Moat works with housed gypsies and travellers to educate and inform residents about culture and traditions

On Saturday 9 August Moat proudly sponsored the stage at Old Ways and New Days, a cultural awareness festival held at the Kent County Showground in Detling, Kent.

The day provided the opportunity for visitors to take a look at old photos and to watch wooden flower and peg making. There was also traditional food to sample including Joe Grey a hearty soup made from sausage, bacon, potatoes and tomatoes.

Gypsies and travellers often face widespread discrimination and prejudice. Many people, including service providers, have very little knowledge of the gypsy and traveller culture, history and traditions and this group is often misunderstood. Housed gypsies and travellers share common issues facing the community as a whole, such as anti-social behaviour, while also facing issues of discrimination. Moat is keen to ensure that gypsies and travellers housed in Moat properties are given support, advice and the opportunity to be more involved.

Graeme Bosley, Moats head of community engagement, says: The event was a great opportunity to provide support for gypsies and travellers. Moat is very keen to ensure that housed gypsies and travellers feel that they are an important part of the community.

Event organiser, Angie Jones from Youth Division, affiliated to Kent Youth, says: It was really good that Moat supported the event and is working closely with gypsies and travellers.. For the past two years Old Ways and New Days has been organised by the youth from the Youth Division, some of whom are Moat residents. Everybody had a really good day and we look forward to doing it again next year.

Moat is now planning training for its front line staff to work with housed gypsies and travellers and is working closely with Kent County Council and other housing associations to improve services and promote a positive image of gypsies and travellers.

ENDS

About Moat

Moat is a housing association that has provided affordable homes for people in the south east for over 40 years. With particular strengths in affordable home ownership and key worker housing, Moat also provides general needs homes for affordable rent, supported accommodation and tenancy support services.

Moat is one of the Housing Corporations development partners and is also the governments appointed HomeBuy Agent in Essex , Kent and Sussex.

Moat employs 450 people and manages nearly 19,000 homes for affordable rent and shared ownership.

Moat is a leading housing association offering excellent customer service and building high quality homes within thriving communities.

www.moat.co.uk

Building Communities

About Youth Division:

Youth Division works with Romany gypsies and Irish travellers and helps them to gain access to accommodation, healthcare, education, sanitation, fresh running water and above all, harmonisation with the wider community.

Youth Division is part of the Gypsy Council working for International Gypsy & Traveller Affairs at the Southern England Romany Gypsy & Irish Traveller Network. Youth Division is affiliated to Kent Youth and Kent Youth Service, part of Kent County Councils service offering.

www.youthdivision.co.uk