Presidents' Blog - June 2011

History Month Celebrations

Linda Lewins and myself will be writing a blog each month to inform you of the latest information regarding Gyspy, Roma and Travellers educationally and the ongoing work of NATT+.

This is the best month in the year to start this blog as it is the 4th annual Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month and Appleby Fair. Again this year NATT+ is in the forefront of helping schools and educational settings to get involved.

We have produced, just in time, a wonderful GRTHM booklet with tons of ideas, information and resources for schools. These books have been very well received and are flying out and at the time of writing only have a few hard copies left. They will then be available on the members' area of the NATT+ website. I would like to thank Graham Alexander who works miracles to meet our sometimes very short deadlines.

There is also a calendar of events listed on the NATT+ website for the GRTHM. This years' national schools competition 'A Moment in Time' is also being well received and have had many inquiries and know that many Leeds schools are getting involved. The closing date for this is in July.

I know that Rocky Deans in London is working hard to promote the month and information regarding London events and initiatives can be found on the GRTHM London website www.grthmlondon.org.uk

On a more political front Linda has had a successful meeting with Nick Gibb and I have been in conversation with Robin Hammerton both regarding the question by Lord Avebury;

Lord Avebury: My Lords, does my noble friend agree that, without a framework of targeted support at local and national levels, the outcomes for this group of children are likely to remain unacceptably low? Although he says that additional support is being given to the local authorities for deprived and disadvantaged children, does not experience show that local authorities will not spend this money on Traveller education services because they are busy sacking such staff and getting rid of them?

Lord Hill of Oareford: The difficulty that we have-and one of the questions I asked about this whole area-is in trying to evaluate what in the past has been successful in making progress. As far as I have been able to see, the evidence for what has worked in the approaches that have been tried so far does not seem very clear or compelling. Unfortunately, as I indicated earlier, the gap has widened. So I do not believe that there is a simple answer. I know that many Members of this House know far more about this than I do. If the noble Lord has particular suggestions, I would be keen to discuss them with him.

Enjoy the rest of the GRTHM.

Claire Lockwood