report - Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month

Transcription

Gypsy Roma Traveller
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Gypsy Roma
Traveller
History Month
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
2009 Report
Compiled by Patricia Knight
GRTHM National co-ordinator
1
Contents
Introduction
3
Executive summary
4
National coordinators report
9
Reports from key partners
2
NATT+ report
12
Irish Traveller Movement in Britain report
14
Gypsy Media Company report
16
Finance report
21
Storytelling Competition
20
Appendices
23
HISTORY MONTH
Introduction
June 2009
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
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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1. Executive Summary
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.
This year GRTHM was run by a partnership of the following organisations
who had tendered for the work and were awarded funding for two years:
•
•
•
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National Association of Traveller Teachers (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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Executive Summary
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
All across the country events and activities were led by local
Gypsy Roma
Traveller
Gypsy, Roma and Traveller groups or individuals,
and
by local
June 2009
Traveller Education Services
HISTORY MONTH
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.
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Executive Summary
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 Traveller groups or
individuals, and by local Traveller education services, in partnership with
Equalities teams, Libraries, Museums, Police and Prison services.
Events included exhibitions and workshops in schools and libraries, and
participative events featuring music, dance and art. All over the country
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:
Where information has
been sent to us these
events are all recorded
in the Appendices.
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, story telling 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
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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.
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.
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
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Executive Summary
Key achievements
All of the events and activities above
– bringing together Travellers and nonTravellers and breaking down barriers between
communities.
GRTHM Provided a framework for developing
working relations and partnerships with
Equality teams, Arts and Education and the
Traveller community.
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.
Increased ascription from Gypsy, Roma
and Traveller pupils as a result of exposure
to positive images and role models in
educational settings.
Educating Gypsy, Roma and Traveller about
who else in the community is taking a lead and
making a difference.
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:
• Joint work in the 8 regions between Gypsy, Roma and Traveller
representatives and Education.
• A History month magazine produced and distributed widely
• A national launch event at the end of May
• The website - informing and promoting the Month
• Travellers Got Talent events with regional heats and a national final
• A national poetry completion in schools with the theme of “The
Journey”
• 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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HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
2. Co-ordinator’s Report
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.
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 ITM who prepared a
“Getting Involved” advice booklet – which
was also developed for the website.
The designated reps. – 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 co-ordinator with
some support from Andrew Ryder from ITM.
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 Co-ordinator 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 co-ordinator 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 co-ordinator
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 included Irish
dance and circus skills, performance, Romani
dance, singing, flower making, fortune telling
and photo exhibitions. The event received
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Co-ordinator’s Report
extensive coverage from the BBC and local
press and looks set to continue with statutory,
voluntary and community partnerships. The
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.
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
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HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
SHARING STORIES AND EXPERIENCES
HISTORY MONTH
THE
June 2009
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
OPEN TALK
SERIES
Trips to Scotland and Wales were undertaken
in the National Co-Coordinators 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.
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)
and Traveller community.
The national co-ordinator 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 co-ordinator 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.
The line-up for the
talks that took place at
the 67 Centre during
Appleby Fair 2009.
Co-ordinator’s Report
Increased links with Europe
Romany Routes - The National Co-ordinator
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 Jan. to March
2009 the National Co-ordinator worked
extensively to seek to secure an appropriate
venue for the first visit to Britain of the
Documentation and Cultural 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.
HISTORY MONTH
The Heidelberg Cultural and Documentary
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
June 2009
It is planned with the help of exhibition curator
Eva Sajovic, to support the exhibition with
events for schools, seminars,HISTORY
talks andMONTH
film.
June 2009
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.
Venues to enable the bringing together for
the first time of these two major exhibitions
have now been secured.
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3. NATT+ Report
By Anthea Wormington
The aims of Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month are to:
• Promote knowledge of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History, Culture
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
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 increased
opportunities for Gypsy, Roma and
Traveller community members to
become educators to the wider
community
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• 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
Key partners : NATT+
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
HISTORY MONTH
Key achievements were:
• 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.
