Luton Roma Trust is calling for the adoption of a local strategy and an action plan that supports the social integration of the Roma in Luton.
The event “Empowering the Roma in Luton” took place on Thursday 11th April at the University of Bedfordshire.
Luton Roma Trust organised a discussion with its partners to discuss the vulnerabilities faced by the Roma in the town and the need for a local strategy to support their social integration. The event was attended by Rachel Hopkins, MP who expressed her support for the Roma community and the need to work together for the betterment of everyone in the community.
The event has also marked the newly released report with research carried out jointly by the University of Bedfordshire and Luton Roma Trust with funding from the Integrated Care Board. The report highlighted that there are multiple barriers facing Roma people in accessing health and care services, including language and communication, knowledge of how the health system works and limited digital literacy. Felicity Cox, Chief Executive Officer Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board, present at the event, welcomed the report and expressed her full commitment towards implementing the recommendations in the report.
Crina Morteanu, the Charity Manager of Luton Roma Trust, referring to the event and report said:
“It is for the first time in Luton that we have so many representatives of the local authorities, including the Education team, the NHS and East of England Regional Government Association, Roma professionals and academics as well as other local charities who are fully committed to improve the situation of the Roma in the town. Today’s discussions have contributed to everyone’s understanding that to tackle the difficulties that the Roma face in their social integration journey, an action plan must be adopted using a targeted approach. We, at Luton Roma Trust, will coordinate this process and we remain ever grateful to all our partners for their commitment and motivation to support the social integration of the most disadvantaged ethnic minority group in Luton and in the UK”.
Luton Roma Trust 