Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller
Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month HISTORY MONTH
2009 Report
Compiled by Patricia Knight GRTHM National Coordinator
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June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller
Contents
HISTORY MONTH
Introduction ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3 1. Executive Summary �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4 2. National Coordinator’s Report ��������������������������������������������������������������� 9 Reports from key partners 3. NATT+ �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 12 4. Irish Traveller Movement in Britain ������������������������������������������������������� 14 5. Gypsy Media Company ������������������������������������������������������������������������ 16 6. Storytelling Competition ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 20 7. Treasurer Interim Report ���������������������������������������������������������������������� 21 Appendices ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 22
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June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
Introduction
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
Britain’s 300,000 Gypsies, Roma and Travellers are buried under a mountain of misunderstanding and myth produced by the media, the arts and public prejudice over hundreds of years. Racism against the community is widely recognised as an enduring form of acceptable racism by bodies such as the Council of Europe and the Equality and Human and Rights Commission. Shifting that prejudice is a herculean task that requires ingenuity, positivity and resourcefulness This report on the activities which led up to the second Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month in June 2009, demonstrates just how far people can go to work in a common cause across professional and racial boundaries. It shows how by funding a rallying point for widespread public education about Gypsy Roma and Traveller communities, the Department for Children, Schools and Families has enabled a community to begin to tackle the ignorance that blights it’s life. Just two years into the first national effort to confront prejudice against Gypsy, Roma and Travellers, this report documents how thousands of people have risen to such a herculean task, even if they have not yet completed it. It captures social change in action.
Jake Bowers, Romany journalist and broadcaster
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Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
1. Executive Summary Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month (GRTHM) is now in its second year – funded by the Department of Children, Schools and Families and supported by a range of public, voluntary and independent bodies.
June 2009
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This year GRTHM was run by a partnership of the following organisations HISTORY MONTH June 2009 who had applied for the work and were awarded funding for two years: • National Association of Teachers of Travellers and Other Professionals (NATT+) • Irish Traveller Movement • Gypsy Media Company • Surrey Traveller Community Relations Forum Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month celebrates Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture and history by tackling negative stereotyping and prejudices and by promoting positive images of Gypsy Roma and Traveller communities and their contribution as citizens.
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Gypsy Roma Traveller
1. Executive Summary
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
All across the country events and activities were led by local raveller Gypsy Roma Gypsy, Roma and Traveller groups or individuals, and Tby local HISTORY MONTH June 2009 Traveller Education Services Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month is a partnership between Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, local and central government, the voluntary sector and education. GRTHM 2009 aimed to co-ordinate activities nationally and locally as follows: • Promoting GRTHM • Flagship cultural events during GRTHM • Embedding GRTHM in schools across England • Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community engagement and partnership working • Nationally GRTHM creates unprecedented opportunities for education about Britain’s 300,000 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller citizens. It provides a framework for partnership working between Gypsy, Roma and Traveller and mainstream organisations and supports capacity building within the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community. GRTHM provides validation of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community and their children – who are able to see positive depictions of their culture in educational and wider community settings. This year the Month was marked by a range of national and local events and initiatives:
oma Traveller The key national eventsRand Gypsy initiatives were: HISTORY MONTH June 2009 • Launch event at Portcullis House featuring singers, story tellers, performers, speakers and artisan from the community – attended by over 300 people • GRTHM magazine – 30,000 copies were printed and widely distributed to Traveller sites, schools, and to numerous public bodies and community organisations • GRTHM website – provided information about events, a link to news and current issues, had an on-line version of the magazine and other features. National Storytelling Competition – for schools from Foundation to Key Stage 4. There were over 800 entries and the competition culminated in an awards ceremony in Leeds Civic Hall attended by over 200 people • Appleby – GRTHM had a strong presence at this years Appleby Horse Fair – with a focus on education and communication about Traveller experience with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller speakers from England, Scotland, and Ireland, an information stall at Salt Tip corner and a one day film festival. • The Irish Traveller Movement hosted two Pavee Ceilidh events in London and Manchester attended by over 100 people on each occasion. Speakers at Portcullis House for the launch of GRTHM 2009 included Lord Avebury (top), Arthur Ivatts and Jake Bowers (bottom).
GRTHM provides validation of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community – who are able to see positive depictions of their culture in educational and wider community settings. 5
Gypsy Roma Traveller
1. Executive Summary
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Funding Funding was distributed to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller and Traveller Education reps across 8 Regions to support a range of local events. All across the country events and activities were led by local Gypsy, Roma and TravellerHISTORY groupsMONTH June 2009 or individuals, and by local Traveller Education Services, in partnership with Equalities teams, Libraries, Museums, Police and Prison services.
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Events included exhibitions and workshops in schools and libraries, and participative events featuring music, dance and art. All over the country HISTORY MONTH June 2009 children and their families – both Gypsy, Roma and Traveller and non-Traveller joined together in local events and celebrations. Some of the highlights in each region are summarised below:
Regional Activities South West The Devon Race Equality Service ran sessions in schools using a DVD – “The Pride and the Prejudice” produced with members of the local Romany community. 13 sessions were run in 6 secondary schools for a total of 375 students. Romany trainers were employed to facilitate and lead discussions. The sessions enabled students to challenge prejudices and assumptions. In Avon activities in schools included: a Gypsy and Fairground arts display as part of an Arts week, and whole school assemblies leading to a week of art, music, dance, and story telling. In Wiltshire Traveller Ed. worked with children on sites and in schools and community settings to support them in educating their neighbours about who they are and where they come from. This raised awareness and profile of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture.
South East In East Sussex Traveller Ed, and local Gypsies and Travellers hosted an event to launch a DVD “Coming and Going” about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history and culture. This was attended by over 80 Gypsies and Travellers. Friends, Family and Travellers (FFT) also held a one day film festival in the Duke of York Cinema in Brighton. In Chichester (West Sussex) a local school hosted a week long series of events including all pupils in art workshops, storytelling etc. Local Gypsy, Roma and Traveller young people were paid for their input. Surrey staged a Travellers Got Talent event attended by more than 250 people – which
promoted Gypsy, Roma and Traveller performers and artists using a popular talent show format. This model is going to be adopted nationally by the 8 regions for GRTHM 2010 – with ‘Travellers Got Talent’ competitions across the country.
East In Norfolk exhibitions were held in the foyers of North Norfolk District Council, South Norfolk DC, & Breckland DC. And most importantly The Norfolk Royal Show. The theme of this year’s exhibition was ‘Norfolk Travellers’ and showed the history of the Drapers and the Leveridge families. These both trace their roots in the Norfolk countryside back over 100 years. In Essex the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community and Traveller Ed worked with the Essex Record office and the Essex Cultural Diversity project to stage a one day event for schools and communities involving display, arts and crafts, poetry, dancing, music and film. In Norfolk Gypsy, Roma and Traveller site residents worked with the site warden, Traveller Ed and local schools to create a garden on the site. Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community members were employed in schools to raise awareness of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller issues and culture – for example cooking on an open fire. In Bedfordshire an illustrated poetry anthology with the theme of Travelling Life was distributed to all local schools and will be used for curriculum development. In Cambridge Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children telling their own stories were featured on a safe social networking site for children and young people.
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Where information has been sent to us these events are all recorded in the Appendices.
Gypsy Roma Traveller
1. Executive Summary
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
West and East Midlands
London
In Staffordshire Education organised a conference for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families to inform the County Council on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller perspectives on building schools for the future; activities were held for home educated Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children; a celebration day at Hartlebury castle was attended by 27 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families; the “Kushti Book” was launched.
Activities and events were held in all 32 London Boroughs in schools, colleges, libraries, museums, and community settings HISTORY MONTH led by the TES and the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community. A major GRTHM conference was held at City Hall.
June 2009
Coventry hosted a touring show with Roma musicians and dancers In Warwickshire – the Police helped to organise a local family event with displays and activities, over 500 people attended. However, the event attracted negative media attention locally and nationally. 900 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller themed children’s books were distributed in schools across the region A Traveller Fayre was held in Leicestershire supported by over 40 organisations and attended by over 400 people
North West and North East In Middlewich a diversity day was led by the Free Spirit club – an independent Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Youth Club – and was attended by 200 people. In Winsford over 600 people attended a history weekend led by the Cheshire Gypsy Travellers Voice group. In Cumbria – Gypsies and local settled people put displays up throughout the county and have now gone on to form a new group – Cumbria Gypsy and Traveller Voice. In Sheffield the local Slovak Roma held a music and culture event jointly with local nonTravellers. In Leeds – the Leeds GATE project (Irish Traveller and Gypsy Youth) hosted and led an event attended by over 200 people.
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Some examples of the numerous events that took place are given below:
HISTORY MONTH
Redbridge – held an event at the Roma Support play group with 100 Romanian Roma and children from two local primary schools with music and exhibitions.
June 2009
Harrow children’s services funded educational activities in 6 schools – working in 8 classes per school with over 1000 children. In Southwark – STAG ( Southwark Traveller Action Group) hosted a celebration event at the Peckham settlement – with music, dance and displays and attendance from Gypsies, Irish Travellers, Roma and the settled community. Photo displays went into all secondary schools and into selected primary and special schools. A music event was held in Southwark park with the band Romany Rad. STAG launched a new book “History and Identity”. A photography project - “Pavee Wideen” produced positive images of Irish Traveller families. Events focussed around a “One Southwark” theme and were given wide publicity. Both Lewisham and Lambeth produced well publicised programmes of events including story telling, music, dance, arts and film in schools, libraries and community settings (see appendices). Lewisham staged a one day conference – “Living, Working and Learning Together” – with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller speakers, music and cultural activities. The month is now an established part of the annual calendar for public bodies, voluntary and community organisations and the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community.
The month is now an established part of the annual calendar for public bodies, voluntary and community organisations and the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community 7
Gypsy Roma Traveller
1. Executive Summary
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Key achievements
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All of the events and activities above – bringing together Travellers and nonTravellers and breaking down barriers between communities.
Increased ascription from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils as a result of exposure HISTORY MONTH to positive images and role models in educational settings.
GRTHM Provided a framework for developing working relations and partnerships with Equality teams, Arts and Education and the Traveller community.
Educating Gypsy, Roma and Traveller about who else in the community is taking a lead and making a difference.
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Empowerment and employment opportunities were increased for many members of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community e.g. organising events in schools, and other community settings. Significant increase this year in Traveller led initiatives, supported by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community representatives holding their own budgets. Increase in community cohesion resulting from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller and non-Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community members becoming more informed and educated about each other. Active engagement and impact on school activities and curriculum by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller young people.
The vibrant and colourful awards ceremony in Leeds for the GRTHM 2009 National Storytelling Competition award ceremony.
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2010
Plans for GRTHM 2010 The first planning meeting re: GRTHM 2010 has taken place and the programme is taking place and budgets allocated. This will include:
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• Joint work in the 8 regions between Gypsy, Roma and Traveller HISTORY MONTH June 2010 representatives and Education. • A History Month magazine produced and distributed widely • A national launch event at the end of May
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• The website – informing and promoting the month HISTORY MONTH
June 2010
• Travellers Got Talent events with regional heats and a national final • A national poetry competition for schools • The bringing to Britain for the first time of two major exhibitions concerning the holocaust of the Roma and Sinti in Germany • The return of the GRTHM History seminar organised by Professor Thomas Acton at Greenwich University
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Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
2. Coordinator’s Report Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
The hallmarks of GRTHM 2009 were:
June 2009
• Increased participation of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities regionally and in GRTHM launch • Development of GRTHM and establishing presence in Scotland, Wales and Ireland HISTORY MONTH June 2009 • Partnership building e.g. the Appleby project • Development of Art and Culture approach • Increased links with Europe – Romany routes, the Holocaust projects.
