Cash boost to help gypsies and travellers

Gypsies and travellers living in South Bucks are set to benefit from a £10,000 health and well-being grant.

Buckinghamshire Community Foundation, a registered charity, donated the money to a project aimed at helping improve the lives of gypsies and travellers in the area. 

About 60 families living in gypsy and traveller sites in Iver, Mansion Lane, Wapsey Wood and Dudley, are expected to benefit from the grant once the project begins in July 2009.

The project is being led by One Voice 4 Travellers Ltd, working in partnership with Bucks New University, Buckinghamshire Primary Care Trust and Uni (South-East BME) Network.

One of the aims of the scheme is to provide support to women, children and young people from the gypsy and traveller communities affected by social exclusion, isolation, conflict or violence.

Dr Margaret Greenfields, senior lecturer on social policy at Bucks New University, said: "The project has the potential to make a significant change to the health and wellbeing of this local minority ethnic group."