What are the different types of Travellers?
The umbrella term ‘Traveller’ includes many different and distinct groups. For example, Irish Travellers, Scottish Gypsy/Travellers and Romany people are recognised ethnic groups. There are also cultural groups including Showmen, Boaters and New Travellers under this umbrella term.
To find out more click on the links below:
Romany Gypsies are a group who were traditionally nomadic but many now live on sites or in houses. They are a recognised ethnic group. They have their own language, Romani, a distinct culture and rich history. There are English, Welsh and Scottish Gypsies. They have been part of British society since Tudor times.
Romany Gypsies belong to the wider Romani people (including Roma, Kale, Sinti and others) who are believed to have left India in the 11th century. The term ‘Gypsies’ originates from the word ‘Egyptians’ which was used to describe Roma people as they had a darker appearance and they spoke Romani.
The Roma communities are descended from nomadic tribes who left India in the 10th/ 12th centuries and settled in Europe. Historically, they have faced persecution and are still marginalised in many Eastern European countries.
Roma were singled out for persecution by the Nazi regime during World War II and were subjected to arbitrary internment, sterilization, forced labour in concentration camps, deportation, and mass murder. The crimes committed against Roma remained unacknowledged all over Europe in the first decades after the war and there is no memorial to honour those who died.
In the UK, many Roma choose not to ascribe for fear of prejudice and ill treatment. They are a recognised ethnic group.
Irish Travellers are a recognised ethnic group. They have their own unique culture and language, are often Catholic, and have been part of British society since the 12th Century. They may have close ties with Ireland but many are UK born and raised. They have a shared history of nomadism but many now live on sites or in houses.
They are also known by the names ‘Pavee’ or ‘Minceirs’ and speak their traditional languages ‘The Gammon’ or ‘The Cant.’
Irish Travellers were also sometimes referred to as ‘Tinkers’ (linked to their traditional craft of tinsmithing) or ‘An lucht siúil’ which is Irish for ‘The Walking people’.
Showmen are a cultural minority that have owned and operated funfairs and circuses for many generations and their identity is connected to their family businesses. They operate rides and attractions that can be seen throughout the summer months at funfairs. They are sometimes known as Occupational Travellers. Families spend the winter at their ‘yards’ repairing and renovating their rides and during this time the children are able to attend school.
Circus folk earn their living by travelling with the circus. They are often on the road all year and may travel internationally.
Hundreds of years ago, the canals of Great Britain were used to transport goods between major cities and this led to the creation of a new way of life. Boaters are traditionally those families who earned their living working on the boats on the UK’s inland and coastal waterways. Nowadays the term is used for anyone whose home is a boat and does not have a permanent mooring with planning permission for residential use.
Boaters are not an ethnic minority; it is seen as a lifestyle choice although many Boater families have lived on the water for generations.
New Travellers – formerly referred to as ‘New Age’ Travellers – is a term used to describe people from all walks of life who have chosen to live nomadically for personal or ethical reasons. The lifestyle grew out of the hippy movement of the 1960s. People within this community tend to prefer alternative, eco-minded lifestyles.
New Travellers are not an ethnic minority and it is seen as a lifestyle choice.
Why do they travel?
Here are some of the main reasons why Travellers and Gypsies travel:
Travellers can struggle to find work opportunities in their local area so whole families are forced to travel to find other work opportunities. This can be for short or prolonged periods of time and within both the UK and abroad.
Travellers are a very close-knit community and will always come together to celebrate special occasions such as weddings, birthdays, christenings and other ceremonies. If a family member is unwell the family will rally round to support them or if someone sadly passes away, they will congregate to mourn and attendance at funerals is hugely important and a mark of respect.
Many Travellers are deeply religious and families enjoy travelling to various religious sites. Two examples of this are Saintes Maries De La Mer in France and Our Lady of Medjugorje in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Horse fairs are very important events in the Gypsy / Traveller calendar providing opportunities for the communities to gather en masse to trade horses and network to make important contacts.
Stow on the Wold, in the Cotswolds holds a bi-annual horse fair each event running for a day but the most famous and largest horse fair in Europe is Appleby in Cumbria. This event runs over 3 to 4 days and attracts over 10,000 people, 1000 caravans and several hundred horse-drawn vehicles.
Just like all of us, Travellers enjoy going on a family holiday for a week or two!
Where do Travellers live?
Travellers live in a variety of accommodation.
Those who travel continuously live in mobile caravans, whereas others may choose to live in trailers or chalets on a Traveller site and use caravans for periods of travelling.