Gypsy Roma Traveller
Increased participation of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities regionally and in GRTHM launch At the initial planning stages it was considered vital that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community representatives were empowered in their involvement in the Month by being given responsibility to hold and administer their own GRTHM community budgets. The figure set initially for each of the regions was £2300 – which was increased to £3300. Support was given by ITMB who prepared a “Getting Involved” advice booklet – which was also developed for the website. The designated representatives – all of whom are high profile Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community activists of some standing and experience – went on to organise regional meetings with their wider communities, these developed proposals and made decisions as to how the money was to be spent. There was wide variation nationally in the resulting exhibitions, cultural days, talent shows, talks and performance events. But all shared the element of being Traveller lead and having a positive impact on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community cohesion, capacity building, and emerging partnership working. Some regions concentrated on large events, others leaned towards a combination of smaller initiatives and resource building for project sustainability. Ideas were shared at central planning meetings, but decisions were made at grassroots regional level by community members and their partners. Regional reps also worked within their communities to identify and bring forward singers, storytellers, performers, speakers and artisans to showcase regional talent for the participative launch of GRTHM 2009. This was
held at Portcullis House, Westminster. This highly positive event was attended by a wideranging audience including some 300 Gypsy, Roma and Travellers from across the country, policy makers, academics, journalists, musicians, MPs and Lords. The 2009 Launch event was organised by the National Coordinator with some support from Andrew Ryder from ITMB. In 2010 it is planned that Portcullis House will again host the GRTHM launch and the event will be co-ordinated by the publicity and PR lead for the month, Jake Bowers.
Development of GRTHM and establishing presence in Scotland, Wales and Ireland To this end the National Coordinator visited the Scottish Parliament for the launch of the Status of Scottish Gypsy Travellers (Discrimination) Bill, and made links with: Ken McKennon – academic activist, Shamus and Rosanna Mcphee – community educationalists and activists, and the Head of Traveller Education in Scotland – Pauline Padfield. In June the National Coordinator visited Cardiff to speak at the launch of the GRTHM event and acted as consultant and support to Welsh Romany Isaac Blake in his partnership working with Equalities and Black voluntary sector organisations in Wales. The Coordinator made links with Traveller education and visited Traveller sites in Cardiff to meet community members and inform them about GRTHM and offer support towards establishing GRTHM in Wales. This launch event was successful and inclusive of various sections of the Welsh Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community – and involved speakers from the Council, Community Arts groups, the voluntary sector and the community. The event received extensive coverage from the BBC and local press and looks set to continue with statutory, voluntary and community partnerships. The
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2. Coordinator’s Report newly established Romany Arts and Culture group have now secured funding and will be working with Education and all other relevant organisations to celebrate and communicate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history and culture throughout Wales in 2010, with a view to this becoming an annual event.
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FRIDAY 5TH JUNE 11:30am | 1:30pm | 3:30pm
Partnership building This year saw the trial of a new partnership at Britain’s largest gathering of the Gypsy and Traveller community – Appleby Horse Fair. GRTHM joined with Education on the Hoof and Open Productions to bring speakers and a film festival of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller film to Appleby at a central venue – the 67 Community centre. GRTHM also contributed to the information stand in the central horsetrading area – Salt tip corner. Gypsy and Traveller speakers were scheduled at bookable slots at the 67 centre and talks were well attended and feedback positive. Speakers were: Shamus Mcphee who spoke about growing up in a racial experiment at Bobbin Hall in Scotland; Irish Traveller Michael Mcdonaugh who spoke about myths and truths surrounding the community and the extensive community activism and empowerment of the organisation Navan Travellers Action; Candy Sheridan – Irish Traveller, activist and County Councillor who spoke about her extensive experience of working on planning appeals to address the accommodation needs of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community.
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June 2009
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ypsy R oma Traveller SHARING G STORIES AND EXPERIENCES Gypsy Roma2009 Traveller HISTORY MONTH June
THE Gypsy Roma Traveller
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
Trips to Scotland and Wales were undertaken in the National Coordinator’s own time and all travel and accommodation costs were met by respective project hosts. Links were made with Ireland and Irish Travellers involved form the ground breaking Traveller initiative “ Navan Travellers Workshops”. The project founders and current leaders – Eileen and Michael Mcdonaugh travelled from Ireland to join a team of Traveller activists and educators at Appleby Horse Fair in Cumbria. They brought with them a wide range of educational and exhibition material, to display and distribute. An impressive information stall was set up at Salt Tip corner Appleby. Michael was also one of the speakers billed to speak for GRTHM in a joint initiative with Education on the Hoof. Places were bookable in advance and the venue was full of interested parties from a variety of organisations and backgrounds.
June 2009
June 2009
OPEN TALK SERIES HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Featuring:
PATRICIA KNIGHT British Romany, activist and National Co-ordinator of Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month. Organiser of GRTHM at Appleby Fair 2009.
CANDY SHERIDEN County Councillor and campaigner. ELLEN & MICHAEL McDONAGH from Navan Travellers
Action. Michael is a respected authority on Traveller Culture and History.
SHAMUS McPHEE member of the Scottish Traveller Reform Coalition. PLUS ASTROLOGER LEE PETRALENGRO AND OTHERS… AT THE 67 CENTRE, CHAPEL STREET (NEXT TO BROAD CLOSE CAR PARK) The National Coordinator joined with Simon Evans – BBC broadcaster and filmmaker, and Director of Open Productions to put on a festival of film at the 67 Centre. The event was well received and had a positive impact for those who attended. Underpinning the Appleby events was the GRTHM team accommodation, which brought together community members, Traveller Education, journalists, activists, academics, and broadcasters. This facilitated a good exchange of ideas, joint work and plans for future development of the month. The Coordinator acted as consultant on the “ Out of Site” education pack produced by the organisation “Kick Racism out of Football”. Through this collaboration the project was linked to the Savvy Chavvy website in order that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller youth could be consulted as to the content of the pack at its development stage. The resultant education pack now contains the voice and comments of the community that it is aiming to educate others about.
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The line-up for the talks that took place at the 67 Centre during Appleby Fair 2009.
Gypsy Roma Traveller
2. Coordinator’s Report
Increased links with Europe Romany Routes – The National Coordinator attended a 2 day meeting facilitated by Surrey History centre and linking in with a European Commission initiative. Partners involved included European and local community representatives and activists and the Rural Media Company. The event looked at plans to develop a Romany Route linking Europe and Britain and highlighting significant Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history events and locations. It is anticipated that GRTHM events in 2010 will form a part of the Romany Route project and will therefore be advertised throughout Europe. Holocaust exhibitions – from January to March 2009 the National Coordinator worked extensively to seek to secure an appropriate venue for the first visit to Britain of the Cultural and Documentation Centre of German Sinti and Roma exhibition of The Holocaust against the Roma and Sinti and present day racism in Europe. This has previously been exhibited at the European parliament. The timescale available proved too short for major venues to accommodate the exhibition – which is now reserved for GRTHM 2010. There is a commitment from GRTHM to contribute funding to this project. A second exhibition concerning the Holocaust has also been offered for GRTHM 2010 and again would be exhibited in Britain for the first time – and comprises the sculptures, etchings and woodcuts of German Artist – Otto Pancock detailing the daily lives of his Sinti Roma neighbours before and during their Second World War experience of NAZI persecution. Venues to enable the bringing together for the first time of these two major exhibitions have now been secured.
HISTORY MONTH
The Heidelberg Cultural and Documentation Centre’s travelling exhibition - “ The Holocaust against the Roma Sinti” will be at the Arts Pavilion in Mile End London from May 31st HISTORY MONTH 2010 through till 20th of June 2010.The Arts Pavilion is currently hosting the Children’s Society “ Roma London exhibition”.
June 2009
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It is planned with the help of exhibition curator Eva Sajovic, to support the exhibition with events for schools, seminars,HISTORY talks andMONTH film. From June 7th to June 28th Greenwich University Stephen Lawrence Gallery will be the host to the exhibition of artist and human rights activist Otto Pancoks work – “Sinti” – concerning his view as a non-Roma of the treatment and eventual murder of his Sinti neighbours in Germany by the National Socialists between 1933 and 1945. Following a request to Professor Acton a History seminar is now also confirmed to coincide with the Launch of both exhibitions to be held at Greenwich on June 7th. The seminar will be conducted entirely by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller academics, activists, and historians and will be on the theme of holocaust, genocide, and ongoing persecution of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community. Both exhibitions have particular relevance in this, the 65th year of the liberation of Auschwitz- Birkenau and are consistent with the Holocaust memorial theme “The Legacy of Hope”. We hope with these International exhibitions of Historic prominence to raise the profile of this important episode in Gypsy Roma History and gain significant Media attention.
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June 2009
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3. NATT+ Report
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
By Anthea Wormington
June 2009
The aims of Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month are to:
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• Promote knowledge of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History, Culture and Heritage HISTORY MONTH June 2009 • Disseminate information on positive Gypsy, Roma and Traveller contributions to British Society • Heighten the confidence and awareness of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people to their cultural heritage • Celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture and heritage
Success indicators for this period were: • All of the eight regions were involved in varying degrees in events and celebrations throughout the month. • There was increased participation throughout the country of all the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities within these regions • There was an increase in the number of schools involved nationally in the event • There was increased inclusion in schools of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture and history within the curriculum • The profile of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities was raised in a positive way
• There were extended learning opportunities to the wider public to become educated about their Gypsy, Roma and Traveller neighbours • Attendance and involvement of community members and education representatives at all the steering group meetings was high • There was an increased use of the GRTHM web-site • There was an increased partnership working across all sectors • There was a great demand for the GRTHM magazine
• There were increased opportunities for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community members to become educators to the wider community
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3. NATT+ Report
HISTORY MONTH
Key achievements were:
June 2009
The 8 Regions of GRTHM
• The successful development of partnershipwork at regional level via nominated Traveller Ed and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller representatives. • Local initiatives in all regions promoting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture in schools, libraries, museums, universities, throughout the month. It is impossible to measure the numbers in the communities and schools which attended and benefitted (Wiltshire had 4 displays in libraries in 4 areas ) • High level of involvement of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and individuals in GRTHM launch at Portcullis House. Participative Traveller led event featuring singers, storytellers, performers, speakers and artisans from the community. • Increasing evidence of schools building GRTHM into curriculum planning for the year ahead. Many schools ordered resources for schools to engage in the story-telling activities and raise awareness of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller cultures in schools. (Impossible to measure how many schools and children this involved.) • Increasing evidence of schools inviting in members of the community to host events. (Impossible to know how many children benefitted from this throughout the country but Milton Keynes, in the Bucks region, estimated 10 Schools with 400 children involved. Raising Awareness sessions were ran in schools in Devon for approximately 375 students). • 800 children entering the national storytelling event and over 200 community members attending the awards ceremony for the competition in Leeds in November 2009. (There were probably many more children involved as schools would have selected their best entries for the competition. Many schools ordered resources to assist pupils to engage in the story-telling events.) • Numerous community events nation wide – both Traveller led and in partnership – attended by mainstream community. • Demand for the 30,000 magazines far outstripped the number printed.
