Gypsy and Traveller Community Advocacy and Support
You should not need professional language, digital skills or a perfectly written account before somebody takes you seriously.
Proud Gypsy Traveller CIC provides culturally appropriate advocacy and practical support for ethnic Gypsy and Traveller people experiencing discrimination or difficulties with services.
We listen first, explain the available options and help people decide what they want to do next.
What we may be able to help with
People contact PGT about issues including:
- Racism and discrimination
- Problems with schools or education
- Access to health and public services
- Complaints and responses to organisations
- Planning and accommodation problems
- Communication with councils and professionals
- Understanding letters, decisions and processes
- Being excluded from decisions affecting their family
Every situation is different. We will speak with you before deciding whether and how PGT can help. This may mean signposting you to another organisation
Advocacy on your terms
Advocacy should not replace one person speaking for you with another.
Our role is to help you understand your options, make your voice harder to ignore and support you to make your own decisions.
We will not contact an organisation, share information or take action without discussing it with you first.
Where appropriate, we may:
- Help you explain what has happened
- Identify the central issue
- Help draft a letter or complaint
- Attend or prepare you for a meeting
- Challenge discriminatory language or treatment
- Ask an organisation to explain its decision
- Help identify another specialist service
Communication that works for you
Many services rely heavily on forms, emails and complicated written information. That can exclude people before their case has even been heard.
You can begin by telling us what has happened in your own words.
Where possible, we can communicate by telephone, voice message or email. Family members can be involved where the person seeking support wants them to be.
Literacy, digital access or communication style should never be mistaken for a lack of knowledge or credibility.
What PGT cannot promise
PGT is a small organisation and cannot accept every request for support.
We are not an emergency service and cannot provide regulated legal advice. We cannot guarantee that an organisation will change its decision or that a complaint will succeed.
We will be honest about our capacity and whether we are the right organisation to assist.
If another service is better placed to help, we will try to explain the most appropriate next step.
Before contacting us
If there is a deadline, court date, planning date or risk of immediate action, tell us straight away.
It helps if you can provide:
- Your name and preferred contact method
- A brief explanation of what has happened
- The organisation involved
- Copies or photographs of relevant letters
- Any important dates or deadlines
- Details of anybody already supporting you
Do not worry if you do not have everything. Contact us with what you know.
Ask PGT for support
Being ignored repeatedly does not mean that your concern is not valid. Sometimes it means the system has become too comfortable with not listening.
Tell us what is happening. We will listen and explain honestly whether we can help.