In the spotlight: Tommy Buck, Youth Manager at FFT
June is Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month and this month we’re meeting Tommy Buck, Youth Manager at Friends Families and Travellers (FFT). FFT is a charity working to end racism and discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life.
Tell me about your role
I oversee our youth programmes and outreach programmes across Sussex with a key role in our service delivery team. Our projects for young people include health and education and funded by a range of sources including local authorities and trusts. I also support Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities with case work including cases around education and accommodation.
What other services does FFT offer?
We provide a national helpline from 10am-4:30pm supporting clients with their needs, this includes a range of issues such as accommodation, finance and education. We run outreach programmes including youth programmes. We support individuals and families with the issues that matter most to them, for example, some of our clients may be very capable around literacy and others may need support. As well as our services, we work to transform systems and institutions to address the root causes of inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people.
Tell me more about the programmes you run for young people
Our flagship programme is a Level 2 programme accredited by the Royal Society for Public Health. We deliver this in schools and started this model with funding from the SLN delivering with the University of Sussex. Members of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities expect to live between 10 and 25 years shorter than the wider population and to spend less years of their lives in good health and this programme addresses these issues. The programme was developed in consultation with young people in the community and has modules tailored so specific age grounds, for instance there is a unit on gaming and one on Harry Potter where we look at the characters and health messages such as Dobi and how his mental health may suffer in his circumstances. After completing the programme young people become a health champion promoting a healthy community across their community.
The model of delivering ins schools is really good practice as we can support school to improve their practice on engaging with GRT communities, for example having a GRT champion at school and how to recognise and celebrate GRT month.
What other work does FFT do with young people
Through our helpline we support the needs of our clients. An example is when a family are travelling because of their business, and they are having difficulties with school because of being absent. We work with the family and school explaining the absence needs be recorded as T Code rather than an unauthorised absence. This might not be something the school have previous knowledge about so we can help them upskill their knowledge which in turn supports more GRT families.
We support young people wanting to apply to college, either for 14-16 education or at the age of 16. Some of the young people we work with may not have been in school from year 4 and therefore won’t have GCSE English or Maths. Our aim is to work to support learners into college despite not having these qualifications so they can progress with their learning.
What additional support might a GRT learner need in school or college?
Some communities may be transient and therefore will have been to a number of different schools and need additional support around that. A young person may have left primary school early and not attended secondary school so literacy and numeracy skills will be limited, and they will need support. A lot of learners may be more mature compared to counterparts as they have more expectations around responsibility. Girls have caring responsibilities and boys will be out working, and it can be challenging with authority at school as they will be treated as an adult in their community. Another area is sex education which may be challenging for some families and needs addressing before delivery commences and in a supportive, understanding manner.
How can schools and colleges find out more to support GRT learners?
We have a CPD team and regularly delivery training in areas such as cultural awareness. We are able to deliver the Level 2 Health qualification in schools and there’s no cost associated with this delivery. People can get in touch with me by email to find out more. We have lots of resources for teachers on our website here and information about GRT history month can be found here. There is a pledge schools can take which focuses on improving access, retention and outcomes in education for GRT leaners. There’s more information about that here. Finally, Schools and Colleges can always signpost to our helpline for families needing support, the number is 01273 234777.