ypsy raveller West Midlands GSouth Roma TWest HISTORY MONTH Cornwall Devon Gloucestershire Wiltshire Avon (Bristol) Dorset HISTORY MONTH Somerset
Birmingham June 2009
Shropshire Worcestershire Herefordshire Staffordshire Warwickshire
Gypsy Roma Traveller South East Oxfordshire Buckinghamshire Berkshire Hampshire East Sussex West Sussex Surrey Kent
East Suffolk Norfolk Cambridgeshire Essex Herts Beds
London Region 32 boroughs
June 2009
East Midlands Derbyshire Leicestershire Nottinghamshire Northamptonshire Lincolnshire South Humberside
North West Cumbria Lancashire Merseyside Greater Manchester Cheshire
North East North Yorkshire West Yorkshire South Yorkshire Northumberland Tyne & Wear Durham Cleveland North Humberside
Community Representatives Sally Woodbury South West Ann Wilson South East Candy Sheridan East Rocky Deans London Siobhan Spencer East & West Midlands Joe & Jane Hurn North West & North East
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June 2009
4. Irish Traveller Gypsy Roma Traveller Movement in Britain HISTORY MONTH
By Yvonne MacNamara
June 2009
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Community Strand Report The Irish Traveller Movement in Britain (ITMB) was invited to draft a proposal for ‘Community involvement’ in a four stranded application to the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) by the National Association of Teachers of Travellers and Other Professionals (NATT+) for Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month (GRTHM).
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The application was led by NATT+ and had the following strands and participants involved:
• Education and schools – NATT+ • The arts – Patricia Knight • Media, promotion and website – Jake Bowers • Community involvement – ITMB • The initial agreement for the community strand was for £30,000 and included the following areas of work. • Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Community Engagement and Partnership Working • Communicate GRTHM to communities • Flagship cultural events during GRTHM • Embedding GRTHM in schools across England Above: Invitation to the “Pavee Céiladh“ in London. There was one in Manchester earlier in the month. Left: The Joyce Family. Below: Breda, Mary, Allie, Dan and Kathleen enjoying Pavee Ceilidh celebrations in London.
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4. ITMB Report
HISTORY MONTH
Bridy Purcell from ITMB Travellers Youth Forum who co-chaired the GRTHM launch at Portcullis House, House of Commons.
However, on further discussions ITMB decided not to accept the £30,000 for the community strand. ITMB upon reflection did not have the necessary infrastructural support in place and would have had to employ a staff member specifically to undertake financial administration of the funds. ITMB would have had to either absorb this extra cost which was not an option or charge out to GRTHM which would have dramatically reduced the amount of funding to the regions. It was thus resolved to devolve responsibility to the regions to distribute funds to local/regional groups and individuals with accompanying advice and guidance from the ITMB which was circulated to regional representatives for GRTHM.
ITMB therefore agreed to in-kind staff time costs for workers where possible and to scale down work to an agreed budget of £7,000 to ensure as much as possible was sent to the regions. The following areas of work were delivered on behalf of ITMB by Andrew Ryder, raveller Grace O Malley and Scott Phillips: June 2009
Getting involved booklet. 3,000 copies were printed many more were downloaded from the GRTHM website.
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Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Play a Part
Getting Involved
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
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How to play a part in GRTHM 2009 from initial idea to the event
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Useful advice and information to help you make your ideas happen
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Ideas and inspiration
Guidance and training booklet
June 2009
• Production of a guidance and training booklet (20 pages) which gave full details of regional contacts, information and how to get involved. A total of 3,000 booklets were HISTORY MONTH June 2009 printed and disseminated. The booklet was also uploaded onto the GRTHM website and was a major source of information guidance and awareness rising. • Production of grant application form and guidance notes on applying for the grant on HISTORY MONTH June 2009 a regional basis was issued. • A training module was designed for regional Coordinators. (Unfortunately grants were disseminated to coordinators in advance of training. Very few Coordinators thus availed of the training. ITMB recommends that training is compulsory for regional Coordinators for 2010 and delivered in advance of receipt of grant) • Shared organisation and facilitation of the launch of GRTHM was coordinated by Andrew Ryder which took place in Portcullis House, House of Commons. The event was attended by Julie Morgan MP and Lord Avebury and attracted approximately 250 attendees many from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community. • ITMB were active steering group members (Andrew Ryder) for GRTHM and gave support to GRTHM National Coordinator Patricia Knight and NATT+ the lead agency in relation to community engagement
Gypsy Roma Traveller Gypsy Roma Traveller
ITMB, from totally separate funds (Heritage Lottery) organised two flagship events Pavee Ceilidh in Manchester and Pavee Ceilidh London to celebrate the month. Both events were highly successful and attracted crowds in excess of 120 people to each event. Additionally from our separate Heritage Lottery funds ITMB produced a DVD, “Pavee Ceilidh”, on Irish Traveller history and culture. The DVD has been a great success and is currently being used by some schools to promote awareness (copies are available free of charge from the ITMB). Overall the month was a major success. It is important as individuals we are all aware of our history culture and heritage. However it is equally important that others are also aware, for it is only through sharing and education that discrimination and prejudice can be challenged and overcome. Yvonne MacNamara
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Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
5. Media Report
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
By Jake Bowers
June 2009
The Gypsy Media Company Ltd. is the only community owned media production company within the British Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community, specialising in the production of broadcast and printed media about the Gypsy, Roma and HISTORY MONTH June 2009 Traveller community. It was also one of the four institutional partners responsible for gaining DCSF funding to continue Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month into 2009 and 2010. The grant funding from the DCSF allowed the Gypsy Media Company Ltd. to support the month in three strategic areas, which were:
Gypsy Roma Traveller
• GRTHM Magazine production and distribution • Production and maintenance of the GRTHM Month website, including broadcast quality films, music and songbook • Public relations support for national and local events • This report looks at the successes and failures involved in those three areas of activity.
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month Magazine In May 2008, the Gypsy Media Company, wrote and edited the first edition of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month Magazine. It was largely a listings magazine featuring local events in each English region, but also including editorial content about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture and history. The grant funding to produce the magazine was supplemented by advertising sales to pay for printing 23,000 copies of the magazine. The advertising sales also enabled the Gypsy Media Company to pay for the design, as well as the commissioning of written editorial content and freelance photography. 15,000 copies of the magazine were distributed by local Traveller Education Services, Gypsy support groups, GRTHM event venues and organisers. The remaining magazines were distributed directly at Appleby Fair, the biggest Gypsy Horse Fair in Europe on June 6th and 7th and the Epsom Derby on the same weekend. Many thousands more copies of the magazine were also downloaded from the website at www. GRTHM.co.uk
Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month Magazine saw its third issue during 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month Magazine
Issue 3
June 2009
From Cornwall to Cumbria, your guide to Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month Places to go and things to do to celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history and culture The hidden history of Europe’s largest and most misunderstood ethnic group
A second edition of Gypsy, Roma Traveller History Month magazine was be produced in September 2008 and distributed as a supplement with the autumn edition of Travellers Times in October. In 2009, only one edition of the magazine was produced but the print run was extended to 30,000 copies. 23,000 copies were distributed
Celebrating over 500 years of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history and culture
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Gypsy Roma Traveller
6. Media Report
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
GRTHM website including broadcast quality films and songbook as a supplement to Travellers Times magazine; the additional 7,000 copies were distributed by local Traveller Education Services, Gypsy support groups, GRTHM event venues and organisers. Again, many thousands more copies of the magazine were also downloaded from the website at www.GRTHM.co.uk. The additional costs of distribution were paid for by bulk subscriptions by public bodies that supported the month. Apart from an increased print run, the magazine was also intended as a physical flier for more audio-visual content which was distributed through the internet on a redesigned and vastly expanded Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month website. One innovation was the creation of the Romano Drom songbook. The Gypsy Media Company commissioned Romany musician Kerieva McCormick to produce musical scores of well-known British and continental Romany songs and then reproduced her work and the songs in a songbook and online jukebox. Another innovation, which played to the strength of the internet was the production of broadcast quality content such as a report on the launch of GRTHM 2009 which was embedded in both the GRTHM website and the Travellers Times website. A radio report and digital story produced by Jake Bowers and 4 gifted and talented Appleby Grammar school students was also put online and broadcast by BBC Cumbria. Specially produced videos such as “the Cherry Orchard” and videos featuring the finalists and winners of the Travellers Got Talent also reached a much wider audience by being distributed through the YouTube and Vimeo video streaming websites. The number of views combined with overall web statistics show that 2009 really was the year that Gypsy Roma and Traveller History month made the most of the internet. We hope to repeat and build upon this success in 2010.
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forthcoming events and highlighting those happening around the country on thatMONTH day. HISTORY
June 2009
2009 Highlights In addition to the daily updates, more fresh content was regularly added, including video clips and short films and articles highlighting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities HISTORY MONTH around the UK and Europe. Two major items of note that were included in June 2009 were the downloadable version of ITMB’s “Getting Involved“ booklet and the downloadable songbook “Romano Drom“ complete with supporting jukebox.
Gypsy Roma Traveller June 2009
Contact Many people made contact with GRTHM via the website. We were able to pass them on to the relevant GRTHM organiser or regional leader. Community radio station SW1 and the presenter of the show “Passport“ Philip Hogg was one such person. He is a lover of world music – including “Gypsy“ Music – and dedicated a whole show in June to GRTHM 2009. This show included live music from the London Gypsy Orchestra. An edit of their performance can still be listened to on the site. Philip Hogg’s details were passed on to Rocky Deans with the hope of something bigger and better for 2010.
Kerieva McCormick produced musical scores of some of here own songs as well as other well-known British and continental Romany songs.
Visitors The site statistics show that visitors numbers were up in 2009 (see the next page). Naturally there’s a peak during June in the summer but the figures were higher in every month than those in 2008.
www.GRTHM.co.uk in 2010 The statistics show that the website is successful in attracting an audience. It currently serves as a record of the history month with reviews, features/articles and online and downloadable versions of the three GRTHM magazines published so far. To the casual visitor, it serves well to promote GRTHM.
The Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month website has been online since February 2008. Its aim has been to support GRTHM events and activities. In the first year it was largely a static site that served as an online events listing alongside general information such as regional contacts and the aims of GRTHM. In 2009, with more time dedicated to the site much more was achieved. During June the site was updated on a daily basis, promoting
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The GRTHM website was updated daily throughout June in 2009.
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6. Media Report
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Unique Visits: Year on Year Comparison 2008
do these raveller Gypsy Roma TWhat statistics show? HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
This analysis summarizes multiple page impressions of an individual visitor into unique visits. A visitor is counted only when June 2009 bringing up more than one page and taking no longer than 30 minutes between individual pages.
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
2009
Page Views: Year on Year Comparison 2008
What do these statistics show? These statistics show all successful page views (also known as page impressions) and the time they were made. Only fully loaded pages are counted. Individual images and components are not included.
