2022 Shortlisted Nominee
Community Organisation Award: Race, Faith, Religion
Surrey Gypsy Traveller Communities Forum are a group of Romany Gypsies, Travellers, Roma and non-Gypsies working to improve the lives of Surrey communities. Founded in 1996, it is volunteer run. They aim to increase knowledge within all communities, encourage the flow of information, identify problems and find solutions for community wellbeing, and increase understanding of Traveller culture. The Forum host regular meetings with the community as well as the police, local councils, teachers, charities, health and welfare organisations. They maintain regular contact with a wide range of organisations for information exchange, to provide a community view of thorny areas such as health, education, planning and accommodation and to introduce issues of importance. The Forum also run their own Cultural Awareness training, produce initiatives around mental health, and combat hate crime. They put on cultural events such as Romany weekend.