Social care and accommodation
Social care
According to research most disabled Gypsy/Travellers and carers do not access social care services regularly.
We introduced the Self-directed Support (Scotland) Act 2013 to promote choice and control in social care delivery.
We funded MECOPP (Minority Ethnic Carers of People Project) to help organisations working with the Gypsy/Traveller population to access self-directed support.
The National Carers Strategy for Scotland 2010–2015 identified that Gypsy/Travellers required further support.
We provided £17 million between 2010 and 2016 to provide short breaks for unpaid carers. These breaks are promoted to the Gypsy/Traveller community through the Travellers' Times.
Housing adaptations pilot test sites
Despite the community's young age profile, Gypsy/Travellers face high levels of disability.
Adaptations play a major part in helping disabled people to live independently. We are piloting the Independent Adaptations Working Group's recommendations in five test sites across the country (Borders, Fife, Falkirk, Aberdeen and Lochaber in Highland).
The Adapting for change pilot key research findings and final evaluation were published in 2017. We are developing guidance on the timescales for installing adaptations. We will support social landlords to build specialist housing by ensuring flexible housing grand subsidies as part of the Affordable Housing Supply Programme.
Local housing strategies
Local housing strategies set out councils' plans and priorities for housing and housing-related services, including those for Gypsy/Travellers. We review the strategies to ensure the needs of Gypsy/Travellers have been considered and addressed.
Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund
As set out in Housing to 2040, the Gypsy/Traveller Accommodation Fund is providing up to £20 million to local authorities, between 2021-26, for more and better accommodation.
Aberdeen City Council, Clackmannanshire Council and Fife Council have received funding to develop sites as demonstration projects in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Further demonstration projects will progress in 2023-24 and 2024-25 in Highland Council, Perth & Kinross Council and South Lanarkshire Council.
To drive a significant improvement in the quality of sites going forward, we have published an Interim Site Design Guide for Gypsy/Traveller sites, developed in conjunction with local authorities and with input from members of Gypsy/Traveller communities. This is intended to assist new build and site re-development of a high quality, to meet the varying needs of families, including children, older and disabled people and to align with key principles of Housing to 2040 such as accessibility and energy efficiency. The minimum standards for Gypsy/Traveller accommodation remain as the standard below which sites should not fall.
We will be commissioning an evaluation of the Fund and Design Guide in 2023 which will aim to gather the key points of learning from the demonstration projects to inform future projects and a final Site Design Guide.
This work is a result of the Scottish Government and COSLA’s joint Action Plan Improving the lives of Scotland's Gypsy/Travellers: 2019-2021
Guidance on minimum quality standards for Gypsy/Traveller sites
Gypsy/Travellers living on sites owned by councils have the right to the same quality standards and level of service as tenants living in social housing. To make it clear what standards are expected, in 2015 we published guidance on minimum site standards and tenants' core rights and responsibilities.
The guidance aims to:
- make conditions better on sites by establishing whether site improvements are needed
- increase awareness among Gypsy/Travellers about their rights and responsibilities while living on sites owned by councils and housing associations
Minimum site standards for Gypsy/Traveller sites
- Gypsy/Travellers living on sites owned by councils have the right to the same quality standards and level of service as tenants living in social housingIn 2015 we published guidance on minimum site standards and tenants' core rights and responsibilities. The minimum standards for Gypsy/Traveller sites set a threshold below which site standards should not fall.
The minimum site standards are part of the Scottish Social Housing Charter. This gives site standards the same legal status as the Scottish Housing Quality Standards.
Site providers had until June 2018 to make sure their sites met the standards. Gypsy/Travellers living on sites owned by social landlords must be provided with secure tenancy agreements. Site providers are expected to reflect the rights and responsibilities in the guidance in the individual tenancy agreements they have with tenants.
Unauthorised sites
Gypsy/Travellers have a right to their traditional way of life, but that right must be exercised responsibly, and balanced against the rights of the wider community.
While many unauthorised sites do not cause any problems, on a small number of sites anti-social behaviour can be an issue (both from those living on the site and the settled community around it).
Managing unauthorised camping by Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland: guidance for local authorities was published in 2017.
The guidance reflects the principles that:
- unauthorised sites should be managed to minimise disruption for all concerned
- the same standards of behaviour should be expected from all members of the community
It was developed with stakeholders including local authorities, Police Scotland, Gypsy/Travellers and equality groups.
Planning
Many Gypsy/Travellers prefer to live on private sites, which can help support their independence, self-sufficiency and security. But they have often found it difficult to access the planning system and get the appropriate permission to develop their own sites.
Making provision for the development of private sites can help Gypsy/Travellers to maintain their traditional lifestyle.
And approval of more Gypsy/Traveller sites, which are sound in planning terms, could also ease accommodation pressures for the community as a whole, and potentially reduce the number of unauthorised encampments.
The Scottish Government funded a project by PAS (formerly Planning Aid Scotland) to increase awareness of the needs of Gypsy/Travellers in accessing the planning system.
It resulted in five planning guides regarding Gypsy/Travellers and the planning system. They were published in April 2015 and aimed at Gypsy/Travellers, planning professionals, elected members, community councillors and the media.
Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) was published in 2014. It requires councils to plan for the current and future needs of the Gypsy/Traveller community, and to involve the community in planning and decision-making which affects them.
Scottish Ministers have made it clear that they want Scotland's plan-led system to be more effective and that plans need to be up-to-date, place-based and enabling.