Today, we are excited to launch our Annual Report 2023, which can be seen in full here.
The report outlines our key achievements, projects and activities from over the past year, including the much anticipated launch of the Oak Project.
From successfully overturning the discriminatory planning definition of ‘Traveller’ in the Court of Appeal, to our Casework and Outreach Teams supporting families with over 4300 issues, our annual report highlights the myriad of accomplishments we have made this year, as well as the future we’re working towards.
Addressing the past year’s struggles and successes, Sarah Mann, Chief Executive Officer at Friends, Families and Travellers said:
“This year, the cost-of-living crisis amplified the difficulties that Romany Gypsy, Roma, Irish Traveller and nomadic communities face, as evidenced through the energy crisis, which
pushed many families into debt, food insecurity and fuel poverty. Despite many households and businesses across the UK receiving support with rising energy costs since October last year, many Gypsies and Travellers living on sites were not eligible for financial help until April. Even then, people living on roadside camps and itinerant Boaters were still excluded from the grants.
As the PCSC Act received Royal Assent, we organised a Day of Solidarity in support of nomadic communities and we were honoured to see participation across civil society – with social assets appearing on over 630,000 feeds.
Over 2022-23, we sought to effect change by forming vital partnerships with other organisations and groups. We partnered with the National Emergencies Trust to ensure Gypsies and Travellers get the right support in the event of national emergencies, challenged the use of wide injunctions in the Supreme Court, and launched the three-year Oak Project to help increase site provision.
Through our youth work, young Gypsies and Travellers in Sussex led the way in creating change, delivering positive messages to encourage healthier choices, to tackling racism on the football pitch. Our Sussex Service Delivery and National Helpline helped Gypsies and Travellers with over 4300 issues ranging from benefits advice to plot applications to accessing insurance.
While there has been great adversity this year, we have had some great achievements. FFT won the Sheila McKechnie Foundation’s Best Coalition Award for our work as part of the Police Bill Alliance, and we helped reclaim the rights of Gypsies and Travellers by successfully challenging the discriminatory definition of ‘Traveller’ in the courts. We look forward to another year of working closely together to break down barriers, and we would like to thank our staff, trustees, volunteers and supporters for joining us on this journey.
Our work wouldn’t be possible without you.”
[ENDS]
About Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT)
Friends, Families and Travellers is a leading national charity that works to end racism and discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life.
Media Contact
Communications Team
Email: comms@gypsy-traveller.org
Additional Resources
Annual Report 2023. Friends, Families and Traveller. November 2023. View report.
