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Sandra McCarrySenior Manager – Community Development And User EngagementBelfast Health and Social Care Trust

I AM ROMA

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Belfast Demographics

•Population of N Ireland 1 775 000 (3% UK total)

•Population of Greater Belfast 645 536

Since 2000 there has been significant political, social and economic change

But

Still high levels of economic inactivity (30%)

Belfast Local Government District contains 34% of most deprived areas in the region

Belfast Demographics

•98% of the residents of Belfast are white ethnic origin

•No distinct ethnic residential areas

•Migration figures doubles each year between 2004 and 2007

•Now showing a decline in population increase from migration

•Indigenous Irish Traveller Community

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust

•Delivers a full range of integrated health and social care services to the population of Greater Belfast

•Delivers regional specialist services

•Provides care in both an acute and community setting

•Overall purpose is to improve health and wellbeing and to reduce inequalities

•Involved in extensive partnership working with other public sector organisations, community and voluntary sector organisation (including work to address issues relating to the Roma population)

The Roma Community in Belfast

•Difficult to know the actual number of Roma people living in Belfast

•Largely Romanian Roma community

•Believed to be in excess of 125 Romanian Roma families living in concentrated area of South Belfast

•Housed in low income area with high numbers if students

•Transient population

Legal status

•Complex situation

•A2 status – Romania and Bulgaria

•Free to come to Northern Ireland and be resident for 3 month

•After that, must prove they are students, self employed or self sufficient

•If resident as a student, can work 20 hours per week

•Workers authorisation scheme for those people directly recruited

•Work restrictions for 2 years

The Roma Community in Belfast

•Survey funded by Office of the First and Deputy First Minister was carried out between April and July 2010 provides the most recent information on the Roma community and their needs

•60 families responded and between them they had 138 children

Issues raised through the survey•83% intended to make Belfast their permanent home

•68% spoke no English, with a further 25% described their level of English as “Beginner”

•21% registered as self employed, with another 75% having no knowledge of how to do this

•55% reported to be working in non-skilled, low income jobs – of this 33% were not registered

•98% have no access to / or weren’t accessing public funds / support

•63% live in accommodation of 10 or more people

•63% of the 138 children are school age but only 19% attend school

•Only 3 children are registered with a GP

Issues of concern•Wide range of health issues amongst children and adults

•Discrimination / racisim from local communities / residents and own fellow nationals

•Barriers associated with language

•Over crowding

•Lack of information in relation to employment and rights

•Issues related to access to education for Children

•Lack of a strategic approach to addressing issues amongst statutory organisations

Cultural Clashes

•Housing – multiple occupancy

•Education – low aspirations

•Early marriage

•Begging

•Closed community

Current initatives to address the needs of the Roma Community

•Trust info ????

•SBRT??? Check with Denise

•MCRC project

•One stop shop application

•Training for staff???

•Tension monitoring group???

•????