2009
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Gypsy Roma Traveller
6. Media Report
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Media and publicity The Gypsy community is a tight knit community through which word spreads fast. It is also a community which is regularly and persistently demonised by local papers and the tabloid press. So the very establishment of GRTHM has provided an opportunity for good PR about Gypsy culture and an equally powerful opportunity to criticise any attempt to celebrate it. The media coverage of GRTHM in 2008 covered this entire spectrum. The failures and successes were repeated in 2009. As in 2008, the first objective for the publicity campaign was to spread knowledge and ownership of the month among the community itself and this was largely achieved through the community’s own media. The month was enthusiastically endorsed by Travellers Times, but could not be publicised via BBC Rokker Radio because the programme was cancelled in December 2008. However, there was very good coverage within regional BBC radio and TV, and an improved coverage in independent local radio and TV news reports on regional TV news such as Meridian Tonight. From BBC Cumbria to BBC Wales local BBC journalists in particular grasped the opportunity to tell a different story about the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community. Much of this happened because of an article written by Jake Bowers in the BBC’s internal newspaper Ariel which invited all of the
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
HISTORY MONTH
Much of the media about the month, however, wasn’t generated by the mainstream media but by individual websites such as those operated by local government and race equality organisations. A search today will reveal in excess of 14,000 different references to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month in the search engine Google. A gallery of Roma photographs by Zsusanna Ardo was also featured on the Guardian’s website in June 2009. The month also received a lot of positive attention in local commercial newspapers such as the Eastern Daily Press and community media such as Resonance FM in London which broadcast an entire programme featuring the London Gypsy Orchestra. For a while it looked as 2009 would also lack negative publicity. But on June 29th 2009 the Daily Mail predictably criticised Warwickshire Police for holding a “Pikey’s Picnic” at its HQ as part of the history month, though the negative publicity was not nearly as widespread as in 2008.
June 2009
Songs by
Ambrose Cooper, Kerieva & Others
Arranged by Kerieva for Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month, June 2009 www.virtualsheetmusic.com
June 2009
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Gypsy Roma Traveller
{ songbook Romano Drom
June 2009
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BBC’s 30,000 employees to improve the corporation’s representationHISTORY of the community. MONTH A lot of work was done to link BBC journalists with local stories which matched their needs. This resulted in two national TV reports about the month on the primetime BBC children’s news programme Newsround. It also resulted in good coverage about theHISTORY month onMONTH both the English and Russian language services on the BBC World Service, as well as powerful reports on BBC South Today, Look East, Look North and BBC London. Some opportunistic coverage for the month was gained because June 2009 also featured the racially motivated attacks on Romanian Roma migrants in Belfast.
The Romano Drom songbook that is downloadable from the GRTHM website
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June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
6. Storytelling Competition Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
By Claire Lockwood
2009 national GRTHM competition was storytelling. There were over a 800 entries from all over the country from foundation stage to key stage 4 and from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller and non Gypsy, Roma and Traveller.
All the winners stories were put in a book ‘Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Storybook’ edited by Claire Lockwood, which was presented to each winner. These books have now be given free to schools in England courtesy of NATT+.
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Storybook: a compilation of the winners and highly commended entries June 2009 to GRTHM 2009’s National Competition
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
Three initial judges Maureen Barrow from Sunderland TES, Kathleen Guthrie from Hull TES and Rosalind Paul from Luton TES got the hundreds down to tens. We then had three final judges Karen Taylor – Foundation and key Stage 1, Richard O’Neill – key stage 2 and Eleanor Thom – key stages 3 and 4 who did a fantastic job of finding first, second and third places as well as highly commended. On November 17th over 200 people attended the highly successful GRTHM Storytelling Awards Ceremony at the banqueting Suite of the Civic Hall in Leeds. The prize winners were presented their prizes by Taffy Thomas MBE who will become the first national laureate for storytelling in January 2010, The Deputy Lord Mayor of Leeds, Andrew Barker, Jake Bowers, Karen Taylor and Tom Leadley , councillor for Morley, Leeds.
June 2009
‘This is a rich, vivid and truly wonderful collection of stories about Traveller life and times from a new generation of very talented storytellers. The superb quality and variety of writing make it a must read for anyone who is truly interested in great stories’ Richard O’Neill – Professional Storyteller. The book was distributed to nominated schools and is available to buy from NATT+.
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“I would like to thank everyone involved for Tuesdays award ceremony. It was a marvellous event and a day we will remember for many years to come. I really don’t know if my daughter will ever have such an opportunity to be involved in such events again, but I hope every year you have is as successful as this one.” Mother of one of the winners
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
7. Treasurer Interim Report Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
By Claire Lockwood The GRTHM project was successful in gaining funding from the DCSF for 2 financial years 2009 – 2010 and 2010 – 2011 for £125,000 for each year. Last year’s funds went on communication, the GRTHM magazine and the GRTHM website, Community and TES funded projects, The National Coordinator and treasurer, the
booklet on helping the community to get involved, the national storytelling competition and on the steering group meetings.
June 2009
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A full financial report for 2009-2010 will be posted on the website at the end of April HISTORY MONTH 2010, this will then go to the auditors to be verified. For more information please contact Claire. lockwood@educationleeds.co.uk
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June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
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Appendices
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Events Hosted and Run by TESs and School’s Report ������������������������������� 23 London Region Community and Education Report ����������������������������������� 30
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community representatives reports The North West ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 36 The East ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 37 The South East ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 38 The Midlands ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 39 The North East ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 41
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Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Events Hosted andGypsy Run Roma Traveller by TESs and Schools HISTORY MONTH
Compiled by Anthea Wormington
The East Region Cambridgeshire Midsummer Fair The NATT+ funding helped us to run two events on Thursday June 25th and Friday June 26th 2009 as part of the annual Midsummer Fair which is held in Cambridge every June. We prepared a display which was also an interactive quiz about the history of the fair where parents and children had to match pictures of the fair and dated back a great umber of years. A number of parents participated in this activity and told us many interesting aspects about the fair’s development and history. We also provided a mixture of early years activities, support with on- line and off-line work packs children had received from their base schools and craft activities. We were also able to hire a local storyteller, Marion Leeper, who came to deliver storytelling as part of the last hour of our activities on both days. We recorded this storytelling, as well as some children telling their own stories which we hope to put on Radiowaves over the summer holidays (a safe, school social networking for children and young people in education) to celebrate Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month (anyone can visit the site at www.radiowaves.co.uk). We also recorded some interviews with older community members for the same purpose.
June 2009
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In order to take this a step further an opportunity was taken through the NATT+ HISTORY MONTH funding to take the story and animate it with plastercine models. A general ICT advisor was employed to work with the class to introduce them to animation techniques. He was employed to deliver two morning sessions but additionally supported the project by editing the final DVD presentation.
June 2009
The children worked in groups of three helping to develop their levels of co-operation. There were two children of Traveller heritage working in the class and prompted one to bring his model Vardo to show the class. The project had been swiftly developed in order that it took place in Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month. Richard O’Neill has seen the finished DVD and was pleased with the effort the pupils have put in. Clearly there is potential to develop more work like this reflecting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage positively and in a way that excites all the pupils. Peter Young CREDS Advisory Teacher Traveller Team (Fenland)
Essex The Traveller Education Service working in partnership with Essex Record Office and Essex Cultural Diversity Project held an event at the Record Office on Monday 29th June to
Overall we had a good turn out from families visiting the fair. We had many regular families return and lots of new ones as well and all participated in the activities.
Animation Project at Murrow Primary school Wisbech The Year 4/5 children had been involved in a successful storytelling project called ‘Step Up’ involving four other Primary schools and a community College. Working with Richard O’Neill (Traveller storyteller), myself and class teachers they had taken a newly written story ‘The Kushti Feeta’ and presented it as a performance storytelling celebration.
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Arts and crafts in Essex and (right) displays showing aspects of culture and history
Events Hosted and Run by TES and Schools
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
mark Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month.
Norfolk Traveller Education Service
Aiming to raise awareness of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities and celebrate their culture and history, the event included; displays, arts/crafts, poetry, step dancing, accordion music and a viewing of the film ‘Gypsy Caravan: When the Road Bends’.
National Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month in June provides an opportunity for the Service to promote learning HISTORY and community MONTH cohesion by supporting the community to share and discover history and heritage through educational activities. Here are just some of the activities that have taken place this June…
The lecture theatre and adjoining room were generously made available for the day and there were many displays showing aspects of culture and history on show. The glass cabinets housed a range of model Vardos and documents from the archive. The day had three distinctive sections. The morning session was for Key Stage 2 pupils from four local schools, with activities included designing plates based on traditional designs, made a model wagon and took part in a quiz. The afternoon was a drop in session for local Travellers and Gypsies to have an opportunity to share and record their own stories, with examples of impromptu step dancing and singing. The Children’s Trust were also available to interview pupils and parents for the Children and Young People’s Plan. In the evening Bernadette Riley read her poem, written to express her feelings following a public hearing; Leo and Eagle gave a performance of step dancing and unaccompanied singing. This was followed by a showing of the film ‘Gypsy Caravan: When the Road Bends’, which follows a sell out tour in America of Roma performers from around the world.
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller
HISTORY MONTH Traveller Education staff, parents and the Site Warden worked together to support the School children living on The Splashes Traveller Site in Swaffham to create a garden on their site to bloom in June!
Granny Draper brought her vintage Buccaneer trailer, her cooking pots, washing bowls and stand to St Peter’s Primary School, Easton for the children to learn about travelling in the past. A special assembly was held, culturally reflective learning activities took place in the classrooms and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month medals were awarded to children for excellent work. Granny Draper’s grandsons, who attend the school, helped their Granny during the morning and explained to the children how Travellers live when they are on the move. Another local Traveller Granny also leant her cooking pot and kettle to the children and staff at Emneth Children’s Centre who built a fire outside to try out some cooking and have a picnic together around the fire. The children also made peg dollies in the Nursery and talked to Granny about family photos she had brought in for them to see. The Mobile Library Service visits Gapton Traveller site fortnightly so children from the site visited Gorleston Library to look around and have a storytelling session.
Bedfordshire Activity/project/service: Printing an illustrated poetry anthology with the theme of Travelling Life Who benefited? • All schools will receive a copy of the anthology • All contributors will receive a personal copy • The poetry will be used for curriculum development materials. • Materials have already been developed for schools about writing poetry with a Gypsy, Roma and Traveller emphasis What difference did this make? This project promoted knowledge of Traveller life and cultural heritage and disseminated positive information about the Travelling community.
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June 2009
Events Hosted and Run by TES and Schools How did it contribute to the aims of the GRTHM? The anthology will celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture and heritage and heighten confidence of Gypsy, Roma and Travellers in their cultural Heritage.
Suffolk Activity/project/service: GRTHM Launch included a storyteller, circus and wagon painter. In addition work in schools utilising the storyteller and a flower maker. Who benefited? Press report on launch so understanding of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities promoted to wider public and Schools re community cohesion agenda and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community members. What difference did this make? Led to a greater understanding and appreciation of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities by wider society. Pupils in schools had opportunity to explore issues such as diversity, racism, the meaning of equality as well as learning about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
authority art gallery • Staffordshire – launch event of history mosaic • Hereford – archiving and classification of historical photographs with the community HISTORY MONTH • Regular meeting sessions throughout the year at regional and local levels involving range of professionals and representatives of the communities Who benefited?
