|
Introduction
Who are Cheshire Gypsy and Travellers Voice
Cheshire Gypsy and Travellers Voice was constituted
in May 2006, full membership is open to Gypsies and Travellers residing in or regularly travelling through Cheshire, Halton
and Warrington areas.
Cheshire
Gypsy and Travellers Voice aims and objectives are:
·
To enable Gypsies and Travellers
to participate in local decision making processes.
·
To provide support, advice and
guidance to Gypsies and Travellers
· To work toward removing real and perceived barriers between the Gypsy and Traveller
community and the settled population.
· To promote understanding of and raise awareness about Gypsy and Traveller culture
with the wider community including taking action to dispel myths and stereotypes.
·
To influence local public policies
and services to be responsive to the needs and aspirations of Gypsies and Travellers.
·
To campaign for the rights of Gypsies
and Travellers including addressing issues such as discrimination, health and education inequalities and accommodation needs.
Cheshire Gypsy and Travellers Voice
Staff and Committee members
Cheshire
Voice is run by a wide range of people from both the Gypsy and Traveller Communities, Non Gypsies and Travellers, paid staff
and volunteers:
Joe Hurn, Chair, Co-Founder, Director and Trustee - Joe Hurn is a member of the Gypsy community
and has been an activist for Gypsies and Travellers for many years, Joe is a Cheshire based business man, school govenor,
Independent Advisory group member for Cheshire Constabulary and he is also a member of various local, regional, national
and international organisations and governmental advisory groups around the issues facing Gypsies and Travellers.
Jane Hurn, Co-Founder, Director and Trustee - Jane Hurn is also a member of the Gypsy community in Cheshire, Jane is a chartered
accountant by trade and like her husband runs her own business, Jane has worked with members of her community for several
years helping them issues around financial inclusion, social exclusion, health, accommodation and any other factors affecting
Gypsy and Travellers lives. Like her husband Joe, Jane works on a local, regional, national and international level,
working to improve the equality of opportunity for Gypsies and Travellers in Cheshire and across Europe.
Janet
Smith - Director / Trustee - Janet previously worked for the Commission for Racial Equality on Gypsy and Traveller issues
and was one of the lead officers on the informal investigation which led to the publication of 'Common Ground - Equality,
good race relations and sites for Gypsies and Irish Travellers'. She was a member of the Northern Network of Travelling
People since its inception in 2003 and has worked tirelessly for equality and justice for all Gypsies and Travellers.
Jill Mcquaid - Director / Trustee - Jill has a many years experience and knowledge of working with young people, previously
being part of the Winsford Sea Cadets and Youth Forum, Jill now Chairs Winsford Community Action Project which has worked
for several years with Cheshire Gypsy and Travellers Voice undertaking joint projects for young people. Jill was voted
onto the committee in 2010, by community members who wished to secure her involvement with the organisation.
Sharon Cotton-Smith, Community Outreach Worker - Sharon facilitates the
drop in facility and advisory and advocacy aspect of Cheshire gypsy and Travellers Voice part of her role is also to encourage take up of services
provided by both Cheshire Gypsy & Travellers Voice (Financial Inclusion, advice on benefits, business & trading skills,
trading law, health and well being records etc) and by other recommended providers and to encourage access to and development
of skills, further education, citizen participation and engagement with other communities through appropriate programmes of
learning.
Lisa Marie Rogerson-Smith, Administrator - Lisa Marie started as a volunteer with Cheshire
Gypsy and Travellers Voice when she was 16 years old, after showing outstanding commitment and dedication, Lisa Marie
was enrolled as our first ever apprentice and in 2009 won Apprentice of The Year for Business Services. Lisa Marie is
now employed as an administrator and her success has led the way for other young people who are now undertaking apprenticeships
with us.
The group is a registered charity. For further information on Cheshire Gypsy and Travellers Voice you can contact
us by writing, email or telephone:
Cheshire
Gypsy and Travellers Voice
The Edge
Cheviot Square
Winsford
Cheshire
CW7
1QS
Tel: 0800 458 3889
Mob: 07886 459870
Email: info@travellersvoice.org
Registered Charity Number: 1141984
Company Number: 07181424
|
