CCF Visits TravellerSpace

Cornwall’s Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Community

The Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community is our second largest minority ethnic group in Cornwall (Cornwall Council’s 2024-2034 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Strategy).

The report highlighted that many Gypsy and Traveller communities face discrimination owing to their race. In fact a 2019 survey carried out by Traveller Movement found that 91% of the 199 respondents had experienced discrimination and 77% had experienced hate speech or a hate crime.

Many Gypsies, Roma and Travellers see travelling as part of their identity, though they may choose to live in different ways;

Move regularly around the country
Live permanently in caravans or mobile homes on sites that are private or council owned
Live in settled accommodation and travel during summer months
Live in ‘bricks and mortar’ housing but retain a strong commitment to Gypsy Traveller culture and traditions

The Cornwall Counil owns three social residential sites across the Duchy, in Pool, St Day, and Pensilva. It is in St Day that TravellerSpace’s Teyluva Centre is housed.

Cornish charity, TravellerSpace, is dedicated to supporting Gypsies and Travellers in Cornwall and Devon. As part of supporting this community, the group contributed to Cornwall Council’s strategic report with research and surveys.

CCF visits Teyluva Centre

TravellerSpace has been supported by CCF for twenty years, most recently receiving funding from ‘Surviving Winter’, a fund that allows groups to support vulnerable individuals through the coldest months. Having read Cornwall Council’s report, members of Cornwall Community Foundation’s Grant Team, Lucy and Shannon, went to visit the group.

“One young person was parked in the car park of a dance studio, and was getting notes left on their van, telling them to move, and getting a fair bit of abuse. Someone phoned us, and a staff member went to see them. They were very distraught, and had no food, or money for fuel to move elsewhere.

We were able to provide food, fuel money, details of food banks and safe places to park. They moved the next day, and have our number if needed.” – TravellerSpace

Visiting Teyluva Centre, Lucy and Shannon were able to see the real impact TravellerSpace is having on their communities, with the support of CCF, learning more about the services they provide and the individuals benefitting from their important work.

CCF are committed to increasing the reach of our grant funding to support our most marginalised communities. We will soon be engaging with training from TravellerSpace to build our understanding of how we can better support this community across Cornwall.