It is Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month in June. This group of communities are probably some of the least understood across Europe, yet they have some of the longest histories of any European ethnic minorities, stretching back over 1000 years. Many people feel uncomfortable with the idea of a community that is mobile and this has led to a lot of misconceptions, mythology and prejudice about – and ill treatment of – those who belong to the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. 

In Britain there has also been a history of exclusion and denigration of these communities. To help address this, since 2008 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Month has been held in June to celebrate and explain the heritage of these groups and their long presence within the UK.  

In recent years the HA have been building up our resources, articles and podcasts about these neglected histories – take some time this June to learn more:

Resources for primary schools:

• Promoting Gypsy, Roma and Traveller heritage in your primary history curriculum 
• Teaching Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history (open access)

Resources for secondary schools

• Teaching Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history (open access)
• Ensuring Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children do not feel unseen in the history classroom 
• Do Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children see themselves in your history classroom? (open access) 

General resources:

• Podcast: British-Irish Gypsy Traveller History (Part 1) 
• Podcast: British-Irish Gypsy Traveller History (Part 2) 
• Podcast: Romani History