Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month recognises the history and celebrates the cultures, traditions and contributions of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in Scotland and elsewhere in the UK.  Rich in music, storytelling and crafts they have long been integral to both rural and urban economies and to cultural life.

Started in the London Borough of Brent in June 2003, the concept was established in Scotland in 2016 via an awareness raising event in Aberdeen City.  2017 saw the concept grow to awareness raising and celebratory events in Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire.  Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month is now a national event and has endorsement from the Scottish Government.

The origins of Scottish Gypsy/Travellers are as elusive as they are fascinating; their vibrant culture, nomadic way of life and strong family ties are all part of a tradition in which many of us can ­find our roots – indeed, ‘settled life’ as we know it is a relatively modern phenomenon. Often romanticised, repeatedly criticised: the nomadic lifestyle and heritage of Gypsy/Travellers always provokes a strong reaction.

 

So, who are the Scottish Gypsy/Travellers?

The origins of the Scottish Gypsy/Traveller population remain disputed, but there is a degree of common opinion that suggests they have their roots in a Celtic – and possibly pre-Celtic – nomad population in Scotland. There has been, historically, some inter-marriage and social/trading networks with the Roma, a nomadic population that, it is argued, migrated from India, through Egypt and through Eastern Europe [hence ‘Gypsies’ & ‘Romanies’] to Western Europe [Whyte: 2001].

Written evidence of their presence in Britain can be dated as 1505 in Edinburgh and is taken from an account written up by the then Lord High Treasurer of Scotland [Fraser 1995:111-112]. [….] Objectively, we can say that contemporary Scottish Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland are part of a nomadic community that has endured for centuries throughout the whole of Scotland (Clark, C. [2006:39-67] Scottish Affairs, No. 54, Winter).

The Scottish Gypsy/Traveller community is recognised by the Scottish Government as an ethnic group in its own right: a recognition that acknowledges that it is a community comprised of several distinct groups; each with its own rich cultural origins, traditions, histories and language.  The term Gypsy/Traveller is an all-encompassing and generic one, used to describe someone with a nomadic heritage and/or lifestyle, and includes the following groups: Highland and Lowland Scottish Travellers, Occupational Travellers, Romanichals, Irish Travellers, English Gypsies and Welsh Kale.  The Equality Act [2010] provides the legislative framework which protects Gypsy/Travellers, and other people who are recognised as a distinct ethnic group, from being discriminated against on grounds of ethnicity.

Today, the identity of Gypsy/Travellers can take many forms: some families are constantly on the road, some only travel for part of the year and others live in ‘bricks and mortar’ – houses.  However, regardless of lifestyle and upbringing, members of the Gypsy/Traveller community share a strong sense of cultural identity – which continues to thrive through traditional crafts and fairs, and via the oral mediums of storytelling and music [from A Road Less Travelled: Gypsy/Travellers in Scotland (2017), Article 12 in Scotland. You can download the full publication by clicking here].

 

Dispelling Myths

Here we offer some facts to dispel common myths and stereotypes. Click on a statement to reveal the facts.

 

  • Fact: Both the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government recommended that Gypsy/ Travellers in Scotland should be regarded as an ethnic group. A 2008 judgement in relation to an employment tribunal [K. MacLennan versus Gypsy Traveller Education and Information Project] set a precedent in this regard, it concluded that ‘Scottish Gypsy/Travellers’ are a group which can be defined by reference to their ethnic origins and therefore can be afforded the protection offered by the Equality Act 2010. This means they now have the same legal rights as English Gypsies and Irish Travellers.

  • Fact: Despite, in many cases, having a greater health need, Gypsy/Travellers use mainstream health services less than other members of the population. Some of the reasons for this involve practical difficulties: such as complex procedures for registering and accessing services. Isolation of sites can create problems in accessing dentists and opticians. A number of GP surgeries insist on having a permanent address in order to register with them [even although this is not a necessary requirement], and a lack of patient held medical records can add to the barriers Gypsy/Travellers face accessing health services. Reports from Gypsy/Travellers often state experience of hostility and prejudice from healthcare providers, which again impacts on Gypsy/Travellers utilising services.

    Fact: Gypsy/Travellers are entitled to be educated along with all other children. For some families engaging with schools is a challenging process, which is sometimes due to cultural differences between the school and home. Some Gypsy/Traveller families report that schools have little sympathy and offer little support for Gypsy/Traveller families, their values and lifestyle. Like any other children and young people, there are those who have had positive and negative experiences of education. What is paramount is that education authorities, schools and support services are tasked with delivering inclusive practices for all Scotland’s children. These are the rights of all children in the UK, compounded by the UN Convention on the Rights of The Child.

  • Fact: Gypsy/Travellers are an ethnic group; “Born a Gypsy/Traveller, always a Gypsy/Traveller”. Being a Gypsy/Traveller involves much more than just travelling – even if you live in a house you are still a Gypsy/Traveller. “We have our own customs, traditions, language and beliefs. Some people live in houses and others in trailers; we often move between the two, but we’re always Gypsy/Travellers”.

  • Fact: Gypsy/Travellers living in ‘bricks and mortar housing’ share all the same issues facing the community as a whole, while also having their own particular concerns. Specific issues include: difficulty in settling into mainstream accommodation, stress, isolation and worsening health problems.

    “If you are used to living in a caravan/trailer your whole life and then put into a house, it’s really hard to get used to. It would be like expecting people who live in houses to change to living in a caravan and just put up with it”.

  • Fact: All Gypsy/Travellers living on local authority or privately owned sites pay council tax, rent, gas, electricity, and all other relevant charges – which are measured the same way as other households. Those living on ‘roadside encampments’, generally speaking, do not pay council tax rates but they also do not receive services. All residents within the UK pay tax on their purchases and petrol. All Gypsy/Travellers are charged VAT on everything that they buy.

  • Fact: All of these words are considered racist. These words have been used historically and/or currently as allegations about Gypsy/Roma/Travellers ethnicity, and refer to them in a derogatory and pejorative manner.

  • Fact: A very small number of Gypsy/Travellers receive benefits. Many Gypsy/Traveller families, who spend the majority of their time travelling from one eviction to the next, find it difficult to access the correct level of benefit support [if any] without a fixed address.

    There is a strong work ethic in Gypsy/Traveller culture based on the need to survive. Gypsy/Travellers often start work at a younger age than the rest of society. Traditional skills are passed down from generation to generation.

  • Fact: There can be crime in any community. There is no evidence of higher crime rates among Gypsy/Travellers. The media – and images used in reports – are often inaccurate and discriminatory. Some Gypsy/Travellers feel they have been criminalised by laws to curtail their traditional lifestyle.

  • Fact: Traditionally many Gypsy/Travellers are self-employed and pay tax just like anyone else. Gypsy/Traveller culture often values portable wealth, and because of this money can be more visible. But, as in any community, there are rich and poor families – the rich being in the minority. The amount of capital their home is worth is far less than the equity many non Gypsy/Travellers hold in houses, and is constantly depreciating in value.

  • Fact: MBFGW focused on a small number of individuals from 5 sites [out of an estimated 300-plus sites across the UK]. In any community, there are people who choose to live their lives in certain ways. What MBFGW did not cover was the fact that there are around 300,000 Gypsy/Roma/Travellers in the UK who do not enjoy the wealth shown on MBFGW, and who face discrimination, stereotyping and substandard living conditions on a daily basis. The clear message is not to believe everything you read, see and hear in the media.