London Gypsies and Travellers (UK Registered Charity)

17/08/2026

We and Leeds GATE are looking for a facilitator to co-design and facilitate our Reimagine Project learning group this autumn.

If you're skilled in creating safe, empowering spaces for sensitive conversations (amongst other things), we'd love to hear from you!

Find more info and the project brief below - deadline to apply is 9am, 2nd September:
https://leedsgate.co.uk/news-and-stories/news/facilitator-reimagine-project/

Leeds GATE and London Gypsies and Travellers are seeking a facilitator for an important and in depth piece of work.

Reimagine is a learning project hosted by London Gypsies and Travellers and Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange.

For more info - https://leedsgate.co.uk/.../facilitator-reimagine-project/

24/07/2026

The Mayor's new Draft London Plan was published last week.

It includes minimum targets for Councils to build new pitches for Gypsy and Traveller homes, facilities for nomadic living across London and some other reasons to be encouraged. Read more on our website: https://www.londongypsiesandtravellers.org.uk/news/2026/07/17/signs-of-improvement-in-the-draft-london-plan/

We know from the past few decades of delays and under-delivery show us it's action, not plans, that provide homes. But some councils are showing signs of action for new sites - hopefully this plan will lead to more urgency from others.

Look out for details of the next London Gypsy Traveller Forum in September where we'll be discussing our response to the public consultation which is open until mid-October.

09/07/2026

Islington Council released the new draft Gypsy and Traveller local plan for consultation. Everyone living or working in Islington can have their say on the plan until 18 August. After that, there are only the planning applications left to do.

All the consultation documents can be downloaded from the ‘Documents’ section on the Let’s Talk page https://www.letstalk.islington.gov.uk/gypsy-and-traveller-local-plan-review

LGT has studied the new draft. After the last round of public responses (which ended 1 February 2026), the Council removed two locations from the list of potential sites: Pleasant Place and Stephen Ink's Estate. However, this still leaves nine locations which is a very encouraging sign. The other good news is that the Council intends to meet the local need for 11 pitches in full.

Islington Council is inviting community members to hear about the new plan and next steps, including drafting the pitch allocation policy, in a meeting at Islington Town Hall at 11am on Tuesday 14 July 2026. London Gypsies and Travellers will be at the meeting to support community members in case needed.

Come and find out, and have your say too!

02/07/2026

London Gypsy and Traveller Forum meeting next week TUESDAY 7 JULY, 11am-12:30pm: What makes a well-managed council site?

Contact us if you'd like to attend - in person at our office (N16 8NA) or online

Councillors, Council staff and London Assembly Members will be attending to hear from the community about what makes a well-managed council site. Make your suggestions and concerns heard, and join the call for better site management all over London.

19/06/2026

Many areas of Surrey have well-established links to the Travelling community such as the Epsom Downs. Every June, the Epsom Derby is a traditional annual gathering point for Gypsies from Surrey and beyond and the historic census returns regularly record Gypsy families camping on the Epsom Downs. Discover how Lady Sybil Grant defended their tradition of camping there during Derby week: https://orlo.uk/Mm3BP

Friends, Families and Travellers Surrey SGTCF

15/06/2026

Really interesting event next week at the Museum of London Docklands:

ROMANI VISUAL ACTIVISM IN MUSEUM SPACES - Wed 24th June, 2pm

Three Romani artists: Delaine Le Bas, Dan Turner and Corrina Eastwood discuss their experience navigating cultural institutions with their Romani identity centre stage.

The talk expands on the exhibition ‘By Appointment Only’ at the Docklands Museum featuring their work.

For more info and free tickets https://www.londonmuseum.org.uk/whats-on/authority-know-romani-lived-experience/

Pictures shared from the exhibition, courtesy of London Museum and the artists

12/06/2026

We joined 28 other Gypsy, Roma and Traveller organisations and activists calling on Kemi Badenoch to withdraw her unacceptable comments linking our communities with criminality earlier this week.

The open letter calls for the remarks to be clarified and withdrawn, for cross-party condemnation of rhetoric that attributes criminality to entire communities, and for public discourse about our communities to be grounded in evidence, dignity and individual responsibility.

You can find the full letter on our website: https://www.londongypsiesandtravellers.org.uk/news/2026/06/12/grt-groups-call-on-badenoch-to-withdraw-remarks/

11/06/2026

09/06/2026

Statement from Report Racism GRT 📢

In a recent video, Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Leader, stated that she intends to repeal the Public Sector Equality Duty and referred to “Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities breaking the law and getting away with it.”

She spoke about how confidence in institutions is "collapsing". She then said: And how could it not? When people can see, as in my own constituency, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities breaking laws that no one else would get away with.

GATE Herts UK Friends, Families and Travellers 'London Gypsies and Travellers (UK Registered Charity) The Roma Support Group YORK Travellers Trust The Traveller Movement Kushti Bok Dorset Leeds GATE Leicestershire GATE GRT Friendly Churches