On Saturday 16th of December, young people from St Michael’s Way Traveller site in Horsdean, East Sussex raised over £300 for Brighton Community Night Shelter by carol singing at Churchill Square.
The young people dressed up using the theme, ‘Nightmare before Christmas’ which conveyed to passers-by the fear and difficulty of being homeless over the festive season. Before St Michael’s Way Traveller site was built in 2016 in Horsdean, the young people and their families did not have somewhere to stop and were statutorily homeless. They asked youth workers at Friends, Families and Travellers if they could fundraise for local homeless people instead of going on a festive outing.
A recent report by Friends, Families and Travellers highlighted the chronic national shortage of Gypsy and Traveller sites which means that 16% of Gypsy and Traveller families are forced to live roadside or on unauthorised encampments.
Avril Fuller, Youth Co-ordinator at Friends, Families and Travellers said,
“The young people were so keen to help homeless people in Brighton. After singing carols, they went to the shop and spent their own money on sweets and chocolate to give out to homeless people in Brighton city centre.”
Angela Barnett, Treasurer of the No Fixed Abode Residents Association said,
“Both homeless people and Gypsies and Travellers have been badly affected by the introduction of Public Space Protection Orders in Brighton. It was great to see young Travellers standing in solidarity with homeless people, as both groups are adversely affected by the government’s inaction in addressing accommodation needs.”
About Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT)
Friends, Families and Travellers are a leading national charity who work on behalf of all Gypsies, Roma and Travellers regardless of ethnicity, culture or background.
Find out more
If you would like to find out more information about the lack of accommodation for Gypsy and Traveller communities in the United Kingdom, please visit our Policy and Publications section.
Media Contact
Sarah Sweeney
Tel: 07963 382 190 Email: sarahsweeney@gypsy-traveller.org
