Introduction

The aim of this book is to examine issues that affect Gypsies and Travellers, including accommodation, health, education, social policy, employment and the European Roma framework. It seeks to explore cross-cutting themes of social inclusion, discursive control, media power, representation, empowerment, justice and contested spaces. The book also debates the place of the researcher and asks whether Gypsies and Travellers now have the chance to shape their own destiny according to their aspirations and cultural identity. These are fundamental questions of relevance to us all, for the outcomes will say much about the society we live in.

The book comes at a time of great political and economic change for Britain in the wake of a financial crisis in the banks and a sovereign debt crisis in Europe (Richardson, 2010a). The Conservative-led Coalition Government has been introducing changes to health and social care, and the planning framework, as well as the concepts of governance and delivery of public service through the Localism Act 2011. Many of the themes in the following chapters are affected by such changes, and their impact on the lives of Gypsies and Travellers is a concern to many. The book discusses these challenges that we face, but also tries to highlight the opportunities that the changing context might offer for the empowerment and inclusion of Gypsies and Travellers in British society.

The context

It is estimated that there are between 10 and 12 million Roma, Sinti, Gypsies and Travellers in Europe (Fundamental Rights Agency, 2010); they are Europe's largest minority ethnic group. The Council of Europe estimates that 300,000 Gypsies and Travellers reside in Britain, with one third living in caravan/mobile home accommodation (either on the roadside or on sites) and the remainder living in housing. Biannual count data collected in recent years (DCLG, 2010) show that of Gypsies and Travellers living in caravans, approximately a quarter live on unauthorised sites (on their own land without permission, on other land or on the roadside) – it would be difficult to find any other minority ethnic group with such large numbers that are effectively homeless. Gypsies and Travellers are some of the most excluded groups in British society, as reflected in low life expectancy (CRE, 2006; Cemlyn et al, 2009) and poor rates of educational achievement and participation (DCSF, 2009c).