TRAVELLERS IN PRISON NEWS Newsletter of the Fury Keen to Fight Joshua Traveller Equality Project STAY IN TOUCH! after Klitschko Travellers in prison news We hope you enjoyed this Issue 19 newsletter and will sign up for June 2016 future editions.

Do you have a question about Travellers in prison? Remember this is your Do you want to start a Traveller Group and would like newsletter so write to us advice? today sending us your letters, news, views, poems Are you looking for resources for and drawings. World champion is hoping to 'bladder' Traveller prisoners? after he does the same to Wladimir Klitschko in their rematch. After months of negotiation, the Fury Klitschko rematch was finally announced Then please get in touch! Traveller Equality Project, on 8 April 2016, with the fight scheduled to take place in the champion's home 52 Camden Square, Lon- town of at on 9 July. Traveller Equality Project, don, NW1 9XB 52 Camden Square The unbeaten Mancunian (25-0-KO18) attended 's super- world title unification win over in late NW1 9XB Prison & Probation staff can February.Fury, who watched his cousin Hosea Burton and Isaac Lowe clinch the download resources from British light-heavyweight and Commonwealth titles respectively, [email protected]. our website here: said: “I am going to bladder Wlad in the next fight then I am going to bladder uk [Anthony] Joshua in the next one.” bit.ly/1rWs4kt Former Olympic super-heavyweight champion Joshua easily defeated 6ft 5in Tel: 020 7482 5528 American southpaw Charles Martin (23-0-1-KO21) at The O2 to become a world champion (IBF) in just his 16th professional bout. Our Staff: Fury said: "It will be huge in this country for sure… One thing I do know is when Conn Mac Gabhann (Manager) Celebrate Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month! EDUCATE - ORGANIZE - the fight happens between Joshua, I'll introduce him to big-time . I will Ellena Costello (Project Officer) EMPOWER say: 'Welcome to big-time boxing' ... Once I've flattened him." th Fury snatched the WBA Super, WBO and IBF crowns when he outpointed Welcome to the 19 edition of TIPN. June is the annual celebration of Want To Support Your Klitschko (64-4-KO53) in November - but he was subsequently stripped of the Traveller culture – Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month (GRTHM) – so Traveller Community?

IBF belt, which was then won by Martin when fellow challenger Vyacheslav hopefully wherever you are you will get a chance to celebrate your Travel- * Register as ‘W3 – Gypsy / Glazkov was forced to retire in the third round of their January bout. ler heritage. If you don’t know what events are being run in your prison – Irish Traveller’ ask the Equalities Team! * Become a Shannon Trust Over the past few months, the Traveller Equality Project has been mixing Mentor or Learner

prison visits with trying to get national improvements for Travellers in pris- * Become a Traveller Rep Wants ‘a big fight’ in September on. We have asked the government to make changes to education provi- * Organise a Traveller Group Billy Joe Saunders is well placed for a unification clash if and Canelo Alvarez don’t come to an arrangement. sion for Travellers with a submission to the Coates Review of Prison Edu- THE promoter of WBO Billy Joe Saunders, is adamant the new champion wants to go straight in with cation. We have also made submissions to the Lammy Review of the is- * Become a Listener the likes of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez or Gennady Golovkin, if the Mexican and the Kazakh can’t come to an agreement to make their sues facing minority ethnic groups in prison in order to place Gypsy, Rom- own middleweight unification clash. any and Traveller issues on the agenda. “They’re all tough fights. This is the first defence, so it’s not like he’s taking easy options. Bill says I want big fights. If it was me In this edition we hear about Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month, Apple- I’d have him fighting [Max] Bursak, get that under his belt [their April 30 bout had to be cancelled when Saunders sustained a by Horse Fair, Sir Roger Casement, Traveller Writers and an excellent piece hand injury]. But unfortunately that’s not to be. But Bill wants big fights so we’ve got to do big fights,” Warren said. on Mindfulness. Enjoy!

