The need for this thesis is established in the 2011 census in England results, which showed that more Gypsy, Romany and Travellers (GRT) are living in housing or long-term on sites.
Since this time, documentation from various sources such as Gypsy and Travellers
Accommodation Needs Assessments (GTANA) which is conducted independently by local
councils, has shown this trend is continuing. A knowledge gap exists concerning when GRTs settle and why. The question arises, what strategies, if any, do they use to establish
relationships with the settled non-GT living around them and do they consider them
successful? The following research fills this complex gap in knowledge.
Primarily focused on East Anglia, England, this research looks at the changes experienced by GRT communities as they become more solidly settled. Parallels are made with other ethnic groups, thus contributing to the literature, not only about the GRT (Romany Studies) but more broadly to ethnically and cultural studies generally.
Data was gathered from five GRTs, family clusters and six key informants consisting of one public sector professional and five representatives from non-government organisations. all of whom work with the GRT communities. six academics have undertaken research into GRT.
There is also an autoethnographic dimension to the research. I have drawn on my own
experiences as a member of the Gypsy, Romany/Roma and Traveller communities who have ‘settled’. Throughout I engage in self-reflection and use this as additional data.
The research establishes the need for support of GRT living long-term on sites or in housing. It also brings into question whether more sites should be built for the communities and the problems identified in the location of such sites.