June 2009
The 8 Regions of GRTHM
South West
West Midlands
raveller
Gypsy Roma TBirmingham
Cornwall
Devon
HISTORY MONTH
Gloucestershire
Wiltshire
Avon (Bristol)
Dorset
Somerset
South East
Oxfordshire
Buckinghamshire
Berkshire
Hampshire
East Sussex
West Sussex
Surrey
Kent
East
Suffolk
Norfolk
Cambridgeshire
Essex
Herts
Beds
London Region
32 boroughs
Shropshire
June
2009
Worcestershire
Herefordshire
Staffordshire
Warwickshire
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
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4. Irish Traveller
Movement in Britain
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
Traveller Teachers (NATT+) for Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month (GRTHM).
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
Invitation to the “Pavee
Céiladh“ in London.
There was one in
Manchester earlier in
the month.
The Joyce Family
Breda, Mary, Allie, Dan and Kathleen enjoying
Pavee Ceilidh celebrations in London
14
Key Partners : ITMB
Bridy Purcell from
TIMB Travellers Youth
Forum who co-chaired
the GRTHM launch at
Portcullis House, House
of Commons.
HISTORY MONTH
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.
Gypsy Roma T
HISTORY MONTH
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Play
a
Part
Getting
Involved
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
•
HowtoplayapartinGRTHM2009
frominitialideatotheevent
•
Usefuladviceandinformationto
helpyoumakeyourideashappen
•
Ideasandinspiration
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
co-ordinators. (Unfortunately grants were
disseminated to coordinators in advance
of training. Very few co-ordinators thus
availed of the training. ITMB recommends
that training is compulsory for regional
co-ordinators for 2010 and delivered in
advance of receipt of grant)
• Shared organisation and facilitation of the
launch of GTRHM 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 co-ordinator
Patricia Knight and NATT+ the lead agency
in relation to community engagement
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
15
5. Media Report
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
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:
• 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
History Month
Magazine saw its third
issue during 2009
History Month Magazine
Issue 3
June 2009
FromCornwallto
Cumbria,yourguide
toGypsyRoma
TravellerHistoryMonth
Placestogoandthings
todotocelebrateGypsy,
RomaandTraveller
historyandculture
Thehiddenhistoryof
Europe’slargestand
mostmisunderstood
ethnicgroup
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
16
Celebrating over 500 years of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history and culture
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.
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.
June 2009
Contact
Many people made contact with GRTHM via
the website. We were able to pass them on
to the relevent 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 (appendix XXXX). 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 GRTHM website
was updated daily
throughout June in
2009.
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
17
Media Report
Unique Visits: Year on Year Comparison
2008
What do these
statistics show?
This analysis
summarizes multiple
page impressions of an
individual visitor into
unique visits. A visitor
is counted only when
bringing up more than
one page and taking no
longer than 30 minutes
between individual
pages.
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
18
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
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.
Jake Bowers
HISTORY MONTH
{ songbook
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
June 2009
June 2009
June 2009
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.
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
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.
Romano Drom
BBC’s 30,000 employees to improve the
corporation’s representationHISTORY
of the community.
MONTH
Alot 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.
Songs by
Ambrose Cooper, Kerieva
& Others
Arranged by Kerieva for
Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month, June 2009
www.virtualsheetmusic.com
The Romano Drom
songbook that is
downloadable from the
GRTHM website
19
6. Storytelling Competition
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.
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.
All the winners stories were put in a book
‘Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Storybook’ editer
by Claire Lockwood, which was presented to
each winner. These books have now be given
20
Gypsy, Roma and
Traveller Storybook:
a compilation of the
winners and highly
commended entries
to GRTHM 2009’s
National Competition
free to schools in England courtesy of NATT+.
‘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
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
7. Treasurer Interim Report
HISTORY MONTH
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.
A full financial report for 2009-2010 will be
posted on the website at the end of April
2010, this will then go to the auditors to be
verified.
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.
For more information please contact Claire.
[email protected]
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
June 2009
Claire Lockwood
21
22
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
HISTORY MONTH
Appendices
June 2009
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Events hosted and run by TESs and schools report
24
London Region community and education report
31
GRT community representatives reports
The North West
37
The East
38
The South East
39
The Midlands
40
The North East
42
23
Events hosted and run by
TESs and Schools
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 online 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.
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.
In order to take this a step further an
opportunity was taken through the NATT+
24
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.
The children worked in groups of three
helping to develop their levels of cooperation. 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
mark Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month.
Arts and crafts in Essex
and (right) displays
showing aspects of
culture and history
Events hosted and run by TES and Schools
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’.