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
It was envisaged that all of these events would promote a positive and more realistic image of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities to the local authorities, professional from across the sectors and the general public.
June 2009
What difference did this make? The money enabled the events to take place. The events also complimented educational and community work in a way that could not otherwise have been achieved. How did it contribute to the aims of the GRTHM? The events were fully compliant with the aims of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month and targeted a range of age groups and communities. Many had also been constructed with adherence to the Community Cohesion agenda.
The North East Region Activity/project/service: A play entitled ‘From Cinders to Tatters’ which will be performed in 4 locations around the region. Who benefited? School age pupils in the 4 areas plus members of the Traveller community. What difference did this make? Without it we will not be able to put the play on beyond Durham. How did it contribute to the aims of the GRTHM? It developed a greater awareness and understanding of the cultural and heritage issues both historically and currently facing Gypsy Roma Travellers.
West Midlands Activity/project/service: A variety of Projects throughout the region • Main Event. A showcase in Victoria Square of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller talent from throughout the Midlands • Coventry – touring show with Roma musicians and dancers • Dudley – Professional development event for professionals in education • Walsall – Photographic exhibition for local
The South East Region Berkshire Activity/project/service: • A social evening/day/afternoon to show Gypsy, Roma and Traveller specific DVDs. • Speaker Ann Emslie to run a session for Gypsy, Roma and Travellers and LA professionals Who benefited? • Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and families, LA and other agency staff What difference did this make? It was the first ‘linked’ event across the County for the TESs which will enable families across the county to attend together to celebrate.
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Storyteller Richard O’Neill held many workshops as part of GRTHM 2009
Events Hosted and Run by TES and Schools How did it contribute to the aims of the GRTHM? It raised awareness within the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities about the GRTHM and was the beginnings of a tradition of celebration, involvement and contribution to the Community Cohesion agendas in the 6 LAs in Berkshire.
Buckinghamshire Activity/project/service: Purchasing of resources to promote story telling and help celebrate GRTHM. ‘Open Roads, Open Minds’ pack and new East Sussex DVD. Who benefited? Targeted schools and youth groups across the county and their pupils, including pupils from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. What difference did this make? The money enabled us to purchase resources, enabling a wider range of schools across the county to have access quality resources and celebrate GRTHM. How did it contribute to the aims of the GRTHM? The resources were used to encourage participation in the storytelling competition and bring to life the richness of the culture within schools. East Sussex and Brighton & Hove held 4 celebratory events for local Traveller communities – The focus was on Traveller children’s achievements, where we awarded prizes for attendance and attainment, and regional awards for Storytelling entries. These events started with a buffet, included a range of stories and finished with the showing of the DVD “Coming and Going”. Our premier of “Coming and Going” was dedicated to the memory of Maurice McMahon and attended by over 80 people, mostly Travellers. In addition, together with FFT, we hired The Duke of Yorks Cinema in Brighton on a Sunday morning in June and showed “Coming and Going” and “When the Road Bends.”
Hampshire Activity/project/service: GRTHM Event. Venue Costs, publicity to the Traveller communities, community transport to enable community participation, resources, refreshments, payment to the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities for services for event
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
• Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities. • Schools and teachers. • Professionals. HISTORY MONTH • Local Gauje Communities What difference did this make?
June 2009
Who benefited?
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Ensure that the local Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities were able to access the event. HISTORY MONTH
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How did it contribute to the aims of the GRTHM? • Promoted knowledge of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history, culture and heritage through displays and activities by the community. • Disseminated information on positive Gypsy, Roma and Traveller contributions by providing local Gauje communities opportunity to experience Gypsy, Roma and Traveller cultures and history. • Heightened confidence and awareness of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller peoples of the culture and heritage by showcasing talents, skills and culture though displays and events. • Publicly celebrated Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture and heritage through a county-wide event with positive media coverage.
West Sussex Activity/project/service: Provision of a Vardo for GRTHM History week at Portfield School, Chichester Who benefited? The whole school as this was part of a cultural awareness inclusion activity for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils. It also helped to address part of National Strategy aims of narrowing the gap on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller attainment. What difference did this make? We ran a week long series of events including Art workshops, a History project, storytelling, across all year groups, paying for local Gypsy, Roma and Traveller young people input. The inclusion of the Vardo in the week added to the authenticity of the programme. How did it contribute to the aims of the GRTHM? A week-long GRTHM celebration at Portfield School supported Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils, particularly those moving on to secondary school in Sept 09 and raised the profile of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller issues for the school and community.
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June 2009
Events Hosted and Run by TES and Schools Milton Keynes Activity/project/service: Storytelling Project – booked Sheila Stewart for a week in June to deliver storytelling workshops in Milton Keynes schools. We also held a twilight session for teachers on how to use Gypsy Traveller storytelling tradition in the curriculum. Who benefited? 10 schools, 400 pupils (80 in each school), 15 teachers accompanying groups, teachers attending twilight session. What difference did this make? It contributed towards the overall cost of the project which is so far met through the EMASS budget. How did it contribute to the aims of the GRTHM? The Gypsy Traveller children in school were able to recognise their culture and feel proud; the other children learned about the contribution of the Traveller to the story telling tradition and experienced it first hand. It encouraged, inspired and raised the confidence of schools and teachers in developing similar projects to celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture in their schools.
South West Region Avon Activity/project/service: Funding for resources to support activities in schools and libraries to celebrate GRTHM month. Who benefited? School staff and pupils; library staff and local community including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller parents and children involved. What difference did this make? It allowed ACTES to support more schools to take part in GRTHM month, further promoting knowledge of and celebrating Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture and heightening the confidence and awareness of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people to their cultural heritage. How did it contribute to the aims of the GRTHM? Activities included: • Gypsy and Fairground art displays as part of “Art Roots Week” • A whole school assembly leading to a week of art, music, dance and story telling activities to celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
• One primary school is planning to produce a video based on school life made by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller pupils & parents • The TES is supporting oneHISTORY secondary school MONTH delivering workshops on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture and challenging stereotypes to the whole of Year 7 as part of their culture and diversity week in June • There was a storytelling session focussing on Gypsy, Roma and TravellerHISTORY culture inMONTH a local library involving Gypsy parents and preschool children
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller June 2009
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Wiltshire Activity/project/service: • Work with children on site and in settings on Raising the Awareness of Travellers. • Library displays in 4 areas on History Month photos/info Who benefited? • The community around Traveller sites were more informed and the children and staff in settings. • The Traveller people also celebrated with the settings their culture. What difference did this make? Without the money we would not have been able to do these activities and therefore the community would not have been informed. How did it contribute to the aims of the GRTHM? It promoted knowledge, gave positive information and involved the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people in celebrating their culture
Swindon Activity/project/service: • Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Packs sent out to the Secondary Schools to raise awareness and promote positive images of Travellers • Exhibition and Display put on in the local Library for both Travellers and non Travellers to visit and talk with some of the Travellers to celebrate the culture and history Who benefited? • Schools • Community • Travellers themselves What difference did this make? • Packs into schools and a display How did it contribute to the aims of the GRTHM? • Awareness and profile raised of the Travellers in the local community.
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June 2009
Events Hosted and Run by TES and Schools • Positive image building • Further promoted community cohesion • Raised awareness and profile of Travellers and their culture within the school settings
Gloucestershire Activity/project/service: Gypsy and Traveller Heritage Day Who benefited? • Traveller people (adults and young people) • Non-Traveller people • Other agencies e.g. Prospects, PCT, EHE How did it contribute to the aims of the GRTHM?
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
esteem and greater engagement within LA. What difference did this make?
Gypsy Roma Traveller
It enabled Somerset TES to attract staff and advisers to attend the event HISTORY which wasMONTH free of charge.
June 2009
We also be addressed 3 of the aims of GRTHM to heighten the confidence and awareness of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people to their cultural heritage, promote HISTORY MONTH knowledge of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History, Culture and Heritage and Celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture and heritage.
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller
It directly addressed all 4 aims of GRTHM:
How did it contribute to the aims of the GRTHM?
• Promote knowledge of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History , Cultural and Heritage • Disseminate information on positive Gypsy, Roma and Traveller contributions to British Society • Heighten the confidence and awareness of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people to their cultural heritage. • Celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture and heritage as well as providing a range of information about services available for Travellers
Staff from schools across Somerset and LA advisers were invited to the launch and looked at curriculum based materials being produced by Somerset TES. They saw an exhibition of photos taken by ELAMP B Gypsy, Roma and Traveller YP to celebrate their lifestyle, met the young people themselves, listened to extracts of Jimmy being read by the author and met the illustrator. Jimmy Goes to School is excellent as both a general reader and a PSHE/SEAL resource. Jimmy tackles issues of bullying, racism and prejudice in an accessible way for pupils.
There were information stands from a number of agencies – the police Safer Communities team, library services, health, Prospects, EHE, etc.
Devon
+ displays of children’s work, local Traveller people’s collections of photos, books and memorabilia, artefacts from the museum, + storytelling and films from local Travellers + sport, art and craft activities for children. As well as the day itself, the Traveller team worked in schools throughout the month, doing assemblies, lessons and activities with the theme of celebrating Traveller Cultures.
Somerset Activity/project/service: Funding to support launch of Somerset TES’s new book, Jimmy Goes to School, in conjunction with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller YP ELAMP B exhibition, opportunity to meet the YP and hold a resource display. Who benefited? School staff and advisers were informed re Gypsy, Roma and Traveller resources, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller lifestyle and this benefits school population. Gypsy, Roma and Traveller YP benefit from their involvement leading to raised self
June 2009
Schools Project – Gypsy/Roma/Traveller History Month June 09 Background DREC received two small grants, one from Devon County Council and one from the South West Gypsy/Roma/Traveller History Month fund, to take the Romany Gypsy DVD (The pride, the prejudice) into secondary schools during history month in June. The funding meant that DREC could take the DVD into schools for free, instead of charging for sessions and thus we were able to reach a greater audience. The DVD was produced in 2008 by DREC and members of the Romany community in Devon and it is part of an ongoing project working in secondary schools to challenge the common myths and stereotypes about Gypsies and Travellers. It is hoped that this work will counteract some of the racism and prejudice that Gypsies and Travellers face on a regular basis, and also that it will make schools safer places for their Gypsy and Traveller pupils.
Sessions in Schools The sessions are 1 hour long and are delivered by Romany Gypsy trainers who work for
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Events Hosted and Run by TES and Schools DREC. The session begins with the Romany trainer asking the students to write on a postit-note anything they know about Gypsies and Travellers, and then to stick this note up at the front of the class. In every school DREC has worked in, at least half the comments written down are very offensive and derogatory (examples are attached). The trainer then plays the DVD and whilst watching it the students realise that the trainer is actually a Gypsy (the trainers are interviewed in the DVD and identified as Gypsies). They generally have no idea that this is the case when the session begins. Some students then seem embarrassed and ashamed about what they have written. After watching the DVD there is a discussion between the trainer and the students which is usually very lively and covers a lot of ground. Some schools then work with the students later in another session and ask them to reconsider the comments they initially wrote down.
Feedback from Schools
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
At least 5 of the 6 schools have Gypsy/ Traveller pupils.
