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Gypsy, Roma and Travellers

Gypsy, Roma and Travellers

For Gypsy, Roma and Travellers in Bristol

Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Drop-in

Resources for professionals and service providers

Gypsy, Roma, Traveller service directory

Myth booklet and brochure

Gypsies and Travellers contribute to society through involvement in many spheres of activity and live by the same rules as everyone else. However, there are many myths about them in the media.

We've prepared a booklet (pdf, 476 KB) (opens new window) (pdf, 476KB) (opens new window)  and leaflet (pdf, 193 KB) (opens new window) (pdf, 193KB) (opens new window) in partnership with a group of Gypsies and Travellers to provide a more accurate picture of their lives and to promote better relationships with settled people.

Inter-agency team

The Gypsy, Roma,Traveller (GRT) Inter-agency Team provide a comprehensive service to Gypsy, Roma and Travellers and the settled community. Find out about us in the inter-agency support team leaflet (pdf, 0.6 MB) (opens new window) (pdf, 659KB) (opens new window) .

The Gypsy, Roma Traveller Team manage the city's two sites and is responsible for the management and monitoring of all unauthorised encampments on local authority owned land.

Please look through the resources below before contacting us. We're a very small very busy team.

Bristol's Travellers sites

In Bristol we have one permanent caravan site in Ashton Vale (12 pitches) and one transit site in Lawrence Weston (20 pitches).

  • The permanent site has a mixture of English Gypsies and Irish Travellers and is owned by Bristol City Council and managed by Elim Housing. Some residents move away for the spring and summer for work purposes but come back for the autumn and winter months. This site is for residency twelve months a year.
  • The transit site is used for Gypsies and Travellers moving to and from Bristol for work purposes only. They can stay for up to three months at a time only. This site saves on costs of evictions, illegal or unauthorised encampments and is a safe place to stay while looking for work. There can be as little as one family or as many as twenty families staying at any one time.

Site application forms

Accommodation and welfare assessment

Housing: useful contacts

  • HomeChoice Bristol: social housing applications, 0117 922 2400
  • Bristol City Council planning department: 0117 352 5009
  • Bristol City council tenancy relations: 0117 914 1206/7
  • Planning Aid Helpline: 0870 850 9807

Housing: websites

Education

Children missing education

Children missing education (CME) refers to children of compulsory school age who are not on a school roll, and who are not receiving a suitable education otherwise than being at school, for example, at home, privately or in alternative provision. This does not apply to children who are registered at a school who are not attending regularly.

Email: childrenmissingeducation@bristol.gov.uk
Telephone: 0117 903 6444

Work, benefits and welfare advice

Advocacy and awareness raising resource

Safeguarding and social support:

Bristol Safeguarding Children Board 0117 903 7786.

Further information available on this website:

  • Child Trafficking.
  • National Referral Mechanism.
  • Child left alone.
  • Children who abuse.
  • Death in childhood.
  • Expected baby.
  • Guidance for injuries.
  • Missing Child.
  • Child Sexual Exploitation.
  • Under 16 sexual active.
  • Domestic Violence and Abuse / MAR.
  • Substance abuse and misuse.
  • Forced Marriage.
  • Safeguarding referrals, protocol, best practice and escalation policy.

First Response. 0117 903 6444.

Unseen / Anti-Slavery Partnership:

Support for children and families affected by imprisonment

Traveller Support Services in neighbouring authorities:

Related links

Elsewhere on the web