Strategic Planning
We are continuing to make progress with our Strategic Plan and are coming towards completion.
We want to acknowledge the input from all members who attended the consultation session on ITM's draft Strategic Plan on 6th April on Zoom. 11 member organisations were represented and the views and insights shared were crucial at this stage of the process.
Colette Kelleher and Kathleen O'Meara have been facilitating the development of the strategy with ITM. The next stage will be a full draft of the plan which is going to the Board for review.
ITM AGM and Conference - 29th September
The ITM AGM and Conference will take place in person on Thursday 29th September 2022.
The ITM Central group are currently invited expressions of interest from members to 'hos' the AGM and Conference.
What this means is that you can put forward a proposal for the AGM to be held in your county. It would involve your project offering some advice to ITM about potential venues, some support in the organisation, and you would present to other members at the conference about the work of your project.
Any and all suggestions will be put to the ITM Central group for consideration.
In the event that no members come forward, the Central Group will look to hold the AGM and Conference in Athlone.
Contact Eve at membership@itmtrav.ie if you would like to express an interest
Mincéirí Port Láirge
Congratulations to our members Mincéirí Port Láirge, formally known as Waterford Travellers CDP, on the launch of their new website and rebranding. You can have a look at their brand new website here minceiriportlairge.ie
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Accommodation Working Group
The next meeting of the Accommodation Working Group is on Thursday the 5th of May at 11am on Zoom. All members welcome to attend!
Irish Coalition to End Youth Homelessness
ITM is now a member of the Irish Coalition to End Youth Homelessness and is working with the coalition to ensure that the experiences of young Travellers in hidden, and officially recognised homelessness, inform the government's upcoming National Youth Homeless Strategy and ensure that concrete actions are included in improve the homelessness crisis for young Travellers. You can read our joint submission with Pavee Point and National Traveller Women's Forum here and the Coalition's submission here
Gigs for Gaffs
The National Homeless & Housing Coalition organised a very successful fundraising gig, "Gigs for Gaffs" this week. Sharyn Ward's amazing performance was a real highlight of the night.
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Presentation on Anti-Bullying Research
A presentation/discussion session on the recent report A study into the effectiveness of the Anti-Bullying Procedures on Traveller and Roma pupils’ experiences in the school system will take place on 11 May from 10am to 11am, online via Webex. The presentation will be delivered by Dr Maeve DuPont and the session is facilitated by the Department of Education Social Inclusion Unit.
If any members would like to attend, please email Eve at eve@itmtrav.ie
A link to the research is included here: https://antibullyingcentre.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/A-study-into-the-effectiveness-of-the-Anti-Bullying-Procedures-on-Traveller-and-Roma-pupils-experiences-in-the-school-system.pdf
Dormant Accounts Funding
A call for funding through Dormant Accounts is expected in the coming weeks which will present opportunities for projects addressing educational disadvantage of Travellers and Roma. Further details on the criteria of the funding and other information will be available soon and we will inform all members when this is made available.
Education Working Group
The next Education Working Group meeting will take place on 31st May at 11am on Zoom.
The Working Group is made up of members nationwide who are working on or concerned about the area of education. New members are always welcome to join the group and we continue to hold our meeting online via Zoom.
Contact membership@itmtrav.ie for more information
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Welcome Rosemarie
ITM are delighted to welcome Rosemarie Maughan as our new Youth Programme Coordinator! Rosemarie will lead out on ITM's youth participation and leadership initiative, alongside youth development worker Karen Power. Rosemarie moves from ITM's accommodation team, and is looking forward to driving this exciting and important initiative.
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Open Call for Yellow Flag Applications
The Yellow Flag Programme has launched the open call for schools to apply for September 2022!
Due to limited resources, only a select number of schools can join the programme, so schools with high levels of diversity, and where the need for support is greatest, will be prioritised.
The application form, including criteria and conditions, is available HERE
Deadline: May 5th
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Involving your Local Authority
The Yellow Flag Programme partners will local authorities to co-fund the programme in local communities. For September, we have commitments from Cavan, Waterford, Limerick, Fingal, Meath and Cork city to fund schools, which means that a school will definitely be accepted in those counties. But we are still open to working with local authorities in other locations!
The information for local authorities about funding the programme is attached, and it has been sent to all Social Inclusion Units around Ireland. However, if you are interested in securing a spot for a Yellow Flag school in your area, and you know who we should speak to in your local authority, we'd be delighted to hear from you.
Contact: yellowflag@itmtrav.ie
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Traveller Mental Health is a Human Right Protest
The Traveller Mental Health Network invites all to the Traveller Mental Health is a Human Right Protest happening on the 31st of May. There will be a meeting on the 17th of May to discuss/ plan the Protest please contact n.travmhnetwork@gmail.com or contact the Facebook page for more information
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Enclude eTrav package
Enclude is an I.T. consultancy charity, who have assisted over 1000 Irish charities to improve how they do their work through the application of technology that is tailored to suit their systems and processes.
Over the last year Enclude has been working closely with some of ITM’s members on the development of a CRM (stands for customer relationship management) system tailored specifically towards the needs of Traveller projects in Ireland. Thanks to a significant investment from Midlands HSE they were able to develop a Salesforce eTrav package, which they think might be very useful for other Traveller projects.
Since the major research and development work has been completed, any potentially interested services would only have to cover the implementation costs, which is a small proportion of the overall cost of the project. This will include a small amount of configuration work, training, data upload (if required) and post go live support. They estimate that this will be approx. € 7,000-8,000.
Enclude would be happy to arrange a demo of the package, if any members are interested in exploring this further.
Email membership@itmtrav.ie for more details
Addiction and Mentoring
Would you like to gain some knowledge and skills to support someone impacted by addiction? An Addiction & Mentoring Course will be taking place in Exchange House Ireland from the 10th of May. The course will take place over 6 Tuesdays (May 10th - June 14th).
The programme will cover:
- Emerging Substance Use Issues / Signs and Symptoms
- Process of Addiction / Wheel of Change / Treatment Options
- Impact of Addiction on Family
- Models of Mentoring
- Mentoring – Principles and Practice
Dates: Part-time, over 6 weeks, Tuesdays 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st May, 7th & 14th June 2022
Time: 10:00am – 1.00pm
Venue: Exchange House Ireland, 61 Great Strand Street, Dublin 1, D01 WC97.
For more information contact: -
Exchange House Ireland
Tel. No. 01 872 1094 / Email: kevin.kelly@exchangehouse.ie
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Job Opportunities
Advocacy Worker
Traveller Counselling Service
Closing date: 5pm Friday 13th May
More information HERE
Traveller Programme Coordinator – Full Time
North Tipperary Development Company Traveller Programme
Closing date: 5pm, Tuesday 3rd May
More information HERE
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