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 activites 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.
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Norfolk Traveller Education Service
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…
June 2009
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!
June 2009
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.
25
How did it contribute to the aims of the
GRTHM?
West Midlands
The anthology will celebrate Gypsy, Roma and
Traveller culture and heritage and heighten
confidence of Gypsy, Roma and Travellers in
their cultural Heritage.
A variety of Projects throughout the region
Suffolk
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.
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.
• 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
authority art gallery
• Staffordshire – launch event of history mosaic
• Hereford – archiving and classification of
historical photographs with the community
• Regular meeting sessions throughout the
year at regional and local levels involving
range of professionals and representatives
of the communities
Who benefited?
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.
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.
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.
Storyteller Richard
O’Neill held many
workshops as part of
GRTHM 2009
The North East Region
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.
Without it we will not be able to put the play
on beyond Durham.
GRTHM?
It developed a greater awareness and
understanding of the cultural and heritage
issues both historically and currently facing
Gypsy Roma Travellers.
26
The South East Region
Berkshire
• 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
It was the first ‘linked’ event across the County
for the TESs which will enable families across
the county to attend together to celebrate.
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
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.
The money enabled us to purchase resources,
enabling a wider range of schools across the
county to have access quality resources and
celebrate GRTHM.
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
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
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
• Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities.
• Schools and teachers.
• Professionals.
HISTORY MONTH
• Local Gauje Communities
June 2009
Who benefited?
Ensure that the local Gypsy, Roma and
Traveller communities were able to access the
event.
HISTORY MONTH
GRTHM?
June 2009
• 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
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.
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.
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.
27
Milton Keynes
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.
It contributed towards the overall cost of the
project which is so far met through the EMASS
budget.
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
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.
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.
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
28
• 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 one secondary school
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 Traveller culture in a local
library involving Gypsy parents and preschool children
Wiltshire
• 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.
Without the money we would not have been
able to do these activities and therefore the
community would not have been informed.
GRTHM?
It promoted knowledge, gave positive
information and involved the Gypsy, Roma
and Traveller people in celebrating their
culture
Swindon
• 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
• Packs into schools and a display
GRTHM?
• Awareness and profile raised of the
Travellers in the local community.
• Positive image building
• Further promoted community cohesion
• Raised awareness and profile of Travellers
and their culture within the school settings
Gloucestershire
Gypsy and Traveller Heritage Day
Who benefited?
• Traveller people (adults and young people)
• Non-Traveller people
• Other agencies e.g. Prospects, PCT, EHE
GRTHM?
HISTORY MONTH
esteem and greater engagement within LA.
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
It directly addressed all 4 aims of GRTHM:
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
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
29
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
“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.
30
At least 5 of the 6 schools have Gypsy/
Traveller pupils.
The sessions are very powerful, and work
especially well with the younger students
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
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’.
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.
London region community and education report
London Region
The work of the London Co-ordinator
This year both education and
community budgets were held by
Traveller Education Service lead Rocky
Deans.
The London Region Co-ordinator and two
TES colleagues (Ilana Cork & Lindsey Chatralia
organised a GRTHM conference for TES staff
on Friday 27th February at City Hall. was The
aim of the conference was to:
• 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 Co-ordinator 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
5
12
16
1
2
4
6
3
12
London activities and events
There were activities and events throughout
London to celebrate GRTHM in June 2009.
A wider range of different organisations were
responsible for these activities and events,
these included:
• Schools and Colleges
• Libraries and Museums
• Local Gypsy, Roma and Traveller
organisations
• Voluntary groups
• TESs
The types of activities and events included:
• 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.
The Co-ordinator 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 Co-ordinator 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.
31
London Borough of Redbridge
Activity/event 1
‘Roma Support’ play group
St Lukes Church Hall, Baxter Road Ilford
GRTHM Community Celebration
Activity/event:
‘Just 5 Roma’ Musicians playing at ‘Roma
Support’ play group for Romanian Roma
children and young people, GRTHM
Community Celebration.
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.
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
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.
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
The children really like going to school. The
book is still in draft form but it reflects all
32
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 childrens 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.
