One of our diarists, Chelsea McDonagh, writes on the impact of Covid-19 on the travelling community.

A thread

1/ People have a very stereotypical view of Travellers which is usually roadside encampments but they only make up a small percentage of the Traveller community...

2/ Those who are still roadside face increasing challenges in accessing water and sanitation with gyms and swimming pools closed. Small trailer fridges meant that when the initial stockpiling frenzy started, people found it difficult to buy the items they needed.

3/ Frustratingly these Travellers haven’t been protected and whilst Government guidance is not to move them on, not all councils and Police forces are adhering to this guidance. This stokes the flames of public fear

4/… and increases a slew of vitriol towards Travellers with the general public not understanding that these people have nowhere to go and are not moving out of choice - a lack of available sites and overcrowding on existing sites lays bare the root of the problem.

5/ For those in housing, not been able to see family is taking a toll on a lot of Travellers mental health. This is especially difficult with mental health and suicide already at exceptionally high levels in our communities.

6/ Lock down didn’t come as a surprise, seeing Ireland and other countries act sooner meant that I had a sense of frustration as I waited for it to arrive. As lock down loomed, like many other Londoners, I jumped on tubes and buses, making my way across the city to work.

7/ Travellers live in multi-generational households and with caring responsibilities for my granny, I worried that I was putting her and other vulnerable family members at risk. In the end, nature forced my hand and I began working from home due to self-isolating rules

8/ Read Chelsea's diary in full on the below link and tweet at us if you would like to join our growing community of diarists recording the next phase of our strange plague year. https://www.journalsofapandemic.org/post/chelsea-mcdonagh

Also read @chelsmcdonagh's excellent blog here https://chelseamcdonagh.wordpress.com/