No right way to be a Traveller

Workshop 3 – No right way to be a Traveller

No two Gypsies, Roma or Travellers are the same, but there can be a lot of pressure to live life a certain way – to marry young, only to work within family business, or to stay in an unhappy relationship. Those Gypsy, Roma and Traveller individuals who decide to live their lives outside the accepted norms, are often shamed for it. Shame and pressure can push Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people to hide that they are LGBT, experiencing domestic abuse, attending college, experiencing mental health difficulties or struggling to make ends meet. Hiding your identity and experience can negatively impact your mental health. Quick flash, crime, arranged marriage and suicide can be a result of shaming and scandalising.

This workshop will celebrate the strength and courage of the individuals who, despite taking a different path, are still very much part of their ethnic communities. We will explore, in a safe space, pathways to healthy and happy lives and communities.