Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month (GRTHM) takes place in June.

It was established in Britain in 2008 as a way of raising awareness of these communities and their contributions to society and to offset negative stereotyping and prejudices.

The aims of the GRTHM are to:

  • 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; and

  • celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture and heritage.

Gypsy, Roma and some Traveller people are protected against discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 in England, Scotland and Wales and under the Race Relations (NI) Order 1997 in Northern Ireland.

Romany Gypsies, Scottish Gypsy/Travellers and Irish Travellers have all been declared by the courts to be protected as ‘races’ under the Equality Act 2010.

However, at least two Traveller groups fall outside these definitions and may therefore not be protected against discrimination: Showpeople and New (or New Age) Travellers. Roma is also an ‘ethnic group’ in terms of the law and therefore protected by equality legislation.

In addition to the Equality Act’s prohibition of discrimination, section 149 of the Act (the Public Sector Equality Duty) provides that public authorities, including schools and colleges, are, in the exercise of their functions, required to have due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between persons with protected characteristics and those that do not share them.

The NASUWT is committed to equality for all and to the eradication of discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people in schools and colleges and beyond.

GTRSB pledge for schools

Our 2023 event is about the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boaters’ (GTRSB) Pledge for Schools.

The Pledge is a set of suggested actions schools can sign up to help improve access, retention and outcomes in education and create an environment in which Gypsies, Roma, Showmen and Boaters can thrive and flourish.

 

 


Your feedback

If you require a response from us, please DO NOT use this form. Please use our Contact Us page instead.

In our continued efforts to improve the website, we evaluate all the feedback you leave here because your insight is invaluable to us, but all your comments are processed anonymously and we are unable to respond to them directly.