Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Questions

About NATC

1. What does "NATC" stand for?
2. What is the National Association of Travellers’ Centres?
3. What does the National Association of Travellers’ Centres do?
4. When was NATC formed?
5. Who governs NATC?
6. Can I hire the meeting room at NATC?
7. How do I apply for a job with NATC?
8. How do I get to your offices?
9. How do I enter the National Traveller Art Competition?

NATC and Travellers

10. Does NATC employ Travellers?
11. Does NATC provide services exclusively to Travellers?
12. How does NATC promote Traveller heritage and culture?

Centres of Education and Training

13. Is NATC involved in the day-to-day running of the Centres of Education and Training?

Youth Service

14. Does NATC do direct work with young people?
15. What type of Youth Work is NATC involved with?
16. What is the profile of our Youth Workers?
17. How do I apply for funding for Youth Work projects?
18. When can I apply for funding?
19. How much can I get?

    Voice of the Traveller

20. Are NATC and Voice of the Traveller the same thing?
21. Where can I get the Voice of the Traveller magazine?
22. Can I see what Voice of the Traveller looks like before I decide to subscribe?

Answers

About NATC

1. What does "NATC" stand for?

   "NATC" stands for the "National Association of Travellers' Centres".

2. What is the National Association of Travellers' Centres?

   The National Association of Travellers' Centres is a membership organisation, representing Centres of Education and Training (CET) and Youth Work Projects nationally.

3. What does the National Association of Travellers' Centres do?

   It represents the network of Centres of Education and Training at national level.
   It provides and funds Youth Services for young Travellers.
   It produces and distributes the Voice of the Traveller magazine.

4. When was NATC formed?

The Association was formed in 1980.

5. Who governs NATC?

   The Association is governed by a National Executive which is elected bi-annually at AGM from its membership. View NATC Structure.

6. Can I hire the meeting room at NATC?

   For information on our facilities, please contact us.

7. How do I apply for a job with NATC?

   You can visit our opportunities page for details of recruitment with NATC.

8. How do I get to your offices?

   NATC Head Office is located in Athlone, County Roscommon. A map and directions are available on our web site.

9. How do I enter the National Traveller Art Competition?

   The Art Competition is an annual event opened to people of all ages. For more information, check our Art Competition page.

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NATC and Travellers

10. Does NATC employ Travellers?

    NATC employs Travellers in all areas of our work, including our Youth Service, Voice of the Traveller magazine, and administrative staff.

11. Does NATC provide services exclusively to Travellers?

    No. We promote a partnership approach and support a range of integrated initiatives and programmes between the Traveller Community and other communities.

12. How does NATC promote Traveller heritage and culture?

    NATC produces the Voice of the Traveller magazine with features that reflect Traveller culture in today's Ireland and years gone by.
    Through our Youth Projects, NATC teaches young people to be proud of their Traveller heritage.

Centres of Education and Training

13. Is NATC involved in the day-to-day running of the Centres of Education and Training?

    No. The CETs are under the remit of their respective VECs.

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Youth Service

14. Does NATC do direct work with young people?

    NATC delivers Youth Work directly in 7 Youth Projects, where NATC employ the youth workers, NATC funds, part funds or provides grant aid through its network of 14 projects delivering youth work programmes and activities to over 3,000 young people annually.

15. What type of Youth Work is NATC involved with?

    NATC Youth Service has adopted the Critical Social Model of Youth Work, providing programmes and activities that aid and enhance the social, personal, recreational and creative development of young people.

16. What is the profile of our Youth Workers?

    All our staff have received training in Child Protection, First Aid and Youth Leadership. All our workers and volunteers have received full Garda Clearance. NATC is committed to the ongoing training and development of all of its Youth Workers, throughout the calendar year.

17. How do I apply for funding for Youth Work projects?

    Please see our website for the Applications forms and Criteria, or contact the Youth Service Team.

18. When can I apply for funding?

    Applications for funding need to be submitted each year in December. For more information, contact the NATC Office.

19. How much can I get?

    Funding granted must meet certain criteria as laid out in the application form.

Voice of the Traveller

20. Are NATC and Voice of the Traveller the same thing?

    NATC is the organisation that produces and distributes the Voice of the Traveller magazine.

21. Where can I get the Voice of the Traveller magazine?

    You can use our online subscription form to receive the magazine. For more information on distribution of the magazine, please contact the Voice of the Traveller team.

22. Can I see what Voice of the Traveller looks like before I decide to subscribe?

    Of course! You can view selected articles of our recent editions on our recent issues page and read them online.

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