offended if called Gypsy. Myth Buster Quiz
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Culture and Traditions
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Things that are important to the Gypsy Travelling community Camp-fires. Hawking of traditional crafts. Storytelling Music Recycling clothes and metal Horses
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Myth Buster Quiz According to the 2011 Census the population of Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland is approximately: 500 5,000 10,000 15,000 100,000 150,000
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Myth Buster Quiz This is a trick question! The 2011 Census was the first to include Gypsy/Travellers as a separate ethnic category enabling baseline data to be captured across a range of indicators such as health, education, employment, accommodation and caring responsibilities. Information taken from the Census records show 4,200 people identifying themselves as ‘White: Gypsy/Traveller’, with 492 or 11.7% of them having a caring responsibility. However, these figures are thought to be an underestimate due to the reluctance of the community to self-identify in the Census. In part, this may be due to a lack of understanding of the purpose of the Census and to an historical mistrust of authorities and official bodies. Organisations working with Scottish Gypsy/Travellers at the time estimated that the actual figure is between 15,000-20,000 people.
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Values Think about what is important to you. Write down 3 of the most important values to you.
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Values Some of the values that are important to Gypsy/ Travellers are - Family - Community - Looking after each other Quality of life - Wellbeing - Physical health Where we live Equality - To be able to live their way of life
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Education - literacy and numeracy Career – Job Religion Compare what is important to you and what is important to Gypsy/Travellers.
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Barriers and Challenges Words Can Hurt Discrimination Can Hurt Stereotyping Can Hurt
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STEREOTYPING CAN HURT There are different types of stereotyping that affects Gypsy/Traveller’s lives such as: Ø In the work-place Ø At school Ø When shopping Ø When socialising in restaurants or pubs
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Two Sides of the Same Story This animation has been created based on the Two Sides of the Same Story booklet. It is aimed at service providers to encourage a greater understanding of the barriers that people from Gypsy/Traveller communities face.
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Myth Buster Quiz In a 2015 survey 25% of respondents said that a Gypsy/Traveller is unfit to be a primary school teacher. True or False
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Myth Buster Quiz Question 6 FALSE The true answer is even higher! In the 2015 Scottish Social Attitudes Survey, over a third (34%) of respondents said a Gypsy/Traveller was an unsuitable person to be a primary teacher. This represented the least movement in social attitudes in the survey.
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DISCRIMINATION CAN HURT Different types of discrimination are experienced in different places such as: Ø Health services Ø Social services Ø Daily lives Ø The media.
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A 2021 YouGov UK wide survey showed that of the general population: 45% would be uncomfortable with a Gypsy or Traveller moving next door to them; 38% would be uncomfortable with their child meeting up with a Gypsy or Traveller child at their home; 33% would be uncomfortable with a family member marrying a Gypsy or Traveller. In terms of economic exclusion and prejudice, responses showed that: 34% would be uncomfortable having a Gypsy or Traveller in their home, in either a social setting or as a tradesperson; 22% would be uncomfortable employing a Gypsy or Traveller; 34% would not be comfortable buying a service from a small business if they knew the business was run by a Gypsy or Traveller.
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Making Positive Change Accept Gypsy/Travellers as a recognised ethnic minority under the Equality Act 2010 Respect Gypsy/Traveller’s culture Respect Gypsy/Travellers as individuals
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Provide information in ways Gypsy/Travellers can understand Provide services where Gypsy/Travellers live Provide Gypsy/Travellers with resources and opportunities so they can reach an equal outcome.
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Some Things To Think About When Working With Gypsy/Traveller Communities.
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Language – avoid insulting or hurtful words, use plain English and remember some people have limited literacy.
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see the person not the label, don’t paint everyone with the same brush, remember no individual can speak for the whole community.
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Links MECOPP Gypsy/Traveller Carers’ Project - Supporting Carers in the Gypsy/Traveller Community in Scotland https://www.mecopp.org.uk/gyspytraveller-carers-project ARTICLE 12 Utilising an asset based approach, Article 12 in Scotland works to build capacity and social capital through access to formal and non-formal learning and development opportunities that amplify the voice of those young people who are less likely to be heard. https://www.article12.org/ STEP STEP is a national knowledge exchange-centre, supporting equitable access to education for mobile communities. It is funded mainly by Scottish Government and is based at the University of Edinburgh. https://www.step.education.ed.ac.uk/
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The last acceptable form of racism? The Traveller Movement (2017) https://travellermovement.org.uk/phocadownload/userupload/equality- human-rights/last-acceptable-form-of-racism-traveller-movement- report.pdf Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month https://grthm.scot/ Richard O’Neill https://richardthestoryteller.weebly.com/ Romano Lav is a charitable organisation challenging discrimination and promoting equality for the Roma people in Scotland. https://www.romanolav.org/ Links
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Improving the lives of Gypsy/Travellers: 2012/2021. Joint action plan by the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) https://www.gov.scot/publications/improving-lives-scotlands- gypsy-travellers-2019-2021/ Scottish Government: Improving educational outcomes for children and young people from travelling cultures: guidance https://www.gov.scot/publications/improving-educational- outcomes-children-young-people-travelling-cultures/pages/2/ Scottish Government: Education outcomes for Gypsy/Traveller children https://www.gov.scot/policies/gypsy-travellers/educational- outcomes-for-gypsytraveller-children/ Scottish Parliament Equal Opportunities Committee – Where Gypsy/Travellers Live https://www.amnesty.org.uk/files/scot_parl_eoc_where_gypsy_tra vellers_live_2013.pdf?IA5ryRgy65v_UtQUduUL7x9ckYDyB0W4= Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland - A Comprehensive Analysis of the 2011 Census https://www.gov.scot/publications/gypsy-travellers-scotland- comprehensive-analysis-2011-census/pages/6/
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MECOPP Briefing Sheet 15, 15 May 2020 https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5c06d635506fbe62ec834460/t/ 5eb90b1975c2e1070e2c7e98/1589185308010/MECOPP_Briefing_S heet_15.pdf Amnesty International Report 2012 – On the Margins https://www.amnesty.org.uk/files/amnesty_international_on_the_margi ns_2012.pdf?CsrksjKqX6GhlGo_UzvUVkeZeqibD6qA= Amnesty International Report 2012 – Caught in the Headlights https://www.amnesty.org.uk/files/amnesty_international_caught_in_th e_headlines_2012.pdf?R3H5B51RVqsAynx7kCUfJ2YU4J3JKEwA= Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland – A Resource for the Media https://www.amnesty.org.uk/files/ehrc_gypsy_travellers_in_scotland_ media_resource_june_2013.pdf?IwpvenTwDokgmi6F_dD6aQBaPLkJ 1777= RespectMe, Scotland's anti-bullying service: Prejudice-based bullying https://respectme.org.uk/bullying/prejudice-based-bullying/ Police Scotland – What is Hate Crime https://www.scotland.police.uk/keep-safe/advice-for-victims-of- crime/hate-crime/what-is-hate-crime/