Travellers’ School Charity Newsletter Winter 2004

A marvellous new 40 page book with numerous colour photos by US-Irish Traveller Lise McNamara. In the USA, the official breed name is Gypsy Horses or Gypsy Vanners and Lise and her husband and daughter breed them on their ranch, Blarney Stone Acres. Lise, Steve and Kelsey are unusual because in the whole of the USA there are only five hundred Gypsy horses.

Lise says, “We are so proud of these horses. They have a quality of elegance beauty, and movement that is incredible. They are unlike any other breed of horse.” Masses of information on all aspects of these horses. Now read on… RA 7.4 CA 8 to 14 Available from Publisher Robert Dawson, on behalf of Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group, 188 Alfreton Road, Blackwell, Alfreton, Derbys. DE55 5JH Price 4.55 post free ISBN 1-903418-53-4 Official / local authority orders welcome

TSC review This is a book written purely about coloured cobs. Big, Beautiful, heavy legged, full feathered cobs. The Author Lise Mcnamara is an American woman who breeds black and white cobs on her ranch in New Jersey. Lise is very impressed with our Traveller horses, she writes enthusiastically of their good breeding, great temperaments, strength and flexibility. Lise offers a fresh perspective on these wonderful creatures. This is a lovely, sensible little book with many beautiful photo's of coloured horses. Gypsy Horses is part of a moving on series of books, written for Traveller children, published by: Robert Dawson/ Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group.

Computer Classroom News The Computer Classroom has just been to Hebden Bridge in Yorkshire to complete the 9th Renewable Energy Training Event. For this event we focused on wind power and discussions took place about the various types of generator available, the costs and which models would be most suitable for canal boats.
	5 people attended the training over the course of the day, all of whom were continuous cruisers on the Rochdale Canal. Solar Panel installations were also covered as well as information about funding resources and battery management. One of the most important aspects of the trainees' day (info from feedback forms) was where to access parts for broken wind generators, how easy it is to repair them and what it will be likely to cost.
Other information from the feedback forms was that we didn't provide enough basic electrical hands-on practice. This workshop was very technical and we appreciate that sometimes we can't cover everything, especially in the short winter days! We will endeavor to provide more time allocated to hands-on practical working with wires and pliers. We hope we can visit the same people in the New Year to support and advise on the installation of equipment if they are successful in their applications to the TAT Travelling Light program. January 21-23 2005 the Computer Classroom will be visiting a community in Birmingham where a DIY culture event is being held and on 14th February an extensive mobile Satellite internet access event is being delivered at South Devon Community College. We look forward to learning as much as possible about how to set up a Satellite system to connect to the Internet in remote locations as well as the different options available. All are welcome to the events, childcare, travel and refreshments costs will be reimbursed as usual. Please contact Kaye either by email via the website or by Telephone on 01239 810759 or 07717055378

Kate Evans presents 10 years of Sketchiness An exhibition of this unique Traveller's work is being held in Brighton from 8thNov-January 6th. The artwork is original and focuses mainly on road protesting, global resistance at Prague, other global summits and her recent experiences of breastfeeding!

An exhibition of this unique Traveller's work is being held in Brighton from 8thNov-January 6th. The artwork is original and focuses mainly on road protesting, global resistance at Prague, other global summits and her recent experiences of breastfeeding! Viewing is Tuesdays to Saturdays 12pm to 4pm She describes herself as 'comic reportage' and is proud to present her visually exciting work. If you miss the exhibition at the Cowley Club, 12 London Road, Brighton then look out for it's next venue at The London Action Resource Center (LARC), Fieldgate Street, Aldgate. times to be confirmed. Kate is really excited about her latest project - a book about breastfeeding. Look out for details of the book on our web site in the New Year.

Margaret Price Style

This refers to the Judgement in R(Margaret Price)-v-Carmarthenshire County Council which accepted 'aversion to conventional housing'.
What it also means is that we have the opportunity to campaign for (the right to respect for private and family life and home) - Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights, remember to teach our children the Articles and these facts;1. That an offer of conventional housing to a homeless Gypsy or Traveller (homeless because they do not have a lawful stopping place) can never be suitable.2. That the Local Authority have a duty to do sufficient in attempting to see if there is a site, pitch or piece of land available for Travelling families.
Get a copy of the ODPM: Housing, Planning, Local Governement and the Regions Committee thirteenth report of session 2003-04, snuggle up by the fire and learn some facts for the future. We're going to need them. Volume 1 - HC 633-1 available from;
TSO
P.O.Box 29,
Norwich,
NR3 1GN
General enquiries 0870 600 5522
book.orders@tso.co.uk
The changes introduced by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994 - whereby the duty on Councils to provide sites was repealed and replaced with private provision in the planning system - failed both Travelling and settled communities. Less than 40% of Councils meet their legal obligations to Gypsies and Travellers.Circular 1/94 issued was supposed to guide Local Planning Authorities in identifying suitable locations where planning permission for sites would then be granted, however according to the House of Lords - although 80% of Planning Applications are granted only 10% of applications made by Gypsies or Travellers are accepted! Secretary of State will impose such policies under the new Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act (P&CPA)2004.

Please, next time the Council serve papers on you, ask to see their Local Development Document which is supposed to identify actual locations for sites. Your pressure for culturally appropriate accommodation really counts.Sedley LJ in his Judgment October 2004 (Coates and others -v- South Bucks District Council) said "while the history of contumacious defiance both of the planning regime and of the Court's orders has placed the Defendants in the worse possible position to ask for the Court's help, these people, unlawfully and defiantly though they have behaved, at least have the excuse that for 25 years Local Authorities throughout England and Wales failed to carry out their statutory duty to provide proper sites in substitution for the commons they were energetically ditching and fencing against entry by caravans, and that central government failed consistently to exercise it's statutory enforcement powers against these local authorities....…

The problem of Traveller homelessness today is largely a consequence of widespread breach of the law by the local and central state".

Trustees New and Old Kaye has resigned from the Board of Trustees and taken up the post of Administrator for the Charity.

Here she is looking pleased with herself because she has raised a salary of £75 per week for the job! She was a Trustee and volunteer for 5 years and as Treasurer completed three sets of Annual Accounts. We are pleased to announce the new Treasurer as Peter Locke, Pete has a lot of skill in managing money and is a travelling engineer. He was voted onto the Management Committee at the AGM in November. The Annual Report 2004 is late this year due to Kaye being away in Africa until the end of March, it is now available and we will put it onto the website in the New Year.

Travellers Telephone Helpline

The Legal Services Commission funds the fast efficient advice service to Gypsies and Travellers across England and Wales. It has just been funded for at least a further 3 years from April 2004.
Please use the helpline to gain access to advice when dealing with Legal proceedings, especially if you are being moved on and have no support in finding an alternative place provided by a Local Authority.
The Helpline number is 0845 120 2980