This very short blogpost is to help spread the word about support and resources to help you take part in Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history month with your students.

“Don’t teach nothing about Gypsy, Roma and Traveller history or culture. Makes you feel like no one understands.”

This is a quote from a yong person that you can find in the Anti-Bullying Alliances 2019 report into Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children’s experiences in schools. Seeing oneself in the curriculum is important. Every June is Gypsy, Roma and Traveller month. Please would you do something to recognise this?

The theme for 2023 is “Weaving Journeys: A celebration of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller lives, histories and cultures”. Here is a simple PowerPoint of slides to help you weave stories across your school curriculum:

The first three slides explain what this is and suggest how to use it. Inspiring Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, mainly from the past, are linked to subjects that are taught in schools. This is a ready made display that you can use this month. It could be the basis for further exploration of these people’s stories and those of people like them.

Friends, Families and Travellers have a GRT History Month page with lots of resoures.

The Anne Frank Trust is organising a free online event for secondary school students on June 8.

The HA has a page on its website where you can find lots more help and resources, including to support teacher subject knowledge.

You can check websites of education organisations in your local area for more support and resources. Here is an example from Devon, where you will find an art competition inspired by the work of Gabi Jimenez and a focus on the storyteller, author and playwright, Richard O’Neill.

To develop our own awareness of key issues you could listen to this podcast from Media Storm: ‘Gypsy, Roma, Traveller’: Why is prejudice on the rise?

You might also consider the GRTSB Pledge for Schools.