Travellers visit Hyndburn schools to dispel myths
TRAVELLERS have been visiting schools in a bid to dispel myths and prejudice, as well as encourage more traveller children to stay in education.
As part of the first national Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month (GPTHM), travellers from Hyndburn - which has one of the largest gypsy communities in East Lancashire with 15 sites - have been going into schools to speak to pupils about their way of life.
The schools involved are St Paul's Primary in Oswaldtwistle, Sacred Heart Primary in Accrington, Huncoat Primary School and Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School in Oswaldtwistle.
The visits, which started last month ahead of a GPTHM open day last week, were organised by Lancashire County Council's community development team.
A number of travellers from Hyndburn and Burnley set up a committee which organised the visits with schools.
Gill Cookson, development co-ordinator for the Hyndburn area, said the scheme had marked a "real turning point".
Gill, who worked with traveller communities for 10 years as an education access officer, said: "There is still a lot of negative press about travellers, and a big part of this initiative was giving the community a chance to say we're not all the same', and educate people about the culture they are so proud of.
"We wanted to open up communication and decided to involve local schools because it would improve teacher access, and can help tackle any young prejudice.
"All the schools approached were keen to take part.
"Historically, travellers have concerns that their children will stray from their culture if they spend too much time in school, which means attendance at primary level can be patchy, and almost non-existent at secondary level. Many leave at 11 to be home schooled.
"It is believed that any formal qualifications will be pointless because they will not be going into mainstream employment.
"By building links with Rhyddings we're hoping that the travellers will see the benefits of a secondary education, that it allows young people to make informed choices and be aware of opportunities available.
"This has been about dispelling myths on both sides."
Travellers spent time in classes answering pupils' questions about their lifestyle and telling stories of their history.
An open day was held at Hyndburn Youth and Community Centre on Thursday, with around 30 travellers on hand to talk to visitors about their culture, and give out gypsy broth and gypsy cake.
Gill said: "It's been really successful. The kids were fascinated by the different culture, and some of the traveller children were able to talk about their heritage with pride, which hasn't really been the case before."
She said it is hoped that the visits will continue after the end of this month.
The Department for Children, Schools and Families has funded the first GRTHM, which has seen the UK's 300,000-strong traveller community work alongside local authorities, schools and heritage organisations to combat prejudice.Gill added: "Ten years ago travellers were reluctant to reach out to the wider community, but they are moving forward now.
"This is a real turning point because they've thrown themselves into it and the success has given them confidence, we've got lots of ideas that have come from this.
"It's the product of years of work and we have spent the last 12 months working to prepare them for this, but it's been worth it."
7:58am Tuesday 24th June 2008
Print 
Email this 
CommentPosted by: removals R me, my front room on 3:30pm Tue 24 Jun 08
watch your pockets and your gold fillings.
watch your pockets and your gold fillings.
Posted by: concerned, accrington on 4:46pm Wed 25 Jun 08
Travellers HA they have never travelled anywhere majority of these people they are theives drug dealers and criminals what can they teach our children how to go on the wrong side of the law . this is another half hearted way of the council trying to play at getting everyone to get on they stick together and cause havock hyndburn have more sites for these people than any other do the leave to travel NO they dont how the hell can you call them Trvellers the real gypsies (travellers are what it says and move around these people are not. the council and schools should organise better things than wasting time with this useless project
Travellers HA they have never travelled anywhere majority of these people they are theives drug dealers and criminals what can they teach our children how to go on the wrong side of the law . this is another half hearted way of the council trying to play at getting everyone to get on they stick together and cause havock hyndburn have more sites for these people than any other do the leave to travel NO they dont how the hell can you call them Trvellers the real gypsies (travellers are what it says and move around these people are not. the council and schools should organise better things than wasting time with this useless project
What are these links for?
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
More on Digg
More on del.icio.us
More on Furl
More on reddit
More on NowPublic/
More on Yahoo!
