Ormiston has been working with Gypsy and Travelling communities through its Travellers' Initiatives in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk for more than six years, providing a range of activities aimed at supporting children, young people and their families. The work also ensures that the communities are involved in relevant consultation with service providers, giving opportunities to influence service development and delivery. This has included the staging of events which have brought together members of Travelling communities and professionals.

Ormiston has also undertaken a range of research which highlights the needs and experience of children and young people within Gypsy and Travelling communities. This research has given a genuine voice to the children and young people and has been used to inform both our own practice and to press for change to increase opportunity and access to services.

Children's voices: changing futures presents the findings of 18 months of participatory research into the lives, views and experiences of young Gypsies and Travellers in the UK today. The project involved 148 children, aged from 5-13 years, who came from English Romany Gypsy, Irish Traveller and Showmen's communities and was funded by the Cambridgeshire Children's Fund. The research involved those living on sites, on roadside stopping places and those living in houses. It also included children who attended school, those who were home educated and those outside the education system. Documented through the words, photographs and artwork of those involved, Children's voices: changing futures explores issues of identity, accommodation, racism and learning.

Download a copy of the Children's Voices Executive Summary.
Purchase a copy of the full publication

Children's Voices Exhibition Display Hire

Our Children's Voices display uses the children's artwork, photographs and words to provide a unique insight for anyone working with Travelling communities, and is available to organisations based in the Eastern Region to hire from the Consultancy Service.

What People say about our display.

For more information contact Jacqueline Bolton, Programme Development Manager, 01480 496577.