Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller communities
Romany Gypsy, Roma and Irish Traveller people experience the poorest health outcomes out of any other minority ethnic groups in the UK. Attributed to many reasons including discrimination, difficulties navigating the NHS, and a reluctance by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people to seek medical attention until their condition has become very serious.
East Riding Inclusion Health findings (Nov 2024)
- In the East Riding, people recording their ethnicity as Gypsy or Irish Traveller in the 2021 census numbered 324, whilst the total Roma population was 118. Howdenshire recorded the highest count of Gypsy or Irish Travellers (50) and Goole South recorded the highest count of Roma population (54).
- Across the East Riding, the majority of the Gypsy or Irish Traveller and Roma populations live in houses, with 23% of White Gypsy or Irish Travellers living in a caravan or other mobile or temporary structures. This is likely to be situated within one of the three authorised Gypsy and Traveller sites in the East Riding, at Cottingham, Bridlington, or Eppleworth.
- 10.2% of people identifying as Gypsies or Irish Travellers reported their health to be ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’, almost twice the proportion reported by the overall East Riding population. The age demographic of this population is much younger than the overall East Riding population and so this higher level of morbidity cannot be explained by having an ageing population. By contrast, in the Roma population only 4.2% reported their health to be ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’.
- There is a lot of stigma surrounding some health issues within this community. This is particularly the case for mental health and sexual health issues, which has led to a lack of conversation, awareness, and understanding around the topics. Sex education remains a taboo subject and many parents choose to remove their children from school classes on the topic.
- A deep mistrust for authorities has also proved a barrier to engagement with health care and help is often not sought until individuals reach crisis point, meaning there has been little opportunity for preventative work.
Support available in the East Riding
Please note - the information on this site is constantly being updated. If you're aware of any support or service that should be included here, please contact Michelle Barnes in Smile's Community Development team at mb@heysmilefoundation.org
Resources and further information
Friends Families & Travellers
Work to end racism and discrimination against Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and to protect the right to pursue a nomadic way of life. Support individuals and families with the issues that matter most to them, at the same time as working to transform systems and institutions to address the root causes of inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people. https://www.gypsy-traveller.org/
n collaboration with Roma Support Group, Friends, Families and Travellers (FFT) has published a series of reports on barriers and inequalities faced by Gypsies, Roma and Travellers across healthcare, as part of the VCSE Health and Wellbeing Alliance Programme.
Offering insight into a wide scope of healthcare needs and services, these resources are designed to support health professionals and policymakers working with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people and offer guidance on how to better meet needs, by embedding practical solutions within healthcare settings and interactions.
Roma Support Group
https://www.romasupportgroup.org.uk/
Traveller Movement (TM)
TM is a national development, policy and voice charity working for the rights and inclusion of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in Britain.
The Equality & Social Justice Unit (ESJU), a service operated by the Traveller Movement, offers free advocacy and support service for Romany (Gypsy), Roma and Irish Travellers facing discrimination in accessing essential public and private services.
The ESJU specialises in early intervention action to prevent and challenge discrimination. Discrimination in services (public and private) includes Discrimination in health care. https://travellermovement.org.uk/
GATE
Is a Community-led organisation working in Hertfordshire and surrounding areas to promote awareness of the issues that affect the Gypsy Traveller Communities . Though the organisation is working in Hertfordshire, their work and findings are of interest to anyone working within the VCSE community. https://gateherts.org.uk/health/
