On The Road

As it's now Gypsy and Traveller History month in the UK we hear from award winning Thomas McCarthy who sings traditional songs passed down through the generations of his family. He also shares his knowledge of the history of Irish Travellers. 

David Donaldson is a young Scottish Traveller whose experiences growing up have made him to determined to change things for the better. Despite struggles with the education system he is now at University and now sits in Scottish Parliament regularly fighting for the rights of Scottish Gypsies and Travellers.  

In this week's episode of the award winning On The Road we hear from Mihai Bica from The Roma Support Group about how Brexit may impact Roma people in the UK as well as how other GRT people may be affected. We hear again from Jonathan Lee from the ERRC about the impact of far right politics in Europe and Gypsy leader Billy Welch gives his opinion on Brexit.

Also hear about the important Court case won by London Gypsies and Travellers against wide injunctions in Bromley.

Plus we hear about the award On The Road has won. 

Jonathan Lee is a Welsh Romany Gypsy who works at the European Roma Rights Centre in Brussels. In this episode of On The Road he talks about his life, the experience of Roma people throughout Europe and the worrying implications of the rise of the far right in European politics. 

Sabrina Stewart is a proud Scottish Traveller who has spent most of her life living on the road. She is a mother of 6, a trained nurse and activist. She talks about her experiences of discrimination and abuse as well as how she is hoping to bring about change by working alongside the GRTPA ( Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Police Association) 

We head to Leedsgate to speak to Helen Jones and Kim Maloney MBE about a unique pilot scheme they have set up with Leeds council which allows people living on The Road to stop for longer and negotiate with the council and community. 

In this week's On The Road we look at the report published by the Women's and Equalities Committee into the the shocking inequalities faced by GRT people in the UK. We hear from people who have fed into the report and discuss it's recommendations. 

One Call Away is a helpline set up by Romany Gypsy brother and sister Caroline and Mark to help prevent suicides in the Gypsy and Traveller communities. They tell us why they set up the helpline and how it works. They also talk about the reasons why there appears to be a suicide epidemic in Gypsy and Traveller communities. 

Gypsy Activist Joseph Jones tells us about his life and what led him into activism and also explains the history around an offensive term that is unfortunately still widely used. 

We also hear about an important announcement made by The Church Of England. 

Joseph Jones and Roger Lee from the Gypsy Council and Gypsy Co-operative speak about the plans they have for the future from the new base in Kent.