In this update:
- AGM & Conference - REGISTER NOW
- Training opportunities for members
- Upcoming events
- 5 Job opportunities
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AGM and Conference
We are counting down to our AGM and Conference on Thursday 13th October in the Shamrock Lodge Hotel in Athlone.
It's always a great event and places are filling up - make sure you are signed up and your organisations membership is renewed by completing this online form: https://forms.gle/6VhneEYDKbrTXx4C8
You must register before 30th September
Email membership@itmtrav.ie
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ITM Members Training
We continue to roll out trianing and capacity building opportunities for members based on their needs, thanks to funding from the Wheel. We have some exciting trianing coming up in the next few months:
- Accommodation & Homelessness Law Training - 19th October, in person (Dublin). Delivered by Community Law and Mediation.
- Trauma-informed practice Ireland - Core training Online, 2nd & 9th November. Delivered by Quality Matters
- Plain English training - Online, 8th December. Delivered by NALA
- Traveller Education Advocacy Training - ONLINE, date TBC. Delivered by Community Law and Mediation.
- GDPR explained: crash course for Traveller projects, online, date TBC.
If you are interested in any of the training you can contact Eve at membership@itmtrav.ie. Places are limited and Traveller members will be prioritised in the event that trainings are oversubscribed.
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Accommodation Working Group
On the 8th of September, the Accommodation Working Group had a campaign strategy day, facilitated by Siobhan O'Donoghue from Uplift. Thank you to everyone who attended!
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Recent Submissions
ITM submitted to both the consultation on the referendum on housing and the local authority midterm reviews in recent weeks. You can find these on our submissions page
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Irish Travellers/Mincéirs and the State 1922-2022
Bernard and Emily were part of the panel on accommodation and Rose Marie was part of the panel on advocacy, activism and allyship at this conference. The conference was such an enriching and enlightening series of discussions, well done to all the organisers.
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Upcoming Training - Housing, Accommodation & Homelessness Law
ITM are facilitating the introduction to housing, accommodation and homelessness law training again. This will be delivered by Community Law and Mediation on the 19th of October in Exchange House Ireland, 61 Great Strand Street (just by Jervis Luas Stop!) Email accommodation@itmtrav.ie to book your spot! This training is fully funded so there will be no cost to participants.
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Staff update
Our colleague Keith Maughan left his role as National Traveller Accommodation Policy Officer in recent weeks. Keith was a fantastic addition to the team during his short time at ITM and we wish him all the best in future.
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As a result, there is a vacancy on our team for a National Traveller Accommodation Policy Officer (Part-Time). More information on the role and how to apply can be found on the job ad HERE
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Education Advocacy and Law Training
On 13th September, 9 members of our Education working group participated in training delivered by Community Law and Mediation on Education Law and Advocacy. The group came together for the first time since Covid, at the Ashling hotel for a really useful and participative session.
Due to the great feedback and interest, we will look to run the training again, online at a later date for those who were unable to travel. Email eve@itmtrav.ie if you'd be interested.
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Have you been involved in a section 29 case?
We are trying to find out about what's happening regarding oral hearings and section 29 appeals, if they are taking place in person or remotely.
Please contact us by phone or email if you are aware or support/ed a Traveller pupil in a section 29 education case in 2020-2022. Email eve@itmtrav.ie or (01) 6796577
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Survey about Traveller participation in Comhairle na nÓg
Comhairle na nÓg is working with Involve CLG to increase Traveller youth Participation within the Comhairle na nÓg nationally.
We are asking our members to support Traveller young people to take part in an online survey to find out what barriers exist for Traveller Youth Participation in Comhairle na nÓg committees across the country or if something is working there what is it?
The link for the survey can be shared via WhatsApp, messenger and on your social media pages. The more this survey can be shared the better response we will get.
Link to the online survey: https://forms.gle/MXYZnbvLmLVeHUqGA
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Political Advocacy and Policy
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Traveller policy research report launch - Save the Date!
26th October - Ashling hotel, Dublin at 10.30am
Pavee Point, the Irish Traveller Movement, and National Traveller Women's Forum commissioned national research on Traveller policy in 2021. This research was carried out by Values Lab with the aim of identifying gaps and significant inequalities for Travellers in terms of policy outcomes across key domains, including health, education and accommodation.
The research report, Implementation of Traveller Policy: Terrain for Imagination and Challenge, will be launched on the morning of 26th October by Roderic O'Gorman, Minister for Children, Equality, Disability Integration & Youth in the Ashling Hotel, Dublin from 10.30am.
We are asking groups to please hold that date in their diary, and we will be sending out further information in advance.
