A health needs assessment of the Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller communities living in Brent
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Authors
Dr Gregory White
Dr Mai Stafford
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Issue Date
06-May-26
Type
Conference Abstract
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Keywords
Working with people and communities
Alternative Title
Abstract
A health needs assessment of the Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller communities living in Brent
Dr Gregory White & Dr Mai Stafford
Public Health, Brent Council
Background and objectives:
The Gypsy, Roma, and Irish Traveller community in Brent is small, about 0.8% of the population, with 237 White Gypsy or Irish Traveller and 2,520 White Roma, based on the 2021 Census. This may be an underestimate due to non-reporting or fear of discrimination. Despite its size, this community has contributed to British society for centuries and faces challenges from racial discrimination, socio-economic issues, and health inequalities due to a misunderstanding of its needs. Brent Council is conducting a health needs assessment to understand their overall health, experiences with health and social care, and how to better meet their needs through the Council and the Integrated Care Partnership (ICP).
Methods:
The health needs assessment will use a range of methodological approaches, including primary data collection through qualitative semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Brent Council has commissioned two community organisations to support the collection of evidence for this health needs assessment.
Stage at submission:
Qualitative fieldwork is underway, with one commissioned organisation – closely linked to the Irish Traveller movement in Brent – conducting a series of one-to-one semi-structured interviews. Community engagement and data collection will also involve focus groups across various demographics, including discussions with women on maternal and reproductive health and with men on mental health and long-term conditions. A separate community organisation, with links to the Roma community, will conduct fieldwork with people residing in Brent. This will include several focus group meetings and in-depth interviews. The anonymised fieldwork results will be shared with the Evidence and Insight team at Brent Council, who will use the data to inform their wider assessment of community health needs.
Discussion/learning so far:
Preliminary learning has centred on the complexities of data representativeness and the need for partnerships with trusted organisations to mitigate historical wariness of large organisations, such as local authorities. While the 2021 Census identifies approximately 0.8% of Brent's population as Gypsy, Roma, or Irish Traveller, the literature suggests this figure is likely an underestimate due to non-participation or fear of disclosing identity. Another challenge is the uneven distribution of these communities across Brent. Irish Traveller communities are geographically concentrated, i.e., in Lynton Close, while the Roma population is more dispersed. The needs assessment will focus on the dual challenge of addressing institutional mistrust and developing public health engagement strategies that go beyond traditional location-based outreach.