Gypsy Roma Traveller
The sessions are very powerful, and work especially well with the younger students HISTORY MONTH who have fewer inhibitions about voicing their opinions. The discussions show that there is huge prejudice against Gypsy and Traveller communities amongst students, but also a significant lack of knowledge and HISTORY MONTH understanding. However, when students are shown the DVD and are engaged in discussions with the Romany trainers, there is a willingness to learn and to change. One student, who was quite challenging in the beginning, left a note for the Romany trainer at the end of the class; it said ‘Thank you. The lesson was very interesting and you are very brave’.
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller
The following comments were recorded by a Devon secondary school. Students were asked to write down what they thought of Gypsies and Traveller before their DVD/cultural awareness session, and afterwards.
“The whole project from start to finish was amazing. I was particularly impressed with the guest speaker. Her manner with the students was really informative and composed despite some of the prejudices they had towards Romany Gypsies. The project was really thoughtful and elicited some very honest opinions which justify the need for this kind of project to continue. I have spoken to some of our students and they found the lesson really informative and amongst one of the best lessons they have received on Identity and Diversity. I would certainly like to use you again next year and now I know what to expect I would consider expanding the scheme of work and including a follow up lesson.” “I think one of the most powerful things you did was to hold up their comments and ask them how many of them know any Gypsies – all that stereotyping and only one of them had any knowledge at all! “ “The session was superb. The staff and students really valued the session. The students had done a lot of work on prejudice and discrimination this year and it was very good for them to see a current example, not just historical ones.”
GRTHM 2009 Six secondary schools (East Devon (2), Teignbridge, Mid Devon, Exeter and Plymouth) signed up for the sessions during History Month. In these schools we did a total of 13 sessions for approximately 375 students.
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June 2009
London Region Community and Education Report
London
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
London activities and events There were activities and events throughout London to celebrate GRTHM in June 2009. A wider rangeMONTH of different organisations HISTORY June 2009 were responsible for these activities and events, these included:
Gypsy Roma Traveller
By Rocky Deans The work of the London Coordinator This year both education and community budgets were held by Traveller Education Service lead Rocky Deans.
• Schools and Colleges • Libraries and Museums • Local Gypsy, Roma and Traveller HISTORY MONTH June 2009 organisations • Voluntary groups • TESs The types of activities and events included:
Gypsy Roma Traveller
The London Region Coordinator and two TES colleagues (Ilana Cork & Lindsey Chatralia organised a GRTHM conference for TES staff on Friday 27th February at City Hall. The aim of the conference was to:
• Gypsy, Roma and Traveller exhibitions • Storytelling • Traditional music and dance and Plays • Professional music band performances – KAL and Romany Diamonds • Launch events – Romano Bumburumbum – First keyhole picture book • School assemblies • Children fun days • Sporting competitions • Conferences, Talks and lectures • Art & Craft • Teacher and school in-service training • Traditional Gypsy, Roma and Traveller art and craft displays There were also large events organised by the Irish Traveller Movement – Pavee Ceilidh, which consisted of song and dance. The launch of Travellers’ book “History and Identity” organised by Southwark Travellers Action Group (STAG) and the Roma Gypsy Survival Strategies Seminar at the University of the Arts.
• Provide an update of activities and events being organised by the Department of Children, Schools and Families re GRTHM • Share good practice • Identify and start to plan activities and events for June 2009 • Provide opportunities for London TES Coordinators and colleagues to work together strategically Forty two delegates attended and from the evaluation forms received proved to be a successful conference. The Coordinator received sixty one requests for advice, support and information re GRTHM from March until July 2009. These were as follows: College/ University TES Schools HM Prisons Museums Libraries Gypsy, Roma and Traveller organisations Voluntary groups Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community
Gypsy Roma Traveller
5 12 16 1 2 4 6 3 12
The Coordinator circulated a proforma for local Gypsy, Roma and Traveller organisations and TES to complete, so that we could have an overview of the events and activities taking place during GRTHM. This also provided an opportunity for local Gypsy, Roma and Traveller organisations, the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community and TES to attend and support these events. The Coordinator sent a letter to all Director of Children’s Services a letter providing information of the Launch of the GRTHM at Portcullis House, information of the GRTHM website and activities and events throughout the UK. The GRTHM 2009 logo was circulated to all London TES Coordinators for distribution to their local schools and organisations for use.
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London Region Community and Education Report
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
London Borough of Redbridge
Gypsy Roma Traveller
Activity/event 1 ‘Roma Support’ play group St Lukes Church Hall, Baxter Road Ilford
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
GRTHM Community Celebration Activity/event:
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‘Just 5 Roma’ Musicians playing at ‘Roma Support’ play group for Romanian Roma children and young people, GRTHM Community Celebration.
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Impact & evaluation: Over 100 Romanian Roma children, young people and families attended the event including children and staff from Cleveland Junior School and Uphall Primary School and ‘Roma Support’ play group children and young people awaiting transfer to school. With a Traveller Education display, Roma in Redbridge from 1913 – 2009, the ‘Roma Support’ play workers and bilingual staff made this a really fun, enjoyable and successful event celebrating Gypsy Roma Traveller culture and history through music and dance.
Activity/event 2 Cleveland Junior School, Uphall Primary School and John Bramston Primary School Activity/event: LB Redbridge Schools celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history and culture through storytelling with story telling artist Patricia George. Impact & evaluation: Children and teachers from Year 1 – 6 in the three schools enjoyed listening to and wholeheartedly joining in with Trisha’s brilliant traditional Gypsy, Roma and Traveller stories, there was broom dancing, dressing up for the magic pot story and joining in altogether repeating story lines in Romani (the teachers liked Trisha’s handouts for this). At the end of the sessions Trisha encouraged the children to comment and ask questions about the stories. An interesting development addressed some underlying racism that the schools were addressing arising from negative local press and included talking about the word Gypsy, how to use the word correctly and helped children to understand that Gypsies are a recognised ethnic group of people with as interesting and enjoyable culture and history as others.
The London Borough of Redbridge produced a poster celebrating Gypsy Roma Traveller curriculum work that they have done in schools.
Activity/event 3 St Gabriel’s Church Aldersbrook, Wanstead Community Event with London Gypsy Orchestra, ‘Just 5 Roma’ and a traditional Belly Dancer. Activity/event: A local community event to celebrate GRTHM through music and dance. Impact & evaluation: Building on 2008 ‘Let’s Celebrate’ this years 2009 GRTHM music night was attended by friends from St Gabriel’s Church, Aldersbrook local community and visitors travelling from Kent, Derby and South London. It was an thrilling evening of traditional Gypsy music from Poland, Romania and the Balkans. There was additional excitement this year watching and joining in with Cynthia’s traditional Gypsy and Egyptian belly dancing. The evening ended on a real high with ‘Just 5 Roma’ playing alongside LGO and Cynthia belly dancing with the audience.
Activity/event 4 Uphall Primary School – Roma children with Bilingual TA and Traveller Co. Activity/event: Development of an English/Romanian/Romani ‘My Week’ story book – to celebrate the growing numbers of Roma children attending and enjoying school Impact & evaluation: The children really like going to school. The book is still in draft form but it reflects all
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London Region Community and Education Report their kinds of different school experiences; reading, football clubs and trips as well as shopping and home life. The children were so excited when they saw their drawings and work altogether – the plan we hope is to get the book published, translated with audio accompaniment and Romani artist drawings alongside the children’s work, if we can get funding! Sue Mutter: Traveller Education Coordinator, CLASS, Children’s Services
Harrow Activity/event: We visited six First/Middle schools (the seventh dropped out due to re-scheduling because of the underground strike). At each school, up to eight classes were invited to have a session of Irish Dancing, taken by a local Irish Dance School. A carousel of activities was also undertaken, led by the Traveller Achievement Team. These included: role play using a red wagon and artefacts; storytelling and decorating paper plates in the style of Crown Derby China. These plates were then put on display at a local Children’s Centre and at the Harrow Teachers’ Centre. Commemorative pens were also distributed for all the children at the schools. The celebrations were funded by Harrow Children’s Services. Impact & evaluation: Children are still talking about the special day and how much they enjoyed it. For a time, the self-esteem of some Traveller children went up. Three schools have invited us to come back to do some Citizenship work with them based on Traveller Lifestyle and Culture. Completed by: Sylvie Parkes
Southwark Southwark Traveller Education Support Service (STESS) Music in the Park 7th June 2.00-5.00pm free music including ‘Romani Rad’ Gypsy music and dance in Southwark Park funded by Southwark’s Events Team. This was one of a series of Sunday music public events at the bandstand of Southwark Park. It included Travellers in a celebration of Southwark’s diversity. Valuable contribution. Dave Cannon ‘ONE Southwark’ 15th June 8.00pm radio broadcast on Resonance FM (104.4 FM) including Kathleen Joyce a Traveller of Irish heritage who lives in
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Peckham and talked about her life. Repeated 18th June 11.00 am
Gypsy Roma Traveller
18th June 6.30pm ‘ONE Southwark’ photo exhibition at the Menier Gallery 53 Southwark HISTORY MONTH Street London SE1 1RU including Kathleen Joyce
Collectively, ‘ONE Southwark’ captures a snapshot of life in one of London’s most diverse boroughs. It does not claim to be HISTORY a summary of all there is to say about MONTH a place that is home to more than a quarter of a million people, speaking more than 100 languages. But it does grant insight into some of the human stories that lie at the heart of its communities and are the threads in its tapestry.
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller
‘ONE Southwark’ was developed by Southwark Council’s Community Involvement & Development Unit (CIDU), in partnership with Rehan Jamil, Photographer, and London’s Arts Radio Station, Resonance 10404fm. We are very grateful to those who so generously shared their stories in this project, and to those who recorded them: Julia Honess, Dax Ashworth, Dave Cannon, Nick Hamilton and Michael Cleere. ‘’ONE Southwark’ included the voice of Kathleen Joyce who says: I’m a Travelling woman with 7 children, which is small for a Travelling family. We first came to Southwark 22 years ago. The pubs and supermarkets wouldn’t let us in, and we had petrol bombs thrown at our caravans, but as time’s gone on everyone’s got to know us and realised that we’re all human beings. Funded by Southwark’s Community Involvement & Development Unit Including Travellers in a celebration of Southwark’s diversity. Valuable contribution The events showed the importance of collaborative relationships with other providers. Preferably within a corporate policy framework Publicising Southwark’s GRTHM activities Publicity was disseminated widely and was included in LBS website, Southwark Life (residents magazine), Together (staff magazine), School Governors Bulletin, Southwark News and European Commission website. GRTHM community celebration 25th June 2009 at Peckham Settlement Southwark Travellers Action Group (STAG) budget unknown. STESS provided £400 for Romani Rad performance. Positive display materials, ‘Romani Rad’ Roma
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June 2009
London Region Community and Education Report
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
music and dance performance, Travellers Irish dancing group, Travellers art & craft display, Korus multi-ethnic choir and food prepared by Travellers. Launch of ‘Pavee Widden (Traveller Voices) booklet. Mixing Roma and Travellers of Irish heritage. Members of the public. New members of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities identified and involved. STESS reproduced a GRTHM photo display which was sent to all secondary schools and targeted primary and special schools. Schools were also sent GRTHM magazine and Traveller Times magazine with encouragement for their libraries to subscribe. Schools were invited to attend Southwark’s GRTHM community celebration. Notre Dame School, for example, printed copies of some of the posters and put them around the school in the corridors. They had a resource display in school library. They created a PowerPoint presentation for all form tutors to use with their form classes in PSHE. A GRTHM photo display was also mounted in Southwark’s training centre for June. Isabel Rodrigues at Notre Dame School who
put this display together to celebrate GRTHM last June. A display was also mounted by Michelle Lue at Academy East Dulwich. Free Resources for Southwark Schools In June, STESS sent a Gypsy, Roma and Traveller photo-pack to every Southwark secondary school and targeted primary and special schools. In addition, STESS has nominated a number of schools to get National Association of Teachers of Travellers and Other Professionals (NATT+). STESS hoped that these resources would help schools promote positive information about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller young people. The following schools have been sent the storybook; ‘O Patrin’ Drama ‘O Patrin’ visited two Southwark secondary schools with a drama featuring Travellers. The Globe Academy in September, after which Kieran Scanlon, their EMA Coordinator wrote: “The performance was one of the best we’ve seen at the school for many years followed by really engaging workshops. We all really got a lot out of it. In terms of GRTHM it would be great to have them back next year as a finale.”
