Tom, as you may be aware, the 2011 census is coming up (27th March). I would guess that the general attitude of Gypsies is to be fairly suspicious towards something like that? Do travelling people in general even get censused? Would your current job role include encouraging that to happen? What's your personal opinion on the process?
The whole issue is fraught with problems and difficulties Rex.
Part of my job is to review the role of "Supporting People" services as they pertain to Gypsies and travellers. With particular emphasis in accessibility.
The first thing I discovered was, service providers have virtually no Gypsies and Travellers using their services at all. They don't know why that should be the case, but I suspect that I do.
G&T traditionally live on the margins of society, they are a secular race, tending to rely on family members rather than what they would regard as "Outsiders". In addition, illiteracy is rife, so many are not aware that a particular service is available.
Often, when G&T do try to access services, they do so reluctantly and as a result often fall at the first hurdle. i.e the receptionist asks for an NI number, a permanent address, or simply says "Fill in this form".
Sometimes, a lack of cultural awareness on the part of the service provider prevents G&T from receiving the help they need. Example. a doctor might ask "Do you have and mental health problems?" Most Gypsies would associate the words "Mental health" with some form of madness, and would answer "No" Whereas if the question were asked in a more sympathetic manner, the answer might be "Yes, I am very bad with my nerves".
I spoke to someone from an organisation that provides safe accommodation for abused women recently. She told me that a Gypsy lady and her two small children had been refusing food while staying at the hostel, when pressed, she admitted it was because she had seen someone cleaning their teeth in the kitchen sink.
There are dozens of examples explaining why G&T don't access services, but you get the idea.
Regardless of that, I know that some G&T do use supporting people services. So why do the service providers assume they don't?.
Monitoring, or the lack of it.
Have you ever filled in a monitoring form? Of course you have. And among those little tick-boxes where you state your ethnicity, have you ever seen one for "Gypsy"?
I suspect not.
So. even when G&T do use SP services, it isn't recorded, and as a result, there is no reliable data about any of the problems that Gypsies and Travellers face.
Gypsies & Travellers have never been recorded on census forms. They will be included for the first time on the 2011 census.
There are two problems. One, which I have pointed out to the powers that be, is the fact there is only the one box, headed "Gypsy/Irish Traveller" to accommodate the two separate communities. There will be no distinction, even though we have totally separate origins, cultures and histories.
Problem two. In many situations, it is detrimental for a Gypsy or Traveller to identify themselves as such. I know for instance, that if I were filling out a housing form, or registering with the dentist, that I wouldn't tick the box that said "Gypsy".
Sorry for the rambling reply, I hope it makes some sense.
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