Lottery Funds Projects within Travelling Community in Northern Ireland

£2.2 million will be used from the Big Lottery Fund to help to improve services in health, education and employment in the Travelling Community. In the ‘Reaching Communities Northern Ireland’ project grants will be provided to five projects. The programme is funded with £18 million and aims to change many people’s lives through its projects.

Jacqueline Ritchie as project worker explained:

“Only 11% of adults in the Travelling Community in Northern Ireland are in paid employment, and 92% of Travellers have no GCSE’s. Only 10% of Travellers are over 40 years of age and only 1% are over 65 years. Prejudice and exclusion remain sharp and living conditions have actually worsened. “

“This project will support members of the Travelling Community to achieve their full potential by helping them to develop skills to make healthier lifestyle choices that hopefully will lead to employment and lead to their acceptance in society.”

Part of the Travelling Community, Eileen Purcell aged 18 year old, had left school without qualification and no direction in life:

“When I was growing up and going to school I used to get called a lot of names by the other kids because they had heard their parents or friends talk negatively about Travellers. I was always made to feel like an outsider and I just didn’t want to stay in school anymore – it became unbearable.”

“Then I got involved with An Munia Tober and I realised that I could make something of myself and achieve things in life. I’m now studying for GCSE’s in English and Maths and I feel much happier in myself. I’d like to be a social worker in the future and help to look after older people in the community.”