A Gypsy and Traveller campaigner from Dorset has been recognised for her amazing work on behalf of the Gypsy and Traveller community
Betty Smith-Billington, chair of the Dorset-based Gypsy and Traveller charity Kushti Bok has been named in the King’s New Year’s Honours list.
Betty was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the Gypsy and Traveller community. “It’s really a great honour and feels so good to get recognised,” Betty Smith-Billington told Travellers Times, “but it’s also good for the Gypsy and Traveller community to be recognised.”
Betty has joined other Gypsy, Roma and Traveller campaigners like Gloria Buckley MBE, Toby Gorniak MBE and Siobhan Spencer MBE in being recognised for the outstanding work she has done for the community.
Being told about the BEM was not the only good news that Betty has got recently.
Kushti Bok – the charity Betty founded over 20 years ago – has just received a substantial amount of funding from the community fund and will be moving into a proper office of its own. In partnership with the Citizens Advice Bureau, Kushti Bok will also be employing two extra people to help Betty out – an advice worker and a finance manager. Kushti Bok are encouraging people from the Gypsy and Traveller community to apply and you can do so here: