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A letter to Headteachers Regarding GRTHM

February 2008

Dear Headteacher

Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month

We are working with the DCSF and National Strategies to improve outcomes for the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children and young people and their families here in Leeds.

A key priority is to raise awareness of the achievements of these communities by celebrating the first national Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month in June, building on the experience we have with the very successful Black History Month.

We hope that this will help raise awareness of these communities and their valuable contributions to our society and to offset the negative stereotyping and prejudices that have led to the situation where:

  • The Children’s Society report that nearly 9 out of every 10 children and young people from a Gypsy background have suffered racial abuse and nearly two thirds have also been bullied or physically attacked.(November Report 2007)
  • The achievement levels of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities are the lowest of any of the BME communities and the gap is widening. (December 2007 DCSF national figures)

I hope all our early years’ centres, schools and colleges will use this opportunity to learn about the rich, cultural contribution these communities have made across the centuries despite the harshest of treatments at times in their histories.

National and Leeds Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month Poster Competition

To help raise awareness our Gypsy Roma Traveller Achievement Service (GRTAS) are organizing a National Poster competition from January to April for schools, organizations and individuals to design a poster for GRTHM. There will be prizes at all levels for both genders and the overall winning design will be produced as an A2 poster. (See flier attached) The winners will be presented their prizes at a prestigious event in the House of Lords on the 2nd June to launch GRTHM.  Every Leeds entry will also be entered for the Leeds Poster competition and the prizes and awards will be presented in the Civic Hall on 25th June.

Four professional Artists from the GRT communities: Ferdinand Koci, Daniel Baker, Damian Le Bas and Delaine Le Bas  are currently producing posters, which will go on sale in February to help encourage everyone to get involved. They will judge the competition in May.

These are the artists who exhibited ‘The Second Site Exhibition’ that came to Leeds two years ago and three of these artists also exhibited at the Venice Biennale and their work can be seen on www.romapavilion.org

Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month Website

GRTAS are developing a new website which will give all the information of what is happening during this month and also give useful links to documents, resources and websites that can be used to inform everyone about the GRT communities and the activities taking place, view www.grthm.co.uk and also the excellent www.grtleeds.co.uk

Gypsy Roma Traveller Achievers Awards

We also wish to reward GRT children and young people for hard work, achievement and encourage them to continue to strive for excellence. We will encourage schools to nominate some of these children and young people in our schools to receive these awards in June as part of GRTHM. More details soon from GRTAS.

How to celebrate Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month

  • Celebrate in schools with Art/Music/Storytelling workshops developed in partnership with schools and other partners
  • Invite GRT artists, musicians, storytellers and the GRT communities to work with schools on these initiatives.
  • Research into the GRT history, languages and cultures and engaging with the local GRT communities.
  • GRT parents, families and communities could work in schools to enrich the educational experience for all children and young people.
  • Conferences at local and national levels to celebrate GRTHM.

I hope you will take these opportunities to celebrate these wonderful communities and to increase the self-esteem of the Gypsy Roma Traveller children and young people in our provision across Leeds, enrich the curriculum for all children and contribute to the community cohesion agenda.

Best wishes

Chris Edwards
Chief Executive