The work of the Irish Chaplaincy is funded in part by grants from the Government of Ireland, the Irish Catholic Bishops' Conference, and the support of many generous friends. TRAVELLERS IN PRISON NEWS TRAVELLERS IN PRISON NEWS Your Letters: Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month I would just like to write a Appleby Horse Fair short letter to say, you can 2-8 June 2016 feel down in prison but never give up. When I came The Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria is into prison last September held each year in early June when 2015, I was a mess. My 10,000 -15,000 English and Welsh head and emotions were all Gypsies, Scottish Travellers and Irish over the place and I had Travellers gather to buy and sell been doing too much horses, meet with friends and rela- partying, meaning I felt in a tions, and celebrate Traveller cul- really bad place. I decided ture. Although there are many horse to get back in the gym, fairs around Britain and Ireland such which really helped my as Stow, Barnet, Wickham and Balli- brain and helped me gain There’s a saying: ‘If you don’t know where you’re from, you’ll never know where you’re go- nasloe, many Gypsies and Travellers regard Appleby Fair as the most important date in the calendar, and it remains one of some confidence back. I got ing.’ Traveller History Month or to give its full name Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month the largest of fairs. is about knowing where you are from and where you are going. History strangely is most- strong really quick so I was ly about the future. Traveller History Month is about the future. It is about being aware of all feeling really good about An estimated 25 -30,000 gorjas visit the Fair during the week. The Fair is held outside the town of Appleby where the Roman that happened in the lives of Travellers so that we can appreciate and celebrate Traveller myself and decided to do Road crosses Long Marton Road, not far from Gallows Hill (named after the public hangings that were once carried out life BUT ALSO, so that we can learn from it for our future. the strong man competition there). here at the Scrubs. Anyone During Black History Month every October, regardless of your background when we learn could enter if they wanted The Fair takes place in the first week of June, from the first Thursday to the following Wednesday. The main day is Sat- about great black leaders such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, we all learn too, there is 1280 prisoners urday, and it is mostly all over by Monday. Besides the horses, there are palm-readers, music stalls, clothing stalls, stalls sell- useful lessons about how to live, how to behave, and how to overcome challenges. and a lot of strong lads who ing tools and hardware, china, stainless steel, and horse-related gear such as harnesses and carriages. Traveller History Month is a similar opportunity. Instead of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller have been training for years The Fair is a regular but spontaneous gathering. It is not organised by any individual or group, although the Gypsies and culture being reduced to cheap television shows with bigger and bigger dresses – Travel- inside and outside. I’ve Travellers have a Shera Rom (Head Gypsy) who arranges toilets, rubbish skips, water supplies, and horse grazing and acts as ler History Month is a chance to show the great richness of Traveller culture. trained mostly inside. There liaison with the local co-ordinating committee. were 35 lads in the Traveller History Month started in Brent in June 2001. And it has been celebrated eve- competition and I won it for The Fair has no organised events. The main activities take place on Fair Hill, (the main Gypsy campsite field, with some cater- ry June since. In 2007, it gained government approval when the minister Lord Adonis an- the fourth year in a row and ing and trade) and more recently on the Market Field, which was opened up by a local farmer about 10 years ago, and is nounced: I came second the first time now the main stall trading and catering area. There are half a dozen licensed campsites nearby. ‘I have endorsed a national Gypsy Roma and Traveller History Month in June ... This will offer us all the chance to raise awareness and explore the history, culture I competed. If you put your Most horse trading takes place at the crossroads, and on Long Marton Road, (known to Travellers as the ‘flashing lane’) and language of these communities ... We can challenge myths, tackle prejudice mind to something and where horses are shown off by trotting up and down at speed. Many of the horses are taken down to ‘the Sands’, near the and be in a position to offer a balanced debate about the issues. We will be don’t give up, anything is Appleby town centre beside the River Eden, where horses are ridden into the river to be washed. able to celebrate the richness