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
HISTORY MONTH
Resonance FM (104.4 FM) including Kathleen
Joyce a Traveller of Irish heritage who lives in
Peckham and talked about her life. Repeated
18th June 11.00 am
June 2009
HISTORY MONTH
18th June 6.30pm ‘ONE Southwark’ photo
exhibition at the Menier Gallery 53 Southwark
Street London SE1 1RU including Kathleen
Joyce
June 2009
Collectively, ‘ONE Southwark’ captures a
HISTORY
MONTH
snapshot of life in one of London’s
most
diverse boroughs. It does not claim to be
a summary of all there is to say about 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
‘ONE Southwark’ was developed by
Southwark Council’s Community Involvement
& Develpopment Unit (CIDU), in partnership
with Rehan Jamil, Photographer, and London’s
Arrts 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
33
Romani Rad performance.
Southwark’s training centre for June.
Positive display materials, ‘Romani Rad’ Roma
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.
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.
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
34
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 co-ordinator wrote:
“The performance was one of the best we’ve
seen at the school for many uears folowed by
really engaging workshops. We all really got
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.
a lot out of it. In terms of GRTHM it would be
great to have them back next year as a finale.”
Sutton & Merton
Exhibition on Traveller history and culture
Aimed o inform and increase awareness in the
general population of Traveller history and
culture
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Lambeth produced this
informative and useful
brochure highlighting
GRTHM in Lambeth and
June
2009
the reasons for it.
HISTORY MONTH
History Month
Held in the LB Sutton Central Library
throughout June
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
Sarah Gwynn
Sutton & Merton Traveller Education Service
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
• 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.
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?
Dance and Music Workshop for 7 – 11 year
olds
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
Lambeth
Film Show
This year’s Gypsy Roma Traveller HistoryMonth
was organised by Lambeth Traveller Education
Service and Lambeth Libraries.
Audience: Secondary School pupils and adults
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.
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.
35
Regional Reports
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
36
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
and their music being performed.
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
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.
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 Hasletine 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.
Regional Reports
HISTORY MONTH
North West
June 2009
Middlewich
HISTORY MONTH
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.
June 2009
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
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.
Jane Ann Hurn
Photographs of
GRTHM 2009 in
Cheshire
37
Regional Reports
The East
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
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’.
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.
Candy Sheridan
38
Regional Reports
South East
Surrey
Bourne Hall Gypsy Day
SGTCRF had a stand at the event. Not funded
by GRTHM.
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.
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.
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
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
• 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
indentified.
• 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
Travellers Got Talent
was so overwhelmingly
sucessful that the
model is being
repeated nationally in
2010
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.
39
Regional Reports
Midlands
DGLG A2 poster:Layout 1
• 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.
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.
Page 1
Reading is Fun
- aged 7 - USA
DGLG undertook the money for the East
Midlands and the West Midlands. We funded
the following projects.
09:27
Illustration by Esperanza
Derbyshire Gypsy Liaison Group Report
27/4/09
Celebrate Romany Gypsy & Traveller History month this June.
Culturally appropriate books for schools and the community.
Email for resource information [email protected]
Gypsy Roma and Traveller Resources Catalogue available from 0113 274 8050 www.natt.org.uk
Sharing good practice in the Regions
Email: [email protected]
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
Derbyhire 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 othe council settings
40
Reading is Fun was a
DGLG scheme to fund
books going into West
Midlands and every
school in Derby and
Derby’s City.
Regional Reports
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
• 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
June 2009
Margaret Hutchinson
41
Regional Reports
North East
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
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.
Middlesborough
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.
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
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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
42
A poster that
announced a day of
celebration in Bradford
Regional Reports
HISTORY MONTH
June 2009
BARO ZIRO 2009 - Celebrating Gypsy, Roma, Traveller Culture
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
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 Co-ordinator 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
26/5/09
11:34
World Music band KAL
performing during the
BARO ZIRO festival.
Page 3
A635
A638
June 2009
A19
A630
Cusworth Hall
BARO ZIRO
CELEBRATING GYPSY,
ROMA & TRAVELLER
CULTURE
13 – 20 June 09
A19
A1
The Point
The Circus Tent
A638
A18
A1
A630
A6182
Other BARO ZIRO events included a
storytelling evening with Richard O’Neill and
a theatrical performance based on texts of
Traveller writer Damian LeBas junior. “You
Don’t Look Like A Gypsy” was performed
by the LeBas 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
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
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
43

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