In January, the Foundation contributed £150,000 over three years towards core operating costs, particularly around policy and public affairs. Friends, Families and Travellers work to end racism and discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life.
We committed to this grant because Friends, Families and Travellers’ work is rooted in direct experience. Gypsy and Traveller engagement and leadership is integral to their governance and management, including co-producing services, campaigning, and policy and advocacy work. They also have a track record of influencing change, from their role as Secretariat for the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Gypsies Roma and Travellers, and successful campaigns on topics such as GP access for nomadic people without proof of address, engaging parliamentarians with community voices, and the recognition of Roma people in the UK census.
On their experience of applying to us, Sarah Mann, Chief Executive Officer at Friends, Families and Travellers said: “Securing support for Gypsies, Roma and Travellers faces many barriers; there is at times a sort of simmering reluctance to engage with what can be seen as an ‘unpopular’ cause. But the process with John Ellerman Foundation was smooth and supportive, from welcoming our application at the start to clear guidance at every stage, and a straightforward application itself.”