Nursery World - A Unique Child: Inclusion

One school and children's centre has won an award for its work on
Traveller culture and heritage. Gabriella Jozwiak finds out how the project has increased engagement among the local community.

The term 'Traveller community' is often used to describe a population of about 300,000 UK residents that span several different groups. These include Irish, Scottish, Welsh and new Travellers, Gypsies, Roma, bargees (who traditionally live and work on waterways) and fairground or circus Travellers.

Some of these communities have migrated to the UK over the past 500 years, while others have been British for much longer. Traditionally, they have been defined by their nomadic lifestyles; however, Government research from 2011 suggests that only a quarter now live in caravans or mobile homes.

These groups have always been surrounded by myths that perpetuate negative attitudes towards them. These include beliefs that Travellers are dirty, invade communities, are criminals and don't pay taxes. In 2004, the chairman of the Commission for Racial Equality said: 'Discrimination against Gypsies and Travellers appears to be the last "respectable" form of racism.'

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