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Event honours Gypsy volunteers
Liverpool, 19. 10. 2005, 9:49 (CN)
A Gypsy from Liverpool who is helping to create an information pack
about his culture following the death of his son in a racist attack was
today being honoured at the House of Lords.
Patrick Delaney was joining more than a dozen Gypsies at the event in
London which aimed to recognise the voluntary work carried out by Gypsies
and Travellers around the UK.
Mr Delaney was invited to the "Playing a Part in Communities" reception
after joining a team who are trying to diffuse inter-racial tensions by
producing an information guide about the Gypsy culture.
He is carrying out the work after his son was killed in a
racism-fuelled attack two years ago.
The reception was set up to mark the Year of the Volunteer campaign's
"Citizenship and Community Month".
At the event Mr Delaney was being joined by a number of fellow Gypsies
including Richard O'Neill, from Manchester, who performs important work
for health, including founding National Men's Health Week and Bridie
Jones, from Canterbury, who works with local schools and police to improve
relations with the Gypsy community and prevent bullying.
Also attending the reception was Siobhan Spencer, from Matlock,
Derbyshire, who helped create "Pride Not Prejudice", an annual forum
helping to break down barriers between Travellers and the police.
Andrew Ryder, policy worker for the Gypsy and Traveller Law Reform
Coalition, which was awarded the Liberty Human Rights Award in 2004, said:
"Gypsies and Travellers have the lowest life expectancy and the highest
child mortality rates in the UK and according to Trevor Phillips, the
chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality, they probably suffer the
most discrimination in this country. But many of them continue to
volunteer their time for the benefit of their and the wider community.
"Hopefully by having their voices heard at the highest court in the
land some of the stereotypes will be broken.
"Gypsies and travellers will perhaps get the praise they deserve,
allowing their community as a whole to take pride in knowing that the work
being done is appreciated."
The event was also featuring live traditional music and was being
hosted by Lord Avebury, Secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group for
Traveller Law Reform and Julie Morgan MP, chairwoman of the group.
The Year of the Volunteer is backed by the Home Office and led by CSV
and the Volunteering England Consortium.
By Ben Pindar, Community Newswire |