Traveller sites can be privately owned, or council run, which operate in a similar way to the council housing system.
There are also groups who live on boats and barges.
Many Travellers now live in houses and flats. Travellers who are housed, or who do not travel, are still Travellers as it is their culture and a way of life.
How do Traveller sites work?
The council run sites are managed by the local authority.
Residents are council tenants and pay rent and council tax. Each plot has a wash house, mains water and drainage, electricity, bottled gas, and have regular refuge collections.
Potential applicants are prioritised according to a list of criteria and allocations are given to those at the top of that list. They operate in the same way as the council house system and although a tenant may have occupied a plot for many years, if that person decides to move away or sadly passes away the extended members of that family are not automatically entitled to occupy that plot. The council will allocate it to the person at the top of the waiting list.
Privately owned sites are run and managed by the site owner.
How many Travellers are there in the UK?
It is believed that there are around 300,000 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people currently living in the UK.
How do Travellers support themselves / earn money?
There are Gypsies and Travellers across every profession – education, health, police, social care, company directors and so much more.
However, Gypsies and Travellers are more likely to be self-employed than the general population. Traditional roles include building, gardening, motor trade, animal trade and more.
One of the reasons Gypsies and Travellers are more likely to be in self-employment is that it suits a nomadic lifestyle and also sadly because of discrimination when applying for jobs.
What are the barriers to accessing education?
Gypsies and Travellers face many barriers to education. Click on the links below for more detail.
Some Travellers are continuously on the move and do not stay in one place long enough to access school places.
Many families do not have the digital knowledge or literacy levels to apply for school places, or are aware of the processes and /or timescales for applying. Sometimes it is just that there are no school places available in the area they need.
Many parents are worried about the experience their children will have in a school environment based on their own poor experiences of education, or the racism and prejudice they may have faced during their time in education.
Gypsy Travellers are the group most at risk in the education system and the level of hostility faced by them is probably greater than any other minority ethnic group.
If the family has a vehicle, it may likely be used for work purposes and not available to take the children to school.
Many sites are based in locations that have poor transport links so it may be too difficult to get children to and from school.
This may be due to prolonged or regular periods of travelling, poor health or some parents not placing enough value on education.
In the academic year 2020 – 2021 the national average of absence for all pupils in the UK was 4.6%. Comparatively, Gypsy and Roma pupils and Traveller pupils of Irish Heritage had the highest rate of absence at 19.1%.
There are a number of reasons that a Traveller child may have gaps in their learning. For example if their attendance is low or they travel a lot so change schools regularly. It may also be that they did not have any pre-school or nursery experience. Another factor is parental non-engagement and lack of support at home with learning.
Attendance in primary schools is far greater than secondary level education. Children are often encouraged not to transition to high school or leave after a couple of years in keeping with their cultural traditions. Children are then home educated and often follow their parents’ footsteps into the family business or area of employment.
However, many Traveller children do complete their secondary education, some going on to attend college and even university.
How can I be more inclusive?
- Be aware of and show an understanding of Traveller culture and heritage. Don’t make assumptions about individuals or the community and take the time to get to know them, understand their history and learn about their way of life.
- Raise awareness by incorporating Traveller culture and history in lessons or assemblies (in schools and educational settings) . Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month is celebrated in June each year and provides a great opportunity to raise awareness.
- Do not be influenced by unfair and biased TV shows, media articles or social media postings that deliberately portray Gypsies and Travellers in a negative light in order to increase their viewing numbers and hits. This kind of false representation is rarely allowed when referencing other minority groups. For example, a couple of years ago the newspapers ran stories/photos of the ‘devastation’ left in the fields surrounding Appleby after the yearly horse fair, but thankfully an unbiased documentary which aired months later showed what really happened. Once all the caravans had left, a pre-organised committee of Travellers cleared the entire area and left it as they had found it, but unfortunately that story won’t sell newspapers!
- Challenge or address any misconceptions, prejudice, discrimination or injustices in the same way you would with any other minority group.
- Be flexible and work with Traveller pupils/families to find solutions to problems or issues they may face (e.g. allowing time, a quiet space and resources to complete homework in school).
- Communicate consistently and openly with parents and pupils, the more welcoming you are the more engaged they will be and hence more likely to take part in extra-curricular activities and school trips. Please remember with many families written communication is a problem due to low literacy levels so where possible please communicate verbally.
- Contact us (Cognus’ Traveller Education Service) for advice and guidance.