RTransform News Item

Author: Rosa Cisneros

Rosa Cisneros from Coventry University was invited to the Advisory Council for the Education of Romany and other Travellers 2023 Conference. The conference was held at the Liverpool John Moores University in Liverpool, UK on Friday Feb 3rd 2023. The theme of this year’s conference was Storytelling, Education and Wellbeing. There were several strands to the day with an official Welcome by Baroness Whitaker (ACERT Patron) and Patricia Joliffe of Liverpool John Moores University. The day also included the The development of the GRTSB Pledge – by Sherrie Smith, Ruby Smith and Emma Nuttall.

There were several Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community members sharing their important work. The conference, seeks to address Storytelling, Education and Community from the perspectives of schools and communities. We heard from individuals  how the GRTSB Pledge is being implemented in Schools and Higher Education and the role of the communities in providing culturally appropriate resources for curriculum.  

The conference also discussed  how to extend its reach and impact, looking at the role of activists and governments and the importance in brokering that relationship.  The panels discussed how discrimination and exclusion can damage mental health, and Sheldon Chadwick, Candace Thomas, Sally Carr, and Violet Cannon Smith discussed their work with Showmen and other Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities to recognise the issues and promote well-being. 

Image Credit: Travelllers Times 2023 

Finally, Cisneros ended the day discussing her work with local grassroots communities and presented RTransform and the project’s resources, values and methodological approach to working with political units, as well schools and grassroots community voices.   

Full programme can be accessed here: LINK