Working with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities

Gypsies, Roma and Travellers have a long established history as part of our community in County Durham. We have a duty to encourage race equality, eliminate discrimination and foster good relations.

Due to the restrictions in place, related to COVID-19, all our temporary stop over areas are currently closed. Enforcement action will be taken against any unauthorised encampment so please do not travel into the area.

We aim to meet the needs of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) communities who pass through the county, as well as working with local settled communities, councillors and key partners, to offer support and advice. Our key areas of work include the management of unauthorised encampments and awareness raising.

We encourage race equality, eliminate discrimination and foster good relations.

Working together

We work together to ensure that:

We offer the right services.
We listen to and support Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, local residents and businesses.
We share best practice and work together efficiently.

Neighbourhood Wardens

Our neighbourhood wardens work in teams across 3 areas in Durham, (North, East and South). Visit our neighbourhood wardens page for more information, including contact details.

Education

Our GRT Education Service provides education support to all Traveller pupils in the county. See our Educational support for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children (GRT) information.

Health care

Our GRT Senior Nurse provides health services to all GRT communities across the county. The nurse links with us, Health Trainers and Humankind.

If you or your family need specialist care, the nurse will show you how to access that care or support. If you would like to contact the Senior Nurse, call 07971 895 298.

Sites (permanent)

We manage pemanent sites across the county - see our Permanent Gypsy, Roma and Traveller sites information.

Police

We work with the police to protect you and your neighbourhoods.

Events/commemorations

Holocaust Memorial Day

Find out how we commemorated this year's Holocaust Memorial Day.

Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month

Taking place every June, Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month celebrates 500 years of Gypsy and Traveller culture and history in the UK. The awareness month, recognised nationally for over five years, brings together local Gypsy and Traveller communities to ensure past traditions are remembered and continued for years to come.

Appleby Horse Fair

Appleby Horse Fair is an annual gathering of Gypsies and Travellers in the town of Appleby in Cumbria which takes place in the first week in June, from Thursday to the following Wednesday, but this is essentially a weekend event with the main days being the Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Appleby Fair is unique in Europe, attracting around 10,000 Gypsies and Travellers and over 30,000 visitors to the fair. County Durham is a key part of the route to Appleby with areas in Teesdale offering stop over points for people travelling to the fair. More information about the fair can be found on the official Appleby Horse Fair website.

Gypsy and Traveller Health Project

Gypsies and Travellers live shorter lives and live in poorer health than all communities across County Durham.

As a result, an action plan to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for these communities was developed and implemented. It included the following actions:

to provide cultural awareness training for council, health service and voluntary sector staff
to appoint two health trainers for the Gypsy and Traveller communities
to create a specialist Health Visitor / Nurse post
to produce culturally relevant health promotion resources

An independent evaluation of these interventions was put in place and Icon for pdf Gypsy and Traveller Health Project Evaluation (PDF, 4.1mb) details the impact of the work undertaken to date.