What’s Working Manchester, UK

1. What’s WorkingManchester, UK EACEA/16/2011: Promoting the integration of Roma in and through Education

2. Need • Expansion of EU= increasing numbers of Romani migrating away from Eastern to Western Europe • Support Romani to: • Increase understanding and access various systems (education, employment, health etc) • Access entitlements and understand responsibilities • Encourage parents to take up educational opportunities (including early years) • Take up preventative health care • Professionals need to gain an improved understanding of barriers which prevent access and engagement: • Gender-specific barriers • Housing mobility • Financial capacity (employment, welfare, training) • Educational issues- lack of prior education, mistrust of universal services

3. Aims and Objectives • Aims • Develop evidence-based strategies and approaches linking community development with support and capacity building in schools and other services • Understand the migratory pull factors and the barriers to engagement and inclusion in mainstream services • Objectives • To support the development of Romani communities • supporting individuals to make informed choices and understand the value of ‘formal education’, paying reference to gender-specific barriers • To support young people to develop as mediators and become role models for others • 2. To support educational inclusion (raise awareness amongst professionals): • Information-sharing regarding local Romani populations • A report highlighting potential barriers to integration and identify solutions which are transferable to different countries and situations. • Recognition and understanding of specific experiences and strengths of Romani • Practical guidance to support professionals to develop effective strategies for working with children, families and the wider Romani community • Sharing of successful community development approaches

4. Outcomes and Indicators • Outcomes • Romani communities are confident in accessing all services and taking up opportunities to support the educational, economic and social wellbeing • Professionals are skilled at reducing barriers to access and attainment within various services • Indicators • Improved attendance of Romani pupils in education • Improved knowledge and confidence of partner organizations to engage successfully with Romani • Increased capacity to deliver evidence- based approaches, through partnership working • Increased attainment of valuable skills within the Romani community – benefiting the UK and other EU Countries (circular migration)

5. Outputs/ Deliverables • Research report providing information on Romani communities in the three partner countries including demographic data and pull factors in different countries. • Research report providing information: • understanding the Romani community from their perspective • understanding the family situation • barriers to development including education • Translation of reports and other key documents • Network meetings in each country: • to understand the activities, achievement, barriers and strategies of each organization • Piloting of new strategies relevant to each partner country • Each country to provide guidance on successful approaches within their countries to reduce barriers and promote inclusion in health and education • Final report detailing successful strategies for all participating countries • Report made available to support good practice across EU

6. Contact Details BHA Julie Davies, Director of Healthy Communities Juliedavies@thebha.org.uk / 00 44 161 874 2157 Vikki Morgan, Finance Manager Vikki@thebha.org.uk / 00 44 161 874 2160