that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities bring to possible. I love the natural our everyday lives through their many varied academic and artistic achieve- buzz that training gives ments’. you, especially when Traveller Film Festival at Appleby Fair endorphins are flying And there’s a lot to be proud of. In the past few years, the Traveller Equality Project have around your body. It As well as the horses there’s a lot more going on at Appleby Fair. This year there will be a short film festival on the Saturday and Sunday of the fair. All of the films will be met numerous successful Travellers: a barrister, a doctor, a psychologist, musicians, makes me feel on top of introduced by Damian Le Bas, Romany poet, author and filmmaker, and there will be craftsmen, business people, prison staff, police officers and so on and so on. BUT in prison, the world. If you’ve a question and answer sessions at the end of each film. The festival will take place we’ve met even greater role models, men and women from Travelling backgrounds never trained before in the Public Hall Supper Room in the centre of Appleby. who have pulled themselves together, got an education, set up Traveller Groups, be- maybe you should try, come Traveller Reps, put themselves forward as Shannon Trust Reading mentors The films chosen by Romani writers and filmmakers include: or have become listeners. Each of these Traveller role models in prison has shown the best you might even be good Riley Smith – Portrait of an English Gypsy Tapdancer, (2013) is a short film about of Traveller culture: loyalty, trust and determination. at it. It has really helped how one family has helped keep the tradition of British Romany dancing alive. me get through my When we visit Traveller Groups in prisons across and , we see Traveller sentence. Where Do We Go From Here? is a documentary about Romanies which was made in 1969, and features Traveller community leaders and men and women who are deeply proud of their history be they from a Gypsy, Romany, families, including the Gordon Boswell senior, the Slip family, Jim and Carol Riley and many more.

Roma or Irish Traveller background. So if you are a Traveller in prison make sure you Clive – Wormwood Scrubs Cobra Gypsies, (2015) about the ancient nomadic Kalbeliya people of northern India, who have a long history of horsemanship. tell your fellow prisoners from whatever background, a little about the truth of Travellers this Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month. And then perhaps we will understand one another Into The West, (1992) the family favourite feature film in which two young Traveller boys head from inner-city Dublin into the mythical West a little more. of Ireland. TRAVELLERS IN PRISON NEWS TRAVELLERS IN PRISON NEWS

Whose History? So that’s why we want YOUR material Sir Roger Casement He himself became committed to the idea to add to the Leeds GATE Archive. If (1864-1916) that each country should be allowed to run you’ve been involved in fighting for its own affairs. Travellers Telling Their Own Stories your rights as a Traveller, can you tell Irish Nationalism British Diplomat, Human Rights Ac- us about it? Give us photos or videos, Disgusted with colonialism Casement retired Vanessa Cardui from the Traveller or- tivist, Irish Revolutionary, Pentonville from being a British diplomat. He decided to letters or press cuttings? And if you’re Prisoner get involved in freeing Ireland from British ganisation Leeds GATE (Leeds Gypsy campaigning about something now, rule. In 1913, he became a member of the and Traveller Exchange) explains the can you send us copies of the infor- In 1911, Roger Casement knelt before King committee of the Irish Volunteers, a military mation about it? Don’t let that history George V and was knighted for his humani- importance of keeping a record of the organisation which wanted Irish freedom. history of Gypsies and Travellers in gen- disappear – it’s important. And if Trav- tarian work. Five years later, he was hanged for treason at London's Pentonville prison eral and specifically, their long fight for It all reminds me a bit of what hap- ellers and Gypsies don't collect it and pened in 2007, the 200th anniversary make sure it's saved for posterity - and his naked body thrown into an open equality. of the abolition of the transatlantic who will? grave. The Knight who had served the Brit- ish Empire with distinction had become a slave trade. That year, we heard a lot As the new Archives and Heritage fervent Irish nationalist. about the history of the White politi- person at Leeds GATE, I’ve been spend- ing lots of time digging through the ma- cians who fought against slavery, like Casement was born on 1 September, 1864, terial that will eventually become William Wilberforce (remember that in County Dublin, to a Protestant father and GATE’s Archive of Gypsy and Traveller film, “Amazing Grace”?) - but Black