Friends, Families and Travellers

12/10/2026

We headed out for a walk to connect with nature and learn more about the environment around us. It was lovely to spend time outdoors!

Along the way, we explored the different leaves, plants and mushrooms growing at this time of year, and discovered lots about fungi and the role they play in our natural environment.

Thank you to everyone who joined us!

Want to join our next activity? Get in touch to find out more.

12/10/2026

This week is National Hate Crime Awareness Week.

Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller people have experienced discrimination and hate crime for generations, and remain some of the most marginalised minority ethnic groups in the UK.

We will continue to campaign, advocate and support Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people.

To find out more about the legal protections available under the Equality Act 2010, the realities of anti-Gypsy and Irish Traveller racism, and how to be an ally, join our Hate Crime Awareness webinar tomorrow.

Join the webinar here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hate-crime-and-romany-gypsy-and-irish-traveller-people-tickets-1997146737654

08/10/2026

FFT is hosting a Gypsy and Traveller Inclusive Services Training session, to provide professionals with the knowledge and practical tools needed to better support Gypsy and Traveller communities.

The training will explore different histories, cultures, lived experiences, and the barriers Gypsy and Traveller people often face when accessing services.

This CPD-accredited session helps organisations take meaningful steps towards inclusion.
When: 22 October 2026, 10:30am to 12:30pm.
Location: Online.

Book your place now:

CPD-accredited training exploring Gypsy and Traveller histories, barriers to services, and practical ways to improve inclusion and access.

04/10/2026

Have you got your ticket yet? 🎟️

Romany Gypsies and Irish Travellers are disproportionately represented within the criminal justice system and face intersecting barriers and discrimination.

Join our webinar tomorrow, 5 October, to find out more about our new co-produced resources to help improve support to Gypsy and Traveller communities.

Book:

Including the launch of our co-developed resources for prison staff

01/10/2026

What does a prison system that understands and responds to the experiences of Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller young adults look like?

We're hosting a webinar to discuss our new resources for prison staff, voluntary and community organisations offering guidance informed by Romany Gypsy and Irish Traveller adults' experiences within the criminal justice system.

⏰ When: 5 October 2026, 11am-12:30pm.

Book:

Including the launch of our co-developed resources for prison staff

30/09/2026

Since 2022, the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act has meant Gypsies and Travellers living on roadside camps may face time in prison, a £2500 fine or their home being taken away.

From government consultations and parliamentary debates to scrutinising legislation and campaigning for change, we have always stood up with one belief:

The rights of Gypsy and Traveller people are not and should never be up for debate.

Even though the Act remains, we still managed to remove the teeth from some of the most damaging parts of the legislation, with the High Court even declaring parts of Police Act 2022 in breach of European Convention on Human Rights. Our fight led to the government reducing the no-return period for roadside camps, from 12 months back to the original 3-months — a major win for Gypsy and Traveller communities.


Whenever a new government policy comes out, or a new project kicks off, there’s lots that happens behind the scenes that might not always get the spotlight it deserves, so we made a video to show the extent of our fight against the Police Act 2022.


Here’s our timeline, from 2018 to today, on just one of our landmark cases:

29/09/2026

Our Annual Report 2026 is now live!🎉

The report provides a snapshot of some of the achievements that Friends, Families and Travellers has had over the 2025-26 period in supporting Gypsies, Roma and Travellers through practical advice, legal and financial support, national campaigning and strategic litigation, ensuring the protection of the right to pursue a nomadic way of life.

Read:

Today, we’re excited to launch Friends, Families and Travellers’ Annual Report 2026! The report, which can be seen in full here, outlines our key activities and achievements over the past year from across our work. Reflecting […]

28/09/2026

Dinky's message to Gypsy and Traveller people is simple: don't let uncertainty, fear or stigma stop you from getting tested for hepatitis C.

Hepatitis C can be cured with treatment, so knowing your status matters.

If you have questions about your health or don't know where to go for support, please visit the NHS website: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hepatitis-c/ or contact our helpline on 01273 234 777.

24/09/2026

Friendly Churches Projects Manager, Ivy Manning, has contributed to this insightful and engaging article on why it’s important for churches to offer a safe space for Gypsies and Travellers to stop, and it starts by simply listening and learning from one another.

“Don’t be fearful and give us a chance”, Ivy concludes. “We have lots to contribute.”

Read more in Revive:
https://uspg.org.uk/resource/revive-autumn-2026/

24/09/2026

Now children are back to school, and with the colder months drawing in, they can be more at risk of catching measles and whooping cough.

We co-developed this video about the jabs your child may be offered:

A short animation on key information about childhood vaccinations, ...