Travellers in Ealing

Traveller groups have frequented Ealing for many years. Department of Environment 'caravan counts' consistently record Ealing as having one of the largest Traveller populations in the Greater London area. These figures do not include the large and unrecognised 'hidden' Traveller communities who, due to a deficit in caravan site provision and rapid evictions from roadside encampments, live in other forms of accommodation.

The total Traveller population in Ealing is effected by mobility, but estimates put the total in excess of 2,000 individuals at certain times of the year. Currently, the variety of Traveller groups resorting to, or residing in, the borough are largely from the following traditional communities:

• Travellers of Irish heritage
• East European Roma
• English, European and international circus and fairground Travellers

The Travellers have accommodation situations that include:

• official council caravan site provision
• roadside and other unofficial transient camp sites
• negotiated seasonal circus and fairground sites
• council housing (temporary and permanent)
• privately rented addresses in areas of housing need
• hostel and bed and breakfast accommodation

Ealing Local Education Authority (LEA) provides a Travellers Achievement Service (TAS) for Travellers within the local community.