Families travelling through Birmingham now have a reopened official transit site on Proctor Street, alongside a dedicated council team intended to improve contact with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities across the city.
The changes have been highlighted during Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month, which runs nationally each June and is used to recognise GRT heritage while drawing attention to barriers still faced by communities in areas such as housing, education, health and public services.
Birmingham City Council says its latest work is focused on support, partnership and provision: a dedicated Gypsy and Traveller service, closer work with local agencies, and a managed space for people moving through the city.
Proctor Street transit site reopens as managed provision
The reopening of the Proctor Street transit site gives Birmingham an official place for Gypsy and Traveller families who are travelling through the area.
According to the council, the site is intended to provide a safe and managed space while also reducing the impact of unauthorised encampments. Transit sites are usually short-stay facilities, designed to give families access to basic managed provision without presenting the same demands as permanent residential pitches.
For residents, the practical effect is clearer: the city now has a designated location for temporary stopping, rather than relying only on enforcement or reactive responses when encampments appear elsewhere.
For travelling families, the provision matters because unmanaged stopping can make it harder to access services and can place families in conflict with landowners, agencies or local residents. A recognised site gives public services a clearer route for contact, safeguarding and support.
Dedicated team to build trust with GRT communities
The council’s Gypsy and Traveller service is now led by a dedicated team. Its remit is to improve engagement, build trust and help Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities access support.
That detail is central to the council’s announcement. The work is not limited to site management. It also covers the way services communicate with communities that may have had difficult or inconsistent experiences with public bodies.
Paul Langford, Executive Director of City Housing at Birmingham City Council, said the work was aimed at creating “real change” through closer contact with communities and partners.
“Building trust is key,” he said. “We’re starting to see positive changes, with partners working more closely together and residents feeling more confident in sharing their experiences with us.”
The dedicated team can be contacted by anyone requiring support at [email protected].
Police, schools, housing and charities brought into the work
Birmingham City Council says it has been working with West Midlands Police, education services, housing providers and charities to improve outcomes for GRT communities.
Those partnerships are meant to connect families with healthcare, education and safeguarding support, while allowing earlier intervention when problems emerge.
That joined-up approach matters because many issues affecting travelling families cut across more than one service. A family may need school access for children, health support, advice on stopping places and contact with housing or safeguarding teams at the same time.
The council’s statement suggests the new model is intended to reduce fragmented responses and make it easier for agencies to share responsibility, rather than leaving families to navigate each service separately.
GRT History Month gives the changes a wider context
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month is a national initiative held every June. It celebrates the heritage and contributions of GRT communities and raises awareness of the challenges they face.
In Birmingham, the council is using this year’s month to point to practical changes rather than a symbolic programme alone. The Proctor Street transit site, the dedicated team and the partnership work all sit within the same wider approach.
The city’s GRT communities are not a single group with identical needs. Gypsy, Roma and Traveller identities include different histories, cultures and experiences. Public services can affect families differently depending on whether they are settled, travelling, newly arrived, or moving through the city temporarily.
That is why provision and trust are linked in the council’s announcement. A managed site may address one immediate local need, but access to education, healthcare and safeguarding depends on relationships that allow families to contact services without fear of being dismissed or misunderstood.
Support now runs through a named contact point
The most direct next step for residents or families needing help is the dedicated contact route now promoted by the council.
Anyone requiring support from the Gypsy and Traveller service can contact [email protected]. The council says the work is intended to ensure Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are recognised, respected and supported as part of Birmingham’s population.
“Providing suitable, well-managed sites is a vital step in supporting communities and creating better outcomes for everyone,” Langford said.
Source: Birmingham City Council
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This article is based on Birmingham City Council's notice about GRT History Month, the dedicated support team and the Proctor Street transit site.
- Checked that the announcement refers to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month in June.
- Checked that the council named a dedicated Gypsy and Traveller service team.
- Checked that the Proctor Street transit site was described as reopened and managed.
- Checked the named partnership references, including West Midlands Police, education servic...
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- Birmingham City Council
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- 2026-06-09 19:14
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