WORKING TOGETHER FOR A BETTER FUTURE Enabling access to adult learning for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities A TOOLKIT FOR PRACTITIONERS IN WALES> Enabling access to adult learning for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities A TOOLKIT FOR PRACTITIONERS IN WALES “For too long Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities have been excluded or struggled to feel included in education opportunities at all levels. Lack of awareness, flexibility, support and relevance have contributed to the barriers potential students from the ‘GRT’ community face whether at school, in further, higher or adult education. Many of the young people and the adults Travelling Ahead works with aspire to furthering their opportunities and learning both academic and vocational, yet face ignorance and sometimes prejudice which may make them feel education ‘is not for me’. Working alongside communities to find practical and positive ways to provide support and structure to encourage take up, or a return to educational opportunities in the right way and at the right pace is crucial. As one young person said on visiting a university campus for the first time -‘I want a slice of this!’ It’s time for equality of opportunity to really mean something for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and for educational institutions to make the changes that are needed to ensure this happens. Trudy Aspinwall Team Manager Travelling Ahead: Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Advice & Advocacy Service 2 www.learningandwork.wales Enabling access to adult learning for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities A TOOLKIT FOR PRACTITIONERS IN WALES> “It’s completely changed my life, “With each course, my confidence I was living on the dole with no grew. Although it job and now I’m looking at jobs had taken twenty that I’d never have dreamed of.” something years for me to realise that I wasn’t stupid, Shelley Arthur at last I thought I Learner Experience can maybe do the same things as other people.” “One thing I’m learning very quickly is that trust is a big factor; and trust is earned. You can’t expect people to respond Leeanne Morgan positively to a brand-new project Learner Experience straight away. Just six months in, I know I need to be consistent in my approach and that it’s all about engagement; getting to know the communities, getting to Gareth Thomas, know the families, listening and Gypsies and Travellers Wales, trying to deliver just what people PROSPER Project. want.” www.learningandwork.wales 3 Enabling access to adult learning for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities A TOOLKIT FOR PRACTITIONERS IN WALES> INTRODUCTION This resource has been developed by Learning and Work Institute (L&W), in partnership with the Welsh Government and in response to the Welsh Government Enabling Gypsies, Roma and Travellers Action Plan. L&W is a campaigning, policy and research organisation dedicated to lifelong learning, full employment and inclusion in Wales and the UK. We bring together 90 years of combined history and heritage from ‘National Institute of Adult Continuing Education’ and ‘Centre for Economic and Social Inclusion’. We want everyone to realise their potential in learning, work and throughout their life. The purpose of this resource is from across Wales and further to enable schools and post-16 afield. There are links to video, learning providers to reflect audio and written case study on their engagement with the material to illustrate how Gypsy, Roma and Traveller projects and organisations are communities and to support delivering effective learning better planning for more opportunities. effective inclusion and access to learning opportunities. This toolkit is a starting point for further conversations, This resource has been partnership work and action developed through to improve the level of discussions with learners engagement, understanding from Gypsy, Roma and and success of Gypsies, Traveller communities and Roma and Travellers in adult organisations which support learning. them. Information and case studies have been sourced 4 www.learningandwork.wales Enabling access to adult learning for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities A TOOLKIT FOR PRACTITIONERS IN WALES> “Though each of these communities is very different, they often experience similar difficulties in accessing public services and experience similar poor outcomes … Language, cultural and geographic differences will often mean that the support required by each community will vary.” Enabling Gypsies, Roma and Travellers, Welsh Government Action Plan. www.learningandwork.wales 5 Enabling access to adult learning for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities A TOOLKIT FOR PRACTITIONERS IN WALES> THE CHALLENGES 9 OUT OF 10 GRT PUPILS LEAVE SCHOOL WITHOUT FIVE GOOD GCSES “9 out of 10 GRT pupils leave school without five good GCSEs: Fewer than 10% of Gypsy/Roma pupils and fewer than 20% of Irish Traveller pupils achieve 5 GCSEs graded A*- C, compared to approximately 60% of all pupils nationally.” 