Select Committee on Environment, Transport and Regional Affairs Minutes of Evidence


Memorandum by the European Federation for the Education of the Children of the Occupational Travellers (TF 33)

  I am aware of the Environment Sub-committee Inquiry into Travelling Fairs and I would like to take this opportunity to comment.

  My name is Ludo Knaepkena and I am Director of EFECOT, European Federation for the Education of the Children of the Occupational Travellers.

  The organisation was established is 1989 following a research report I wrote for, and at the request of, the European Commission regarding the nature and needs of the Fairground and Circus Communities across Europe.

  Since that time I have worked to advise Education Ministries, and to support parents and their organisations in member states and to plan work aimed at improving their educational opportunities. I feel therefore I have an important contribution to the inquiry.

THE CONTINUED VALUE OF HISTORIC FAIRS

  All over Europe, and England is no exception, the historic travelling fairs are important markers in the calendar of a region and locality.

  Showmen are innovators in entertainment and bring it to people on their own doorsteps.

  The charter fair is a significant part of the history, tradition and identity of an area. The year is ordered by the fairs.

  As well as bringing together local communities of all ages, the fair pays to the local council and offers jobs to casual workers. History therefore is linked to ongoing progress and practice.

  The fairs as well as continuing an age old function and tradition of providing entertainment and new ideas also reaches out to the disadvantaged and disabled and uses the fairs as a vehicle to do charitable work bringing excitement to children and others in need in the community. This also highlights the value Showmen place on "giving back" to the community.

THE PARTICULAR NEEDS OF SHOWPEOPLE IN CARRYING OUT THEIR TRADE

  At EFECOT and with funding from the education programmes of the European Commission we aim to address the training needs of Showmen.

  Skilled by traditional family education methods their skills are rarely recognised and accredited formally.

  We are engaged in a process of working with Showmen, their organisations, colleges, Traveller Education Support Services to enable Showmen to formalise their skills so that fairs can remain innovative and at the cutting edge of the engineering and technological revolution as they always have been.

ANY OTHER MATTERS WHICH MAY ARISE IN THE COURSE OF QUESTIONING

  It is important that this self help, multi skilled community have secure yards in which their families can return to year on year and from which they can develop and maintain links within a local community.

  Significantly important is the opportunity for their children to attend regular local schools at which expertise and systems can be built to also support children as they tour (Distance Learning Packs).

  Equally a local college which can develop specific responses to the specific training and educational needs of Showmen is essential.

  I hope this contribution enables you to evaluate from a different perspective the value of the historic fairs and indeed the Showmen's community itself.

February 2000


 
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