Contents
- Reopened Proctor Street site gives travellers a managed stopping point
- Dedicated team to build trust and improve access to services
- Police, schools, housing and charities are part of the new approach
- GRT History Month frames the wider local challenge
- Residents and families can contact the GRT team directly
By Beehive Web Newsdesk
Published: June 2026
Families travelling through Birmingham now have a reopened official transit site at Proctor Street, while Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in the city are being offered support through a dedicated council team and a wider network of local partners.
The changes are being highlighted during Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month, a national June initiative that recognises GRT heritage and the barriers many communities still face in accessing public services.
Birmingham City Council says its renewed approach is focused on support, partnership and suitable provision, with work now involving housing, education, policing, safeguarding and voluntary-sector links across the city.
Reopened Proctor Street site gives travellers a managed stopping point
The Proctor Street transit site has reopened as Birmingham’s official Gypsy and Traveller transit provision. The council describes it as a safe and managed space for people travelling through the city.
Transit sites are intended to provide short-term stopping places, giving families access to a designated setting rather than leaving councils, residents and travelling communities dealing only with unauthorised encampments after they have already appeared.
For Birmingham, the reopening means the city again has a formal site within its wider approach to Gypsy and Traveller provision. The council says this is part of supporting communities while reducing the impact of unauthorised encampments.
Dedicated team to build trust and improve access to services
The council’s Gypsy and Traveller service is now led by a dedicated team. Its work is aimed at improving engagement, building trust and helping GRT communities access support when they need it.
That matters because services such as healthcare, education, housing advice and safeguarding can be harder to reach when families are moving, living on sites, or reluctant to contact institutions because of previous poor experiences.
Birmingham City Council says the team is working with communities directly and with partners across the city. The stated aim is earlier intervention, clearer routes into services and more joined-up work between agencies.
Paul Langford, Executive Director of City Housing at Birmingham City Council, said the work is about understanding needs, challenging misconceptions and building a service the city can stand behind.
“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.”
Police, schools, housing and charities are part of the new approach
The council says it has strengthened partnerships with organisations including West Midlands Police, education services, housing providers and charities.
Those links are intended to help families connect with key services and make responses less fragmented when issues arise. In practice, that can mean better communication between agencies when a family needs school support, health access, housing advice or safeguarding help.
The inclusion of West Midlands Police is also significant because unauthorised encampments often involve public concern, enforcement questions and community tension. A managed approach gives agencies a clearer framework for response, while also recognising that GRT families need access to safe provision and public services.
GRT History Month frames the wider local challenge
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month is marked nationally each June. It celebrates the heritage and contributions of GRT communities, while drawing attention to discrimination, exclusion and practical barriers that can affect daily life.
In Birmingham, the council is using the month to point to operational changes rather than a single commemorative event. The renewed service, partner work and reopened transit site are being presented as part of a longer programme of local provision.
The city’s GRT communities are part of Birmingham’s wider population, but public discussion can often focus narrowly on encampments. The council’s statement sets out a broader approach: recognition, support, trust-building and managed facilities.
Residents and families can contact the GRT team directly
Anyone who needs support from the dedicated team has been asked to contact GRT-team@birmingham.gov.uk.
The council says suitable, well-managed sites are a vital step in supporting communities and creating better outcomes for everyone.
Source: Birmingham City Council
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This article is based on Birmingham City Council's published update about GRT support, partnerships and the Proctor Street transit site.
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- Birmingham City Council
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- Birmingham
- Updated
- 2026-06-09 19:08
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