We have continued to support the Roma community during the Lockdown.

We have responded to telephone and online inquiries about Universal Credit, Council tax and Housing issues. People getting stressed about not getting replies from the Benefits people after no calls in two days – we have been getting stuff translated

We had a very prompt reply from Gateshead Council to an inquiry about an issue mentioned in the last report.

We have continued to pass on vital informations about subjects including the following:

New eviction rules

Shopping rules during the crisis

Information about scams relating to the crisis

Information about social distancing

Every Thursday we have been delivering food from a local food bank to families complying with the government’s social distancing rules.

We have been contacting HM Revenue about tax issues and also helping families with applying for Universal Credit. A

We have been advising families about the Lockdown extension and helping them to understand what is happening and what is likely to happen.

We have been replying to emails and requests on our facebook page.

Here are some other things we have been doing:

Applying for UC through live chat on Facebook
Referral to council food parcels
Translating over the phone for Citizen’s Advice Gateshead
Referral to Gateshead Carers, posting information on our Facebook page for Gateshead Carers.
Still distributing food parcels from Fareshare.
Created WhatsApp Group for women’s it’s on every Thursday from 11am-12.30pm

Due to the Lockdown people are spending more time at home so we have had conversation with individuals regarding domestic violence, that they should open up and reach out if they are experiencing any sort of domestic violence. We have left people with contact details and information to help them.

We have been working with Gateshead Carers to help members of the Roma community to know that Gateshead Carers is still working during the Covid-19 Crisis to help careers in the Gateshead area.

We have provided home schooling material for parents of children from an Roma background. This has included, Maths, English and work to show support for the NHS during the Covid-19 Crisis. This has been posted on the facebook group.

We have liaised closely with Northumbria Police to help members of the Roma community to know what is happening, during the Covid-19 Crisis.

Many thanks to Fareshare, Northumbria Police, Citizens Advice Gateshead and all our other partners and supporters.

Peter Sagar, Company Secretary, A Living Tradition CIC, and Irma Karchnakova, interpreter and worker, April 2020