Community-Led Cultural Competence Training
Volunteers delivered MECOPP’s new Gypsy/Traveller Cultural Competence Training at a launch event on Wednesday 27th March at Saltcoats Town Hall.
The trainers — who come from Gypsy/Traveller communities in Irvine, Perth and the Lothians respectively — have worked with MECOPP to design a community-led Gypsy Traveller Cultural Competence Training (GTCCT) programme.
MECOPP’s Volunteer Trainers listening to questions from GTCCT participants.
Originally known as Awareness Raising Sessions, this participatory approach, developed by Michelle Lloyd, is not new to MECOPP and was recognised early on in The Scottish Government’s Equal Opportunities Committee, 3rd Report, 2012, which noted,
“One thing that has been clear to us throughout our work with MECOPP is the value of the awareness-raising sessions they run with Gypsy/Traveller trainers, in particular in their ability to dispel common misconceptions and give key support workers the opportunity to meet Gypsy/Travellers and hear their stories.”
MECOPP continued delivering the awareness raising sessions with community volunteers until the work was interrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
In the early summer of 2023, the Scottish Government allocated MECOPP a budget to restart this work. The project, facilitated by Peter Ross, started in July 2023 with the aim of training community volunteers to deliver in person GTCCT with minimal support. The workshops began in October 2023 and have included Facilitation Skills Training, with MECOPP’s Olivia Nathan, and Presentation Skills Training, with Mark Traynor from Better Connected Theatre.
Participants working with the training materials.
The volunteers have spent the last six months honing their skills and exploring the best way to create a greater understanding of their lived experiences, traditions, culture and heritage. They hope that by doing this work they can challenge the stereotypes imposed on them and bring an end to the discrimination they face. Sharon, one of the volunteers, said she got involved to, “Give people a better knowledge and understanding of how hard it can be to be a Gypsy/Traveller, because that's what needs to happen.
Louisa Carslaw, Assistant Health and Wellbeing Manager, said, “The training was really useful to get the perspective of the Gypsy/Traveller community. The trainers were absolutely fantastic and it just gives you more of a feel for the discrimination they face on a daily basis.”
The initiative has been a great success, with eleven volunteers having gone through the design and training workshops and signing up to be Trainers. Violet, one of the volunteer trainers said, “Today has been very successful. It has been really comfortable for us to show the people our culture, that we are people just like anyone else and we are not any different”.
MECOPP’s Peter Ross with Anne, Sharon and Michelle, some of our new Volunteer Trainers.
If you would like more information about MECOPP’s Gypsy/Traveller Cultural Competence Training or would like to book a workshop, please email peter@mecopp.org.uk.