Recent submissions
ITM has been busy in recent months making the following submissions on behalf of our members:
Civil Legal Aid Review Group
Three meetings of the ministerial appointed Civil Legal Aid Review Group have taken place since its establishment with a daft consultation action plan and timeline strategy, in progression. Travellers, as a hard to reach group, will be consulted in the process. ITM are represented on this group.
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Council of Europe The ADI-ROM Committee
ITM and other national representatives met with the intergovernmental Committee of Experts on Roma and Traveller Issues in Europe on September 16th on matters related to Traveller Accommodation, Health and Education.
Who are they: The ADI-ROM Committee are a Committee of Experts who steer the Council of Europe’s intergovernmental work toward protection and promotion of the human rights of Roma and Travellers and their inclusion and active participation in society. It consists of representatives of the member states (47 including Ireland) of the Council of Europe, as well as participants and observers.
What They Do: Activities are agreed by the Committee of Ministers and set out in the Council of Europe Strategic Action Plan for Roma and Traveller Inclusion (2020‑2025) and it is overseen by the intergovernmental Committee of Experts. More HERE
The following reports launched recently which may be of interest to members:
- ESRI Unequal chances? Inequalities in mortality in Ireland. Available HERE
- Pieces of Us - OCO Children's Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child. Available HERE
- National Access Plan for Higher Education launched in August with Travellers named again as a priority target group. More information HERE
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The Yellow Flag Programme kicks off September with 13 new schools
This year, Yellow Flag welcomes thirteen new schools to the programme. Our coordinator and community development worker have been travelling across Ireland to welcome the new schools on board. This year, the Yellow Flag will be working with a further 7472 new students and 1178 new teachers. We would like to formally welcome the following schools to Yellow Flag.
- Colaiste Chiarain CS, Kildare
- Piper's Hill College, Kildare
- St. Aidan's Community College, Cork City
- St. Patrick's GNS, Cork City
- Colaiste Ide agus Iosef, Limerick
- Scoil Mháthair Dé, Limerick
- Bailieborough CS, Cavan
- Scoil Mhuire, Navan
- Powerstown ETNS, Fingal
- Hansfield ETSS, Fingal
- Presentation Secondary School, Waterford
- St Stephens De La Salle BNS, Waterford
- Temple Michael College, Longford
- Inver College, Monaghan
- St. Joseph's Convent School, Cork
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2022 Yellow Flag Awards Ceremony
Planning for the Yellow Flag Awards Ceremony, 2022 is well underway. This year, nine schools from across the country will be awarded their Yellow Flag is The Arc Children's Theatre, November 10th.
Staff Updates
This month, our friend and colleague Molly Brady-Martin, former Coordinator of the Yellow Flag has left the programme. During her time with us, Molly has worked tirelessly to advance and advocate for the programme and has been a champion for the both the Yellow Flag and broadly across ITM. We wish her all the very best in her new role.
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Research on Insurance Exclusion among Travellers - Survey
Little is known about the insurance dimension to financial exclusion, particularly among Travellers. In this new exploratory study, National Traveller MABS aim to get a sense of the extent to which various types of insurance are used or not by Travellers, together with the reasons for this. The purpose is to inform their community education, policy and advocacy work going forward. You can download the questionnaire HERE and please return it by email to aoife_foley@mabs.ie
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MISLEÓR Festival of Nomadic Cultures
The Misleór festival takes place from 29th Sept - 1st Oct. Check out the website for programme of events: https://www.misleor.ie/
The festival will be a truly special event, and the only festival in Ireland that celebrates and connects nomadic cultures from around the world. The 3-day festival includes a vibrant programme of music, theatre, film, poetry, and visual art from Traveller, Roma, Sámi, Mongolian and Romany Gypsy communities.
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National Traveller Mental Health Day
As members of the Traveller Mental Health Network, join us in celebrating this year's National Traveller Mental Health Day on 8th October, either by attending the day in Knock or by organising / attending a local event on the day.
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Minceirs Whiden AGM 2022
Minceirs Whiden AGM is being held on the 7th of October. They are asking you to come along and have your voice heard with regard to their new Strategy. Contact bredahogan10@gmail.com for more information.
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Job Opportunities in the Sector
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We are hiring a National Traveller Accommodation Policy Officer (Part-Time) to join our team!
National Traveller Accommodation Policy Officer (Part-Time)
Irish Traveller Movement
Closing date: 5pm, 3rd October
More information in the full job advertisement on Activelink HERE
Travellers’ Voice Magazine Manager
Involve
Closing date: 5th October
More information HERE
Community Education Development Worker
Blanchardstown Traveller Development Group
Closing date: 28th September
More information HERE
Peer Support Worker (Part-Time)
National Traveller Women’s Forum
Closing date: 5 pm, 11th October
More information HERE
Education Development Worker
Meath Travellers Workshop
Closing date: 5th October
More information HERE
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