This guide is the product of almost 3 years of research on a national basis funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government through the Innovations into Action grant programme. The good practice has been designed as a framework to assist key service providers, such as housing, to involve Irish Travellers and Gypsies in decision-making and planning through effective consultations and partnership work, in line with mainstream tenancy participation practice. Many of the recommendations based on general models of good practise in working with BME communities. The challenge for services is to lead this process fairly, creatively and with a full awareness of the barriers which have so often hampered working together in the past and which have contributed to the current context of disengagement.

In practical terms this will require a move away from services seeing the problem as a lack of capacity within these communities to engage. This should be replaced by an emphasis on services building their own capacities to adapt to integrated, flexible and culturally sensitive service delivery models which can facilitate engagement.

The guide is available in word format above and can be downloaded as a PDF document.

If required, ITMB are very willing to offer your organisation tailored training in implementing this good practice guide.

Should you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the ITMB staff team.