Welcome to our 2023 GRT History Month newsletter!
June marks GRT History Month in the UK - with this year's theme “Weaving Journeys: A celebration of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller lives, histories and cultures..." This presents a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the rich and diverse histories of children and families from Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showman and Boater backgrounds.
In West Sussex, we know that a number of schools are once again planning to mark GRT History Month. For example, Shipley Primary have planned a fantastic day in which Year 3 and 4 children will be reading Richard O’Neill books and engaging in activities. Traveller parents and family members have also been invited into the school to help celebrate and it is also hoped that they may share some of their own histories and experiences.
Read on for more ideas about how to celebrate GRT History Month in your setting.
Or alternatively, why not look back through our past GRTHM newsletters for more resources, activities and information:
Romany Gypsy & Traveller blue plaque unveiled
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In November last year, a blue plaque was unveiled in Wardley Street, south London, to remember and celebrate the local area’s unique Gypsy and Traveller heritage and history. Read more about this on the Traveller Times website.
Click here to listen to two podcast interviews (7 mins and 19 mins) with 76-year-old Traveller, Betsy Cooper. She remembers life in Wardley Street, the families who lived there and their days travelling and working in the hop fields of Kent.
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Activity - Pupil's research their own family heritage
This GRT History Month, why not encourage children in your school from Traveller backgrounds to find out more about their own family histories? They could:
- Interview parents or grandparents
- Find out about their experiences of education, work or travelling
- Bring in old photos or objects
They could even use our Blue Plaque Template to celebrate a special place or a notable member of their family or community.
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An Opportunity to Raise Aspirations?
GRT History Month provides schools with the opportunity to focus on raising aspirations for Traveller children.
In 2021 we began to put together some simple sessions that could support children to focus on their future. We came up with a group of activities called Roads to Explore.
The sessions give students an opportunity to focus on their current school experience, the people who are role models and those who are supportive to them. Also, it gives them a chance to think about how school relates to their future world of work and to consider researching the kinds of skills and experience they will need to acquire to get to where they want to go.
Click here to find out more about Roads to Explore
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Last June as part of the GRT History Month celebrations in West Sussex we were able to fund a visit from the Salford EMTAS team and their traditional Irish Traveller wagon. The wagon was constructed from scratch by the Salford EMTAS team and members of the Traveller community. They also created information boards and activites for visiting children.
The trip to West Sussex was the first time they had taken the wagon out of Salford. The team said they were thrilled at the warm welcome they received and the interest in their amazing creation. The wagon spent a day at Billingshurst Primary School and a day at Southbourne Junior School. Click to read more
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Wednesday 12th July - 10am-11.30am, The Weald School
The Traveller Education Support Team are excited to announce that the summer term network meeting will be face-to-face. The Weald School have kindly offered to host the meeting, which enables colleagues to meet in person, as we used to.
We have been hosting the meetings via MS Teams for the past two years and these meetings have been well attended and we have had very positive feedback from attendees. However, in the evaluations it was expressed that people would like to have an opportunity to meet in ‘real life’ as this offers an opportunity to network and connect directly. Therefore, we will hold the summer meeting at The Weald and see if this is a model we wish to return to or explore the options for the future of these meetings.
If you would like to attend please email clare.painting@westsussex.gov.uk by Tuesday 4th July. Refreshments will be provided.
The agenda for the meeting is yet to be set, so please do contact me with ideas and topics. However, there will be a focus on Gypsy, Roma Traveller History Month and how it was celebrated across the county. We look forward to seeing you at the meeting.
Sunday 11th June - Farnham, Surrey
"Join us for this favourite cultural event and explore the past and present of Romany culture, heritage and tradition." - The Rural Living Museum, Farnham
Watch demonstrations and take part in activities:
- Jig Dolls with traditional music
- Paper and wood flower making
- Peg and basket making.
Romany vardos and bender tent will be open to the public to go inside and experience the most compact of living spaces.
"Experience the expression of Romany heritage through music, dance and language, including a poetry slam. We hope to be able to bring film to the event in our village hall to show Romany life past and present." Click here for more information.
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To celebrate GRT History Month this year, and with the help of the charity Friends, Family and Travellers, the West Sussex Community Safety & Wellbeing team will be creating a podcast exploring tradition, culture, and the personal experiences of a local Traveller family. They will be linking to it on their Facebook and Twitter channels.
Friends, Family and Travellers are working to end discrimination and racism against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and they have lots of information on their website for people to learn more about the heritage and culture, including a new booklet supporting this year’s history month theme “Weaving Journeys: A celebration of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller lives, histories and cultures.”
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