North-east gypsies’ support project loses 80% of staff

A long-running education and support service for the north-east’s gypsy and traveller community has lost 80% of its staff following a restructure.

The Gypsy Traveller Education Information Project North East has confirmed that five from seven of its core staff have opted for voluntary redundancy.

The service has been developing education programmes and improving access to opportunities for members of the travelling community since 1997.

Moira Whyte, vice-chairwoman of the management committee, said she was disappointed that most of the staff had chosen to leave but felt confident that the service could be rebuilt.

She said the restructure had been crucial because funding streams from the Big Lottery and the Equality and Human Rights Commission had come to an end. She said the restructure meant five posts were being dissolved to be replaced by three new support worker posts that offered a minimum of 20 hours a week.

None of the five staff had expressed an interest, however.

Ms Whyte said: “In terms of wages, certainly our two development workers would have seen a reduced salary and reduced hours.”

The service still has a strategic co-ordinator and an administration assistant.

Ms Whyte said the management committee will meet next Wednesday to discuss the future of the service.

Traveller Hector McPhee, who grew up on the road and now lives at Regent Street in Keith, said he was worried the community would be without support. The 63-year-old said it was difficult to liaise with the council and the police without a go-between.

He said: “Most people think travellers are illiterate and when you go to speak to the council about something, if you’ve got someone with authority with you, they will listen to you.”