a Catholic mother. He was secretly baptised History. And I’ve noticed that some of activists of the period, like Robert Wed- into the Catholic faith by his mother at the the most interesting items we’ve got derburn, Mary Prince, Olaudah Equi- age of four. However, Casement thought of are about the struggles for Gypsies’ and ano, or William Cuffay, were not men- himself as a Protestant for most of his life, Travellers’ rights. tioned. only formally converting to Catholicism while in prison before his death. That’s changed a lot these days. Most I hope that doesn’t happen when we Anti-Slavery Work archives and museums agree that strug- record the history of Travellers’ rights. After leaving school in 1880, Casement lived gles for justice are an important part of When people look back in 200 years, I hope the names and voices of the Gyp- Father Tinker Soldier for a short time in before finding history; and people in every community employment in civil service. In 1895, he sies and Travellers who fought for jus- If you have got any information like this want to be inspired by the courage of started work for the British government in tice are as well-known as the non- that you'd like to add to the Archives, A New Play Written and Performed by those who have gone before. But it Africa, including in the Congo. The British Travellers who fought alongside them. contact Vanessa Cardui, Crown Point Michael Collins has just premiered in seems to me that often, we hear more Foreign Office authorised him to report on In 1914, as World War One broke out, House, 169 Cross Green Lane, Leeds LS9 about people outside a community – in Because these days, it's possible for Dublin. And it has already received the cruelty of Belgian officials who were Casement travelled to Germany (Britain’s 0BD. this case, non-Gypsies and non- that to happen - people can take great reviews! operating there. The Belgians were making enemy) to get support for Irish independ- Travellers – fighting for Travellers’ charge of how their own history is rec- a fortune from taking natural resources such ence. But his trip was not successful. Ger- rights, than about Travellers and Gyp- orded, and nobody has to rely only on Based on real events and stories passed as rubber from the Congo and they were man promises of soldiers and rifles were not sies advocating for themselves. what the mainstream media want to on from generation to generation from using slaves to do the work. going to be kept, so he returned to Ireland. record. The technology to take photos the camp fire to the kitchen table, Tink- There’s photos of Travellers speaking at and make films is cheaper than it’s ever Casement’s report on the situation con- In April 1916, Casement was dropped off Are you registered as er, Father, Soldier is a celebration of the coast of County Kerry by a German U- public events; minutes of 1980s Council been, so we can all record our own demned the barbarous treatment of African the Traveller Community through boat and then arrested by the British author- meetings debating policy on Gypsies; histories in our own voices, and look ‘W3 – people by European nations. His report after it ourselves and use it in the ways songs, poems and stories as well as an became world famous and forced European ities. A few days later other Irish rebels tried collections of newspaper cuttings going to take power from the British army in Dublin we want. That’s what the Leeds GATE exploration of the relationship between governments to stop some of their cruel back to the 60s about Traveller issues; Gypsy / Irish Traveller’? (what became known as the Easter Rising), Archive is hoping to do. practices. videos of Travellers discussing how they the settled and Travelling communities. while Casement was being held in the Tow- are treated and what needs to change; If you are not counted, Later when he moved to another job for the er of London to stand trial for treason. But the thing is - if those names and and lots more. It's all really interesting - Tinker, Father, Soldier tells the story of British government, Casement wrote anoth- voices are going to be preserved, then and it's important too, and that's why You won’t count! a family whose ancestors have seen the er report on the cruel abuse of workers in On 29 June, 1916, Casement was found the people involved have to record we're asking everyone who knows First World War 1914-1918, the Irish the rubber industry in Peru. This report guilty of high treason and sentenced to Leeds GATE to help us collect more of them! And it’s best to do it at the time Register Today With death. Sir Roger Casement was executed at War of Independence 1919-1921 and made a massive impact. It made Casement it. Read on to find out why and how! it’s all happening – because if you leave even more famous internationally as one of Pentonville Prison in London on 3 August the subsequent Irish Civil War 1922-23. it too