Our Purpose
The London Gypsy and Traveller Unit supports Travellers and Gypsies living in London: to influence decisions affecting their lives; to improve their quality of life and the opportunities available to them and to challenge the discrimination they routinely experience. In partnership with the community, LGTU uses this detailed experience to contribute to the development of local, regional and national policy.
What do we do?
- Accommodation and Advocacy Advice - An advocacy and advice service to Gypsies and Travellers living on sites and in houses, on accommodation, benefits and access to services.
- Community development - Support on sites, particularly in relation to site provision and site management, and setting up residents associations.
- Youth programme – For young Travellers in North and East London, including group work, and courses in personal development. LGTU is NEET registered.
- Campaigning for new sites in London - Supporting Travellers in responding to London boroughs plans and pitch proposals based on our work responding to the Mayors London Plan.
- Media - Promotion of positive and fair media coverage of Traveller issues. Work with the media and Gypsies and Travellers, to challenge negative coverage and promote a fair representation of their views.
- INSET training for local authority services and other agencies.
- Research - In relation to issues arising from work on the ground, or on a commissioned basis. Also routinely respond to requests by other researchers to facilitate consultation with the community.
- Strategy Work and Policy Development - Having been strongly involved in campaigning on the London Plan, policy development is currently focussed on Borough pitch targets and new sites. At a national level, the managing agency for the Traveller Law reform Project - a partnership of 3 Traveller organisations. At a Borough level, key agency in setting up and ensuring informed and representative input to inter-agency and strategy groups in the Boroughs worked in.
- Advice and information - To agencies, professionals, community groups, the media and students. We have a number of resources available for sale.
- Services on a commissioned basis, using specialist associates.
LGTU’s last AGM was held on Thursday 25th November 2010
The theme was ‘London Travellers Speak Out’ campaigning for more sites, and our presentation contained a slide show describing the events that lead up to the protest held at London's City Hall in October 2010.
Annual Report
Our latest Annual Report describes another successful year for the London Gypsy and Traveller Unit where we continued to support, empower and represent Gypsies and Travellers at all levels through our Strategic and Policy Work, our Community Development Work, work with Young People, our Accommodation Advocacy and Support Service and work with the Media.
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