10 TIMES LESS Source - Kings College Report 2017 LIKELY TO GO TO UNIVERSITY “Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) are ten times less likely to go to university: “Educational attendance and attainment 3-4% of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers aged 18-30 rates remain lower than for other groups, accessed Higher Education health outcomes are poorer, unemployment in 2014, compared to 43% is higher than for the general population of 18-30 year olds in the and discrimination still regularly occurs. national population.” Further work is necessary to ensure we Source - Kings College maintain progress towards equality for Report 2017 these groups.” Introduction - Enabling Gypsies Roma and Travellers 2018 6 www.learningandwork.wales Enabling access to adult learning for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities A TOOLKIT FOR PRACTITIONERS IN WALES> DISCRIMINATION HALF OF BRITISH PEOPLE QUARTER “Discrimination - Half of British people admitted having an ‘unfavourable view’ of ACHIEVE Roma people in a 2014 survey.” A GOOD Source - Kings College Report 2017 LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT “Even at the end of reception year, only a ” There is still a very long way to quarter of Gypsy and Roma pupils achieve go to ensure that people from “a good level of these communities can access development” compared to more than two-thirds of opportunities and services on an pupils overall.” equal basis with everyone else, free Source - Kings College of discrimination.” Report 2017 Julie James, AM Foreword of Enabling Gypsies, Roma and Travellers 2018 7 Enabling access to adult learning for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities A TOOLKIT FOR PRACTITIONERS IN WALES> WELSH GOVERNMENT POLICY The Welsh Government’s Enabling Gypsies Roma and Travellers VISION Plan 2018 replaces the Travelling to a Better Future Framework for Action and Delivery Plan 2011 and remains the UK’s only Adult Learning in Wales, the dedicated strategy seeking to improve outcomes for Gypsies, 2017 Welsh Government Roma and Travellers. policy document states: The report provides a clear action plan to support Gypsy, “A Wales where learning is at Roma and Traveller communities around key policy areas such the core of all we do; where as housing, health and education, employment, advice and participation in learning is advocacy, information sharing and community networks. The encouraged and rewarded; plan aligns with other key policy and laws including: Prosperity and where people have equal for All: The National Strategy, Taking Wales Forward 2017, opportunities to gain the skills Equality Act 2010 and the Wellbeing of Future Generations for life and work that they (Wales) Act 2015. need to prosper” WATCH READ MORE READ “Adult Learning supports the development of skills, improves health and wellbeing and is a catalyst for social engagement and integration. Skills are vital to our economy and we want to support adults to gain the skills they need to find employment; or to progress onto further learning. We want to ensure every person in Wales has access to good basic skills to help them to survive and thrive in our communities. Adult Learning has benefits much broader than skills. We want to encourage all adults to enjoy learning. The value of Adult Learning lies in its potential to reach individuals ‘close to home’, particularly those who might not otherwise engage in learning. We will focus our public resources on helping those who are in greatest need of our help; to ensure that everyone can access opportunities to learn and to progress. We believe that this is an important and worthwhile investment in individuals and communities.” READ 8 www.learningandwork.wales Enabling access to adult learning for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities A TOOLKIT FOR PRACTITIONERS IN WALES> “Many schools utilise their Pupil Development Grant (PDG) funding to open Wales Adult Learning up their classrooms to parents and carers Policy 2017 during or after school hours to encourage them to learn. We will continue to work with schools to engage with Adult Learning providers, and to utilise programmes such as the PDG, to deliver provision that impacts positively on both adults and children. We will support the provision of softer engagement activity as a means of attracting learners who might otherwise hesitate to get involved.” Studies show that parental involvement in school is more than four times as important as socio-economic class in influencing the academic performance of young people aged 16 Family Learning Works, The Inquiry into Family Learning in England and Wales – NIACE 2013 READ MORE 9 Enabling access to adult learning for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities A TOOLKIT FOR PRACTITIONERS IN WALES> CASE STUDIES PRACTITIONER ORGANISATION GARETH REFLECTS ON HIS PROSPER EXPERIENCES AS A PRACTITIONER PROJECT LAUNCHED Gareth Thomas, Gypsies IN 2017 and Travellers Wales, Employment and Skills Officer. Gypsies and Gypsies and Travellers Travellers Wales have Wales started working developed PROSPER, a 5 with Gypsy, Roma and year Big Lottery funded Traveller communities project assisting Gypsies and in Cardiff in 1981. In Travellers to gain the skills 2017 they launched an and confidence needed Employment and Skills to enter employment and Support Project, PROSPER.