late, you’ve forgotten the details, Your Personal Officer the leading Human Rights activists of the 1916, at the age of 51. In 1965, Casement's These objects grab the attention be- some of the people who took part have Beginning with the announcement of age. His contribution was acknowledged remains were returned to Dublin. He was cause many of us don’t expect to see passed away, the posters and videos the Great War, the play takes the audi- with a knighthood from the King on his re- given a state funeral and reburied in Glasnevin Cemetery, Dublin. them in an archive. Traditionally, ar- you made have gone missing, and the ence on a journey right up to 1944. turn to Britain. He opened the eyes of the chives and museums collected the his- immediacy has gone. world to the reality of what colonialism tory of powerful people – kings, bosses, Tinker, Father, Soldier is a story of meant – that powerful European nations were cruelly dominating countries in Africa, politicians. If they collected the history struggle and survival as a Traveller fam- Asia and South America. of Travellers and Gypsies at all, they did ily strive for acceptance through the it from the outside; it was all romantic decades, facing countless hardships in images of camp-fires, not recording the fight to keep their home running. what Gypsies and Travellers had to say. TRAVELLERS IN PRISON NEWS TRAVELLERS IN PRISON NEWS

Lammy Review of BAME Traveller Writers The author of ‘Back in the Day’ writes: Mindfulness – Mindfulness can be practiced by Traveller Equality Project anyone, in a group environment or representation in the Criminal Publish Brilliant New Book Resources ‘When I was a kid I lived in Traveller Taking a Break from Thinking alone in your cell for example. The Justice System: sites and moved from camp to camp Reading Books: Call for Evidence Ellena Costello from the Traveller main ingredient in the mindfulness and it was good. How can I describe recipe is the present moment. It is it for you non- Travellers to Equality Project recently visited HMP In January 2016 the Prime Minister invited understand? Imagine changing your Holloway to take part in a mindfulness time to forget about the past and the David Lammy MP to find out why official back garden every few weeks.’ session with a group of Traveller and future and focus on the right now. figures show that Black, Asian and Minority Gypsy women. Here she describes the The health benefits of mindfulness Ethnic (BAME) groups (including Gypsies, This collection more than anything helps the session. range from stress and pain relief Romanies and Irish Travellers) appear to be non –Traveller to understand a little bit “A small group of us sat together in a circle over-represented at most stages of the criminal and improved sleep patterns to a more. The collection does of course, show in the chapel with our eyes closed – greater likelihood of breaking out of justice system, and what can be done about the hardship and the prejudice but it also it.This is an independent review. It aims to something at first, I thought, was strange and depression or addiction for shows the family bonds, the traditions, the slightly amusing. I’m sure many of the ladies make sure that everyone is treated equally, humour and the strength of the Traveller example. whatever their ethnicity. The review will look at participating thought it was strange too. communities from which the writers come. However, we all agreed to give it a go. Some the way the criminal justice system deals with On what could almost be a reflection on the Give Mindfulness a go: young people and adults from BAME of the exercises we then participated in were resilience of the Travelling way of life in simply sitting and listening to the noises backgrounds. It will address issues arising modern Britain, the writer of ‘Sitting on a 1) Sit down at a table with a small from the Crown Prosecution Service onwards, Horse’ on leaving Appleby Fair comments: around us and focusing on our bodies’ right including the court system, prisons and young here and now, for example any aches and object in front of you – a cup, a mug or a newspaper. offender institutions and rehabilitation in the ‘The amazing fun we had had was pains or how our arms and legs were feeling. community. The findings should be published enough of a reminder of what life is in spring 2017. like living back on the drom (road) to 2) Look closely at the object for a