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June 2009
This collection of photographs was featured in the Southwark Traveller Times publication by STAG showing images of a GRTHM celebration at Peckham Settlement with the Roma Support Group.
London Region Community and Education Report
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
Sutton & Merton Exhibition on Traveller history and culture Aimed to inform and increase awareness in the general population of Traveller history and culture Held in the LB Sutton Central Library throughout June
Gypsy Roma Traveller
HISTORY MONTH
History Month
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
A Celebration of Traveller History and Culture Chaucer Centre, Surrey June 23rd 2009 Ambition Drama Group – led by a Traveller parent- performed at the event. An event celebration Traveller Culture and history, which featured
To celebrate Traveller history and culture with members of the Traveller community. Feedback said “An excellent event. A great balance between knowledge through the presentation, and emotion and fun throughout the amazing Ambition performance. Many thanks for helping us all understand the community better” An extremely successful event attended by 60 people. Perhaps another venue next year which would be accessible for more of the Traveller community?
Lambeth This year’s Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month was organised by Lambeth Traveller Education Service and Lambeth Libraries. The following are some of the events that took place in the area. For the Under 5’s Storyteller Olivia Armstrong brought together a range of Gypsy stories both traditional and interactive for under 5’s. For Primary schools Theatre Performance for 6 – 11 year olds In-Toto Theatre presented – Jankyn and the witches’ daughter, a Roma tale from Romania.
Lambeth produced this informative and useful brochure highlighting GRTHM in Lambeth and June 2009 the reasons for it.
Gypsy Roma Traveller
Sarah Gwynn Sutton & Merton Traveller Education Service
• A presentation on the groups and history of Travellers, both nationally and locally • DVD coming and going by W Sussex TES • Drama presentation by the group Ambition led by a Traveller parent. Aims: To inform and increase awareness of Traveller history and culture among council staff and other agencies.
June 2009
The Roma Culture Participation Project introduces children to traditional Roma dance routines. This workshop aims to promote an understanding of Roma culture. Secondary Schools Art workshop International Roma Artist Ferdinand Koci hosted an art workshop of different styles from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture. Author Talk With Janna Eliot, students and staff from Lilian Baylis secondary school and Lambeth Traveller Education Service. Janna Eliot, author of Settela’s Last Road, a story about 9 year-old Settela who is taken from her caravan and sent to Auschwitz with her family. Janna read from her book followed by a Q&A session Film Show Audience: Secondary School pupils and adults A selection of films based around Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities including “Be Roma or Die Trying”, “Meet your Neighbours” and “Roma and their Culture”. Also including a showing of “Lilijanna’s List”, a Film made by students and staff from Norwood Secondary School. Dance and Music workshop with Janna Eliot (Age 8 upwards) Traditional dance moves and music with talented author, musician and dancer Janna Eliot.
Dance and Music Workshop for 7 – 11 year olds
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June 2009
London Region Community and Education Report Adult events As well as the events listed West Norwood Library will hosted exhibitions from the Southwark Irish Traveller community and a photographic exhibition with L’Overture, working with Traveller children and young people in Lambeth. For one day only Balkan Depot, a specialised Roma company, was available for members of the public to purchase books, Roma/Gypsy music and Balkan brass. The evening will round off at 7pm in the Upper Hall at West Norwood Library with Film shorts, Roma music featuring Janna and Martin. Roma artist Ferdinand Koci was on hand to talk about his work.
Lewisham Conference The day conference entitled “Living, Working, Learning Together: Gypsy Roma Travellers in Lewisham”, both to launch the Lewisham Traveller Forum and as a celebration of History Month, was held at the Civic Suite. Speakers included members of the Gypsy Roma Traveller communities. Jake Bowers was a key note speaker, Jake is a Romani journalist who founded Rokker Radio on BBC and has written over the years on Gypsy issues for the Guardian and other publications. He spoke of how GRTHM has given his community a space for their history to be told and he drew a vivid picture of the fate of Gypsies over the centuries since they first arrived in this country in the 16 century to the present day. Shirley Joyce, an Irish Traveller now working with the Traveller Education Service in Lewisham as a teaching assistant, talked of her personal experiences and the barriers that she had to overcome to be were she is today. She also ran a workshop focusing on the difficulties for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families to access services and explored the possibilities to address these issues. Romany Diamonds, a talented Polish Roma group, provided the music during the lunch break. The film ‘Be Roma or Die Tryin’ by the Roma Support Group based in East London which explores the lives of young Romas in London. London Gypsy Orchestra The Traveller Education Service organised a public event at the Blackheath Halls for a return visit of the fabulous London Gypsy Orchestra where we ‘stepped aboard their musical caravan and went on a journey to Eastern Europe and beyond’. It was a vibrant
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
and wonderful evening and as one Roma parent put it ‘music has no enemies’. Several Roma families attended the evening and expressed their pride in their cultural heritage HISTORY MONTH and their music being performed.
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller
Sedgehill school led by Beck Salmon, Social Inclusion Leader, and together with Shirley Joyce, made a significant contribution to GRTHM with workshops and displays in the HISTORY MONTH school. The Traveller students at the school also worked on recording of a CD and students prepared a presentation for a staff INSET to raise awareness of the needs and culture of their community.
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller June 2009
Forster park school, under the Headship of Jenny Chiverton, held a Traveller day when they invited Traveller parents to run food and sewing workshops. The school arranged for had a traditional Bow Top Wagon to be displayed in the playground and each class got an opportunity to explore inside. There was an assembly with a group of girls performing an Irish Dance and there were demonstrations of traditional paper flower making and soda bread baking. The police brought their horses into the school and the day was a huge success for parents, children and staff alike.
Other schools such as Haseltine, Rathfern and The London Gypsy Brockley have mounted displays and Haseltine Orchestra in action Primary School will be inviting several Traveller parents into the school to talk to the pupils about their culture and to tell their personal stories. Across the Borough the Library Service held Traveller Art and Craft sessions in local libraries for the under 5s and have increased their stock of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller books, both reference and story books. The Lewisham Irish Community Centre had an evening of wonderful Irish and Irish Traveller music with Irish Traveller Thomas McCarthy singing Traveller songs passed down over the years by his family.
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Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
North West Region Report Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
By Jane and Joe Hurn
Middlewich
Gypsy Roma Traveller
Diversity day in Middlewich 19th June 2009, in and around Middlewich high School by the Free Spirit Club an independent constituted youth club for Gypsy and Traveller youth, this project was in partnership with Gypsy and Traveller youth, local EMTAS staff and local teachers. Trailers old and new on display – local Gypsy and Traveller youths showing people around the caravans, Gypsy cake making, flower making, accordion playing. 200 people benefited.
HISTORY MONTH
Winsford History weekend 20th & 21st June. Youth and volunteers (Cheshire Gypsy and Travellers Voice) arranged an art project over the weekend with kids incorporating both old fashioned and graffiti art styles. In addition to this there was a choice of activities for the public to join in with or look at from looking at living wagons, looking at the horses / trying out a horse ride, looking at the information boards and local family’s history displays, trying out the traditionally made Gypsy cakes or listening to the story teller. We also had running on a loop some DVD’s done with the aid of BBC digital storytelling, stories of local families. Total of 600+ people attended.
Cumbria The Travellers project staff, a mixture of Gypsies and local settled people (who have now gone on to constitute Cumbria Gypsy and Travellers Voice) made and put up several displays relating to Gypsy and Traveller culture and put these on display throughout the county in the district council offices throughout June highlighting the fact that June is GRTHM.
Salford Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage event held at Irish World Heritage Centre on 20th June. Traditional food, storyteller, costumed dancers and craft workshops were part of this event. This was undertaken by a local Irish Traveller man with the administrative assistance of a local primary school.
June 2009
Photographs of GRTHM 2009 in Cheshire
Jane Ann Hurn
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June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
The East Region Report Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
By Candy Sheridan Our month here in the East went well! As my region was so big I roughly divided it into £500 per county. The “One Voice“ bid was interesting because it was about empowerment and resourcing their group. I took this as our theme and invited other groups to resource themselves better. As a community we are vastly under resourced so we need to use our history month to present ourselves better, reach out more professionally and connect better with the settled community. Personally, I would have liked to spend the entire budget on one event and source a Norfolk community theatre to host it (they would have match funded it). But, this would have only supported 2 of the 5 counties, so I had to let it go. But going forward we need a big moveable event that travels and we all benefit from, anything smaller would be a welcome addition but should not drain these monies. Most Travellers in my area would gladly hold a day/2 day get together on their land without funding.
We held exhibitions in the foyers of North Norfolk DC, South Norfolk DC, & Breckland DC and most importantly The Norfolk Royal Show! The theme of this year’s exhibition was ‘Norfolk Travellers’ and showed the history HISTORY MONTH of the Drapers and the Leveridge families. These both trace their roots in the Norfolk countryside back over 100 years. The message this year was simple, local roots of Norfolk Travellers. As Travellers we are so often denied these ‘local connections’.
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller June 2009
I thought we in the East have raised the profile of our history month, as there were many other councils that wanted the exhibition and we were approached by community groups so we found the month too short to get around to working with all those that are now interested. The UEA came in late and offered to show films! This we can do with them next year! The first year I struggled to get Travellers to come out and see my first exhibition, this second year I was approached by them! Next year I already know the demand will be even greater. Two images from a Gypsy and Traveller exhibition that toured the Fenland District in June 2009
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Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
South East RegionGypsy Report Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
By Ann Wilson
June 2009
Surrey
Gypsy Roma Traveller
Bourne Hall Gypsy Day SGTCRF had a stand at the event. Not funded by GRTHM.
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
A brilliant day that will be repeated annually. Self funded. Some performers let the event down. Secure performers and get them to commit. More horses and attractions needed. This event will continue beyond the funding for GRTHM. Need some more attractions This event will continue to grow and improve. Schools in Chertsey Area (scrapbooking) • Worked well with local families • Needs more input from families, need more encouragement • Not sure what they will do this year but will contact to continue the work started • Worked well and those involved were happy with the involvement Gypsy Day Ash 21st June 2009 poster competition
20 June 2009 It’s free! Come and learn about Gypsy culture and enjoy the fun. Have a look at traditional Gypsy wagons, cookery demonstrations, arts and crafts activities for adults and children, performances by Gypsy musicians plus much more!
