Posted 24 May 2022

Go Higher West Yorkshire (GHWY) and Leeds Gypsy & Traveller Exchange (Leeds GATE) will be involved in three events to mark Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month this June:

• GHWY will take part in the national launch of the GTRSB (Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater) Pledge for Schools on Thursday, 16 June. Register for this event here.  
• Janet Brown, GHWY Project Officer (Data, Evaluation and Impact), will host a research briefing on Tuesday, 21 June about our recently published report: Higher Education Opportunities for Gypsy Roma Traveller Young People in West Yorkshire.  
• GHWY will host a CPD session for all those who would like to improve their understanding of Gypsy & Traveller communities on Wednesday, 29 June. Run by LeedsGATE and York Traveller’s Trust, further details will be available shortly.   

The nomadic way of life – a key part of Gypsy and Traveller people’s history for hundreds of years across West Yorkshire and nationally – has been criminalised under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill. For people who travel, trespass being a criminal offence means they could be committing a crime just for having nowhere to go. But for all Gypsies and Travellers it threatens to cause even further racism and discrimination. 

We must resist by standing with these communities. Through protecting culture, and celebrating Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people just for who they are, we can show our solidarity with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people.

Leeds GATE is a membership organisation that has worked to improve the lives of Gypsies and Travellers across West Yorkshire for almost 20 years. It belongs to Gypsies and Travellers and supports its members on issues that matter most and to advocate for themselves.