Irish Travelling Women and Domestic Violence – Solace WA – 10th July 2009 postponed until 22nd October
Irish Travelling Women and Domestic Violence –
Service Provision Recommendations and the Way Forward
Solace Women’s Aid has been working with Irish Travelling women affected by domestic violence for 15 years and is hosting a conference on July 10th in London to raise awareness of domestic violence within this vulnerable community and identify best practice.
This group of women and children are amongst the most marginalised in the country and severe prejudices exist in many agencies creating life threatening barriers to support.
“I came to the Irish refuge 2 months ago with my 5 boys. We had to get away. My boys had never even been to a cinema before. We just never went. He’d never let me go out on my own with the children”
Solace Women’s Aid Service User
In a MORI poll over a third of all adults admitted to being prejudiced against Irish Travellers and Gypsies – this is a higher level of prejudice than against any other ethnic group. There are an estimated 300,000 Irish Travellers and Gypsies living in the UK but there could be many more as this group is one of the hardest to reach living on settled and transient sites as well as in private or public housing.
“It’s alright here; it’s the best refuge I’ve been in so far. I felt left out in other refuges. The workers have been supportive. I think it’s important to have a refuge where travellers are welcome. It’s the longest I’ve ever stayed away. Why should I go back to be tortured?” Solace Women’s Aid Service User
Conference Speakers and Panel: TBC for new date
* Yvonne McNamara, Director, Irish Traveller Movement.
* Professor, Judith Okely, Author, Anthropologist and Academic – Hull and Oxford University.
* Davina James-Hanman, Director, Greater London Domestic Violence Project.
* Mary Mason and Bernie O’Roarke – Solace Women’s Aid.
* Michelle Morgan, Central and Cecil Incorporating Cara Irish Housing.
* Irish Traveller Survivors of Domestic Violence – Finally Telling Their Stories.
Through workshops, discussion and presentations the conference aims to identify recommendations for service provision, Best Practice and future campaigning.
Date: 10th July 2009 22nd October 2009, 10:00am – 4:00pm
Venue: London Irish Centre, 52, Camden Square, London NW1 9XB.
Delegate Fee: Only £60. Lunch provided.
Suggested delegates: Health, Social Work & Criminal Justice Practitioners, Police, Domestic Violence Support Workers, Policy Makers and Local Authorities.
Please download a Booking Form.
For info contact: Maureen Giles 0207 428 7656.