10.30am until 5pm at Bourne Hall, Spring Street, Ewell, Surrey, KT17 1UF
Visit www.grthm.co.uk or call 020 8394 1734 for more information.
www.surreycc.gov.uk Making Surrey a better place
• Presentation of prizes for competition. Self funded not GRTHM • A really good day. • More publicity needed for future needs • Different theme for 2010 Gypsy Day in Highdown and Downview prisons Banstead
Travellers Got Talent! was so overwhelmingly successful that the model is being repeated nationally in 2010
• Gave recipes to catering staff. • GRTHM funding. Jake, myself and Hilda supported the day by attending • A really good day. • Food was traditional and the inmates were delighted. DVD’s and magazines, posters and info were given out. • Quite a few inmates did not want to be identified. • Hopefully this will happen again. • The food cooked by the prison was made traditionally and well appreciated by all. Travellers Have Got Talent 27th June 2009 GRTHM funded. Supported by Hilda and myself, Jake was a judge and presenter for the event. More people attended than expected approx. 250 people. Prizes awarded have had some problems with the recording studio not issuing. Needed more variety but as a first was brilliant.
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Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Midlands Region Report Gypsy Roma Traveller DGLG A2 poster:Layout 1
Compiled by Siobhan Spencer Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group Report
27/4/09
09:27
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Page 1
Reading is Fun
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DGLG undertook the money for the East Midlands and the West Midlands. We funded the following projects.
The day in Leicestershire tried to tick too many boxes we all thought on evaluation it would be better to have a more cultural event and not to try and tick all the council boxes. It wasn’t a good venue for music and singing but it was well attended and we think all enjoyed it on the whole. Sandwell ladies felt it was good experience to get together and believe one met up with someone she had not seen in a long time so that was nice. There was disappointment that the event ended too early One or two people have mentioned about having a really good quality event as more heads make light work, but also think it’s good to have some money for smaller things.
June 2009
- aged 7 - USA
HISTORY MONTH
Illustration by Esperanza
• We gave an amount to Leicestershire Gypsy Liaison Group and matched that funding to Leicestershire Education Services. This event was for a larger East Midlands event and the Lincolnshire group and the Derbyshire group went along to support. Nottinghamshire also had an invite. • We gave funding for fun days in Derbyshire at the Arkwright Centre 20th June and June 25th. • Irish Women from the West Midlands Sandwell Society to go to the Céilidh in Manchester • The Kushti Project to enable them to organise their day @ Worcester Castle. • Woodville Youth group for their activities for the month. • Exhibition to go to the West Midlands Police headquarters for their day • We funded children’s books going into West Midlands and every school in Derby and Derby’s City. We funded 150 books each to Lincolnshire Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Northamptonshire DGLG did not recover full costs from books project but have donated from our funds towards it.
June 2009
Celebrate Romany Gypsy & Traveller History month this June. Culturally appropriate books for schools and the community. Email for resource information bob@robertdawson.co.uk Gypsy Roma and Traveller Resources Catalogue available from 0113 274 8050 www.natt.org.uk
Sharing good practice in the Regions Email: info@dglg.org
Derbyshire Events were undertaken in the North and the South of the County of Derbyshire with Derbyshire wide Gypsy and Traveller Education service. The launch of the month took place at Portcullis House on June 1st. East Midlands groups supported the Leicestershire Traveller Fayre event on June 30th, at Aylestone Leisure Centre. The event was well attended and the Leicestershire group had worked hard for it to be a successful day in conjunction with their Traveller Education Service. DGLG had an article published about life long learning in the Magazine for the month. We distributed Gypsy and Traveller themed books to every school in Derbyshire in conjuntion with T.E.A.S.T.: We funded a total of six projects equally across the East and West Midlands. The Kushti Project, Sandwell Irish Society, Fun Days in Derbyshire 20th and 25th June, Woodville Youth Group, Leicestershire Traveller Fayre, Warwickshire open day at Police headquarters was a good day despite the media write-up. T.E.A.S.T held a photograph competition as part of the GRTHM 2009 and Royal Crown Derby donated two of the four prizes. The prizes were presented at Royal Crown Derby in September 2009. T.E.A.S.T. offered schools lessons about Gypsy/Traveller cultures and loaned displays to schools, libraries and other council settings
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Reading is Fun was a DGLG scheme to fund books going into West Midlands and every school in Derby and Derby’s City
Gypsy Roma Traveller
Midlands Region Report
HISTORY MONTH
Staffordshire:
Leicestershire
• A Conference for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families to help inform Staffordshire County Council on the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller perspective for ‘Building Schools for the Future’. This has already been included in the planning of the Council. • Day for Gypsy, Roma and Traveller KS3 Home Educated pupils with the Wildlife Trust • Launch day for the mosaic created by Kushti Club at the Landywood Children’s Centre and the Kushti book ‘How, Why and Who’. • Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Celebration day at Hartlebury Castle Museum. 27 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller family members came with 3 staff (30 in total). We had a stall with information about our project and the work done which was staffed by the community. We were able to give out the Kushti book. Lynne Powis
The Traveller Information Fayre was a great success.
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller
• Over 40 organisations hadHISTORY tables to MONTH showcase their work with travelling families and to offer advice to Travellers attending. • The speakers and entertainment were very well received • Approximately 400 people attended. HISTORY MONTH • There was a tremendous amount of good will from participants to enable us to keep our costs down to just over £2000 • Good links were made between travelling families and organisations • Networks of organisations were established • Visitors learned a lot about Travellers, their lives and cultures. • The venue was buzzing with enthusiasm • Everyone wants it to be repeated! Learning from last year, it will be shorter, and hopefully be led more by Travellers with help from agencies.
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller
Margaret Hutchinson
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June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
North East RegionGypsy Report Roma Traveller Darlington
Bradford
UK Association of Gypsy Women used media to raise awareness of GRTHM. Buying equipment to display this media on the history month, UKAGW will be able to continue doing so over forthcoming GRTHMs. A number of presentations regarding the month were shown to other members of the third sector; on site drop ins, seminars and film clubs.
Open day in Bradford centre during June. Part of the mayor’s parade in Bradford a living wagon was pulled through the town with the parade along with community members in tow. The wagon was also put on display HISTORY MONTH for the rest of the day for members of the public to view or ask questions. This was done by Bradford CVS with leadership by Violet Cannon a Gypsy from Bradford who at the time was working for Bradford CVS.
Middlesbrough Information leaflets made up for the history month and distributed locally by Society for the Promotion and Advancement of Romany Culture throughout the month of June, SPARC is a Gypsy led voluntary organisation based in Middlesborough.
Sheffield Local Slovak Roma held a culture tent at local Frith Park Festival. The Roma participants played Roma music and displayed other aspects of the Roma culture during the festival. This was done in partnership with local Slovak Roma in Sheffield and a local woman who volunteered her time.
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller June 2009
Leeds Youth@GATE (youth section of Leeds GATE, mixture of Irish Traveller and Gypsy youth) hosted a knowledge of Gypsy and Traveller Culture afternoon on 20th June. There were arts and crafts, storytelling, Irish dancing and other dancing. Around 200 attendees, the first event of this type to be held in Leeds and by Gypsy and Traveller youth. Jane Ann Hurn
Images from the Roma event in Sheffield
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Join us in Centenary Square, in front of City Hall
Thursday 18th June 2009 11am - 4pm For more information contact:
Violet Cannon on 01274 722772 This event is supported by the Gypsy and Traveller multi-agency Working Group
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A poster that announced a day of celebration in Bradford
Gypsy Roma Traveller
North East Region Report
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
BARO ZIRO 2009 - Celebrating Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Culture
Gypsy Roma Traveller
Doncaster: The BARO ZIRO festival – “Big Time” or “New Beginning” in Balkan-Romanes dialect – had its own venue – the BARO ZIRO Tent in the Arts Park of Doncaster centre and focussed on the fusion between the new and old in Gypsy culture. It hosted a musical programme including the only UK performance of Hip Hop Stars GIPSY.CZ, the Czech Eurovision Entry and of World-Music-Chart-Toppers KAL from Beograd. BARO ZIRO also initiated a small KAL UK tour which included an appearance in the Southbank Festival. The tent was filled when BARO ZIRO band in residence, ROMA KHAMORO, a Czech Roma band from Rotherham, performed. Inside “The Point”, a small cultural centre, which focuses on the inclusion of ethnic minorities and community work, the artists Damian and Delaine Le Bas lead workshops with pupils of local schools. They created an impressive exhibition of their own work and of the pupils.
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Gypsy Roma Traveller HISTORY MONTH
As in 2008 BARO ZIRO strongly co-operated with EMTAS. EMTAS and the Doncaster Arts Services organised a workshop programme with storyteller Richard O’Neill, Damian and Delaine Le Bas, the theatre director Alan Lyddiard, the ROMA KHAMORO band and the Artistic Coordinator of BARO ZIRO, Moritz Pankok MA. The team visited 7 schools and over 1,000 pupils learned to sing “Djelem Djelem” – the Roma anthem and much more about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture. 2366 Gypsy A5 4pp:Layout 1
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World Music band KAL performing during the BARO ZIRO festival
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BARO ZIRO CELEBRATING GYPSY, ROMA & TRAVELLER CULTURE 13 – 20 June 09
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Other BARO ZIRO events included a storytelling evening with Richard O’Neill and a theatrical performance based on texts of Traveller writer Damian Le Bas junior. “You Don’t Look Like A Gypsy” was performed by the Le Bas family with the Roma Khamoro Band, Alan Lyddiard and Moritz Pankok with a special appearance of GIPSY.CZ. Baro Ziro Venues The Point 16 South Parade, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN1 2DR. The Circus Tent The Arts Park, Chequer Road. Cusworth Hall Cusworth, Doncaster, DN5 7TU.
The Doncaster Museum Cusworth Hall dedicated a special exhibition “Travelling Memories” to the work of Traveller photographer Patricia Knight. It gave a lively insight to Traveller life. The exhibition included artefacts collected by the EMTAS team, information about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history and a precious Traveller wedding horse cart made by Doncaster Travellers. The exhibition was particular popular with Travellers.
Produced by Human - www.designbyhuman.com Front Cover Image - Radoslav Banga of Gipsy.CZ
Following BARO ZIRO, EMTAS Doncaster organised a conference, ‘Britain’s New Roma Communities’, discussing Gypsy, Roma and Traveller issues with participating activists from all across UK. The BARO ZIRO events were supported by the Arts Council of England and Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council funding. Moritz Pankok
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THE CIRCUS TENT World Music chart-toppers - KAL, Czech Eurovision entry - GIPSY.CZ, AMBROSE COOPER & FAMILY, Uk Storyteller RICHARD O’NEILL and much more...
THE POINT installation by international artists Delaine & Damian Le Bas
CUSWORTH HALL Gypsy Memories –an exhibition of Gypsy history & memorabilia, featuring photographs by Patricia Knight www.doncasterhothouse.co.uk Box Office 01302 342349