Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month (GRTHM) has been celebrated every June since 2008.
GRTHM was established to help tackle prejudice and raise awareness of the vast history of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller voices across the UK.
Irish travellers, for example, can be traced back to the 12th Century in Ireland. The migrations to Great Britain came in the 19th century. Romany gypsies have been in Britain since the 15th century. The first mention of the GRT community in nearby Surrey is as early as 1596.
The nomadic lifestyle of travellers means they cover vast parts of the history of Great Britain. In modern times, this nomadic lifestyle is less common and somewhat threatened. These days, GRT families are as likely to live in permanent accommodation, but travel during the summer months.
There is comparatively little knowledge of GRT history in Berkshire, but GRTHM seeks to change that.
This year's theme is 'what does family mean to you?'. Family is the bond which ties together the diverse cultures of nomadic and travelling communities. The focus is on the meaning of family, and the different shapes and sizes it can take.
The community also has an amazing history tradition of sharing stories of ancestors and cultural traditions that garner a sense of pride in Romani heritage.
To find out more:
- visit the Friends, Families and Travellers website
- watch this animated film about the history of Britain's Gypsies, Roma and Travellers