Childhood

Life for Gypsy and Traveller children is very different from the settled community. It is helpful to be aware of some of these differences.

Gypsy, Roma and Irish Travellers' cultures and therefore child-rearing practices, make perfect sense in the context of their histories of persecution, nomadism and alienation. 

·       Toddlers learn the ways of the same sex parent from the start

·       Toddler boys go with the men and girls stay with the women

·       There is no concept of play as valuable for its own sake

·       Children are used to helping (working) rather than playing

·       The culture is an oral one so the spoken word is highly valued

·       Being noisy/talkative/quick-witted is respected

·       Children's needs/wishes are prioritised

·       Extended family life is highly valued

·       Children have no experience of books

·       There is no social necessity for writing

·       Children learn through experience

·       Children/grandparents are not cared for outside the family

·       All family members defend each other and seek justice within

·       Divorce is rare

ECUMENICAL SEMINAR ON GYPSIES AND TRAVELLERS

WHY SHOULD THE CHURCHES CARE?

Friday  26 March 2010  10am -4pm

Friends Meeting House, St John’s St, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1SJ

A day for church leaders, members of congregations, those with pastoral responsibility or with an interest in Gypsies and Travellers

 jointly organised by the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich & the Church Network for Gypsies and Travellers (CNGT)

Presentations on culture, the local context, and community safety. Speakers will include the County Council, Police, Gypsies and Travellers and those working alongside them. Theological input and examples provided of churches working together with Gypsies and Travellers. Part of the seminar will be to examine actions that local churches might undertake. Speakers list below.

Venue fully accessible for the disabled.  Close to the main car parks and within walking distance from the railway station and the bus station.

Cost £5 including lunch - PLACES LIMITED

For further details- please email Alice Nicholls at the Diocesan Office,  as soon as possible
alice@stedmundsbury.anglican.org or ring on 01473 298551. Bookings need to be received by March 16^th.

SPEAKERS 

Rev Nick Williams    Anglican curate of Dartford, Kent.  Met Police lead on Gypsy and Traveller issues, member of the Association of Chief Police Officers Gypsy and Traveller workgroup, member of the Ministerial Task Group on site provision and enforcement. CNGT Committee member

Richard Bennett   Formerly Chairman of the Local Government Association Gypsy and Traveller Task Group.

Keren Wright   Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Officer, Suffolk County Council

Laura Moore and Karen Nelson   Hate Crime Officers, Suffolk Hate Crime Service

Mark Jepson    Chief Inspector, Suffolk Constabulary

Gloria Buckley    Gypsy/Traveller from Suffolk

Shirley Barrett    One Voice for Travellers Ltd., Community group, charity working across East Anglia to reduce violence to and from the Gypsy and Traveller in a sustainable way

Sonny Gibbard    Gypsy/Traveller from London

Fr Joe Browne     Catholic priest, Chaplain to Travellers. Irish Chaplaincy in Britain, voluntary sector, faith based organisation. CNGT Committee member

Rev Roger Redding    Anglican priest, Chaplain to Gypsies, Travellers and Showmen in the South West and Chair of the Southwest Alliance of Nomads

Rev Martin Burrell     Anglican priest, Minister of Christchurch, Bushmead, Luton. CNGT Committee member

Professor Thomas Acton D. Phil. OBE    Professor of Romani Studies, University of Greenwich

Revd Peter Thomas     Baptist Minister, Brentwood Baptist Church. CNGT Committee member / webmaster

The Right Reverend Nigel Stock      Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich