Members

Margaret GREENFIELDS  

Country of residence

United Kingdom

Brief introduction

Director, Institute for Diversity Research, Inclusivity, Communities and Society / Reader in Social Policy, Buckinghamshire New University

Education

PhD, Social Policy, University of Bath, 2002

Academic profile

Since 1986 I have engaged with Traveller and Gypsy issues, undertaking both welfare work, and latterly, research into health, accommodation and social concerns pertaining to Gypsy/Traveller lifestyles and well-being. In addition to my publications (see CV)  I have worked in a consultative and advice-giving capacity to Government departments and bodies working with Gypsies and Travellers (e.g. Department of Communities and Local Government; Commission for Racial Equality;  Equalities and Human Rights Commission; Race Equality Foundation) statutory and voluntary sector organisations such as the registered charities, Travellers Aid Trust (of which organisation I am a Trustee), Friends, Families and Travellers and the Irish Traveller Movement (Britain), and with individual solicitors undertaking family cases on behalf of Travellers. I have provided expert witness reports for a number of planning inquiries and High Court and Appeal cases involving accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers.  In addition I have provided advice for family welfare officers appointed by the court in both public and private family law cases and have been a consultative member of a number of advisory groups pertaining to the needs of Gypsies and Travellers, e.g. DH funded research; Shelter, DWP, etc. I have recently been a member of an expert panel review which took evidence in the House of Commons in February 2011 exploring the impacts of current (and developing – e,.g. Localism Bill, 2010) Government legislation and policy on the accommodation, employment, health and education status of Gypsies and Travellers.

Publications

  • Co-author (over half of text) Equalities and Human Rights Commission review of inequalities experienced by Gypsies and Travellers in Britain (2009)
  • Co-author/developer of the ‘Cambridge Project’ methodology of community development practice enabling Gypsies and Travellers to work as researchers engaged in site delivery policy
  • Co-author of the UK’s only study on economic inclusion of Gypsies and Travellers (Traveller Economic Inclusion Project (Ryder & Greenfields, 2010)

Keywords

Health, Education, Accommodation Policy, Family Law

Contact

Margaret.Greenfields@bucks.ac.uk browse members list