By
Lisa, Tabby, and Chantelle
‘Mentors’
Cathy and Tracy
There are many different ethnic groups within the gypsy
and travelling communities
• English Gypsies
• Irish Travellers
• Scottish Travellers
• Welsh Kale
• New Age Travellers
• Showmen
• Circus
• Bargees
We are all from different backgrounds living in Leicestershire
We live by the roadside, bricks and mortar, sites and yards
• Working with STAR on a one to one basis for a
while.
• Our Housing Related Support Worker (Cathy)
asked us separately about our ideas (informal
consultation) and if we would like to get involved.
• The tender bid was written and submitted with
STAR and Soft-touch (Partnerships).
• We attended an informal lunch at the MATU to
learn more about the funding/project, meet each
other and Tracy.
At our first meeting we all agreed:• Our name
• We were given stationary, folders, pens
etc. and homework
• We agreed when, where and how often
would meet
• Discussed ideas for the calendar, and
training sessions
• Started to design the shape, drawing
our ideas
Communication
• Learning to cope with everyday tasks independently including letters, over the
phone, face to face and appointments
Stay Safe
• Learning how to keep you and yours safe when either living on the roadside,
on sites or in bricks and mortar
Health and Well-being
• Learning the different drugs, recognising them, identifying paraphernalia,
strengths of alcohol, units, services and where to get help
Managing Money and Budget Skills
• Learning how to get the most out of your income, gaining a better understanding
of how utility companies work, personal budgets and expenditure
Welfare Benefits
• Learning about the benefit system, ensuring you get the correct entitlement,
introduction to the changes in the welfare system
Environmental issues
• Learning about recycling rules, waste collection, trailer insurance, horse licences
• Calendars- to help with appointments and
letters
• Budget planners- to help with budget
planning
• Identification labels- to help with
remembering important details
• We also had things like medication kits,
leaflets, alarms, fire safety information
• As a group we met Jen at Soft-touch
our creative arts partners.
• She helped us design the practical toolkits
for the project,
• She taught us how to use different
creative techniques, (decoupage),
• We used different materials (tissue paper,
magazines)
• And made our ideas happen
to help with appointments and
letters
Cupcakes
design
to help
remember important details
Many people find remembering personal details difficult
(especially if you can’t read or write)
• National insurance number
• Date of Birth
• Medical issues/treatments
• Pin numbers
So having all this information in one place that’s close by is
extremely important.
Its needed in most areas of life, benefits, housing, health
etc.
to help with budget
planning
Living on a budget is hard for all of us:
• Especially if you are on a low income.
• Or you can’t read or write.
• Or find understanding utility bills hard
Our budget planner sets out a
weekly/fortnightly/monthly budget with
specific outgoings on, so people can
work out a plan for managing their
money
• We discussed and designed our ideas for
the toolkits.
• Our individual prototypes were completed
and we were ready to go into production.
So we went to meet our printers:
Flex-press
• We met Steve
• Discussed our ideas for the calendar
• Saw some of their other designs and
projects
• Had a tour of the factory and met some of
the staff
• We all did individual evaluation on the training and art
sessions, and the business meetings,
• We did blogs or written evaluations
• We took loads of photos
• Every training module finished we received a
certificate.
• We all have a copy of all the training packs- leaflets,
pens, balls for the purse, stickers for the windowsemergency first aids,
• Cathy and Tracy completed diary session returns for
our funders
We have
• Developed a mentor group for Housing Related Support
• Worked with Soft-touch and STAR to make practical toolkits around housing
related support (which are available for other organisations to use/purchase)
• Developed 6 session training programme (which is available for other
organisations to use/ loan/ purchase)
Which means we have
• Developed Peer mentors within organisation and co production continues to
embed itself.
• Improved access to information and advice regarding housing, health &
social care issues
• Strengthening of partnerships with existing partners and development of
new partnerships
• Greater awareness amongst wider stakeholders of challenges and barriers
faced by gypsy traveller community with housing and housing support
• Worked as a group
• Met new people (soft-touch, STAR, Flex-press, trainers)
• Learnt new skills (reading, research, creative arts,
business meetings, training, designing)
• Increased confidence
• Increased self esteem
• Tackled isolation (visits each week)
• Fun/laugh/chatting
• Enjoyed each session
• Visited Stow Horse Fair
• Access to creative arts course