On Road a book by Gypsy Romany and satisfy any imaginable wander lust for few minutes, taking in everything The review will be evidence-based. It will draw Traveller writers in HMP Parc is due to be that moment and for the imaginable about it you can see – without on the significant work already published in this launched in late May 2016. The book is a future … Still regardless of our touching it or moving it. Just think area; it will produce new statistical analysis to fatigued intentions we both could not shed light on the issue; and it will provide an stunning collection primarily because it does of what it looks like without not edit out, or change the real voice of help saying to all our friends we had judging it as the thing you would opportunity for people to convey their personal made and old cousins of the experiences and insights. Gypsies and Travellers. In this book, you can normally see it as. Travelling nation: “See you at the find authentic lives of Travellers in Britain and Ireland from the 20th and 21st Centuries. It is a next fair kushti bok (good luck) and David Lammy wants to hear from a diverse farewell”. 3) Focus on your sensations. Postcards/Posters: range of voices: compilation which doesn’t pull any punches; it shows how Travellers view the world, not how Remain still, close your eyes and be victims and witnesses  gorjas would like Travellers to view the world Quite simply this is a brilliant book by aware of how you are feeling in We did exercises like this for about 20  ex-offenders or how gorjas would like Travellers to act. superb writers and storytellers. your body. minutes and then came together and had a  those working in the CJS For those who wish to understand Gypsy chat afterwards. It was only afterwards that I  academics and NGOs 4) Spend a few minutes now Romany and Irish Traveller lives they would do realised, I had actually concentrated solely focusing on your mind and what  different BAME communities and well to start with this publication. The writing on the session, on the noise around me, on you can hear. It might just be the different parts of both England and Wales. offers a glimpse of the diverse experiences of the aching in my legs, on the here and now. the broad GRT communities - a young sounds of your own breathing or it And this was exactly the point of the session may well be loud noise from the A Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated: “I Traveller growing up in the modern world; the – to concentrate on the right now, not what I can confirm that we are going to investigate uniqueness of being a Traveller growing up had for dinner last night or where I was landing. whether there is evidence of widespread during the Troubles in the North of Ireland; going after the session. Mindfulness doesn’t disproportionate treatment and outcomes for courting a woman; the pleasure and prejudice aim to clear the mind of worries or 5) Look back now on what you different minorities within the CJS and this will of life on the open road; the horse dealing and problems, as they will still be there have just done. By focusing on the include Gypsies and Travellers.” “We will the fairs. afterwards, however, it does aim to give the object and the sounds you can hear, rely on stakeholders providing evidence and you have given yourself a break data of this through forums such as the call for The most powerful part of this publication is its mind a small rest from worries and problems. from preoccupations in your mind. evidence. Due to this being a review and not overwhelming honesty. A number of Become a learner or a mentor an enquiry, however, we will not investigate contributions tell of the hardship of trying to individual cases.” make a living or just trying to survive but none today! For me I think it’s about letting go of feeling Doing this over time, once a day or Information: of the stories are self-pitying. For example, If someone you know would like silly or daft. It made me think, actually, we once a week will be a little source The Call for Evidence provides the main way ‘Back in the Day’ comically tells how the writer to be able to read OR you would do things to help our physical body, such as of mental refreshment for your for organisations and individuals to share got locked up for the first time as a boy, while exercising or eating an apple a day, so mind. like to help others to read ask views, evidence and insights. Everything ‘The Open Road’ is an outstanding social maybe we should look after our minds more. submitted to the Call for Evidence will be read. history of English Gypsy life with all its prison staff for the details of Give us your thoughts on Submissions can be made on the Lammy challenges, not least being removed into care So what is mindfulness? Review Webpage at:h t t p s : / / simply for being a Gypsy child. the Shannon Trust Reading Plan. mindfulness. Would you like to Mindfulness can be described in many ways. participate in a group consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/ It is the practice of purposefully paying lammy-review-of-bame-representation-in-cjs mindfulness session in your attention to the present moment. It is about The email address for the Lammy Review is: prison? Do you already practice bringing a non-judgmental awareness to [email protected] mindfulness? And much more! Contact us things. for resources for your prison.