Gypsy, Roma and Travellers in Enfield

We are working with various stakeholders to develop suitable sites for the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community in Enfield. For more information on how we are addressing needs, see Site delivery.

Heritage and culture

There are 300,000 Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) people in the UK - that’s 1 in every 200 people. This includes:

Romany Gypsies
Irish Travellers
Scottish Gypsies and Travellers
Welsh Gypsies and Travellers
New Travellers
Liveaboard Boaters
Travelling Show people
Roma people

Shining light on GRT cultures over the decades

Do you know any of these famous faces? Did you know that Gypsy, Roma, Travellers and Showmen have made significant contributions to arts, culture, film, music, literature, science, maths and sports over the years.

Take a look at our famous faces video to see just a tiny snapshot of those wonderful contributions made. You may even know some famous faces but never knew about their heritage and culture.

Crystal's Vardo

We were delighted to host Crystal’s Vardo performance, which brought Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture to life.

We held 4 performances running over Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 November 2022.

The event was well attended with 648 attendees. This included:

full co-operation from leaders who gave a talk at the event
lots of interaction from people who attended
activities for children

"This performance is an enormously important achievement. It remains entertaining while also raising awareness about the racism and injustice faced by Gypsies and Travellers today."
- The Source Magazine, Brighton

Key dates

Important GRT community dates:

27 January - Holocaust Memorial Day
20 February - Commemoration of the abolition of Roma slavery in Romania
1 March - Recognition of Irish Travellers receiving ethnic minority status in Ireland
8 April - International Romani Day
17 April - Recognition of Irish Travellers receiving ethnic minority status in UK
16 May - Romani Resistance Day
1 to 30 June - Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month
2 August - Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day
5 November - International Day of Romani language
10 December - Human Rights Day

Holocaust Memorial Day

Holocaust Memorial Day is held to remember the millions of people murdered in the Holocaust, under Nazi Persecution, and in the genocides which followed in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. The theme for this year is ‘Ordinary People’ which will prompt us to consider how ordinary people, such as ourselves, can perhaps play a bigger part than we might imagine in challenging prejudice today.

The Holocaust Memorial Day event was filmed at the Dugdale Center in Enfield Town on 27 January 2023.

History of GRT

See information on Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people through history (PDF).

Census 2021

Findings from GRT communities lived experiences, culture and identities

Census 2021 Gypsy, Irish Traveller, Roma, be counted, be heard

Within these broad groups, people described themselves in different ways, such as Romany Gypsy, English Gypsy, Welsh Gypsy, Irish Traveller or Romany Traveller. Others said they have mixed ethnicity, including combinations of the above as well as Showmen and ethnic groups from the settled community.

Participants’ accounts portray considerable variation in the individual preference for a nomadic lifestyle, which impacts personal circumstances such as access to services, employment and family relationships.

Close relationships with family were recurrently described as fundamental to Gypsy and Traveller values and well-being, but a move away from traditional lifestyles and, with this, greater separation from family, was felt to be occurring.

Diverse views were expressed on gender roles, with some stepping outside of what were seen as traditional gender roles among Gypsies and Travellers, and emphasising the importance of education for young women. Others valued arrangements described as traditional among Gypsies and Travellers, such as men being the primary breadwinners, while women are responsible for care of family members and the home, with their work outside the home flexing around these roles.

A range of experiences and relationships were described about non-travelling communities. Some felt comfortable and accepted, while others described past negative interactions resulting in wariness of the settled community and a preference for socialising with other Gypsies and Travellers.

In summary, participants recurrently expressed a desire to be recognised as an individual, not on the basis of preconceived ideas about their ethnic group.

The work of the Enfield Council GRT Board aligns with Fairer Enfield’s Policy 2022 to build safe, healthy, fair and confident communities. The Enfield GRTBS Board sets to encourage, educate and empower Enfield GRT communities.

Roads from the Past

Other resources

Funding for local groups

If you’re trying to get a project off the ground that supports your community, Open4Community is a one-stop shop for funding information. It is a free service which aims to empower community and voluntary groups to take control of their future and ensure that projects can progress.

For more information or help using the portal, visit Open4Community or email cdt@enfield.gov.uk.

GRT LGBTQ+ Spoken History Archive

The Romani Cultural and Arts Company has developed a new online archive of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller LGBTQ+ spoken history.

This archive brings together the important and moving stories told by members of the GRT LGBTQ+ community and celebrates their heritage, culture and experiences from around the world.

To read the stories, visit Romani Cultural and Arts Company.

Stories of Enfield project

Stories of Enfield celebrates the cultural heritage of all communities and residents. We want the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community to be a part of it. We’re currently looking for steering committee members to help guide the project, so this is your chance to get involved.

Free resources for school assembly

We continue to be proud of our schools in Enfield, and their leadership and commitment. We encourage schools and champions to share these resources to ensure they reach those who need them most.

For school assembly resources about GRT heritage and past, including lesson plan ideas and FAQs, visit Travellers Times - Gypsy Roma Traveller history education pack.

Latest news

Here you will find regular updates and news from our ongoing work and relationships between you, the community, and cross sector services. So please continue to revisit this page.

Accommodation needs assessment

Help us provide the right services.

RRR Consultancy is collecting insight for the Greater London Authority. Your responses will greatly help shape our future accommodation plans.

Please complete our accommodation needs assessment below.

If you are Gypsy and Traveller in bricks and mortar accommodation, complete the London GTANA Bricks and Mortar Survey.

If you are a member of the Roma community, complete the London GTANA Roma Community Survey.

Please complete the survey before Friday 19 May 2023.

Living Room Library event

We held a walk-in event at The Living Room Library, Edmonton on 20 April 2023.

Previous accommodation needs assessment

During 2020, we spoke with our GRT communities and with service providers, to prepare a report to identify Gypsy and Traveller accommodation needs in Enfield.

We now understand the needs for residential pitches and transit provision, and are looking at options for how to deliver them.

View the Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment 2020 (PDF, 845.11 KB).

EU settled status

We understand that many of you may have questions about settled status after Brexit. For help or more information, see our Enfield and Brexit page.

If you would like help, or need us to complete the census for you, please contact us.

New Policing Act guide

Friends, Families and Travellers, and Community Law Partnership have launched a new Policing Act guide to support Gypsies and Travellers in understanding the new powers about roadside camps. Please share this widely.

For more information, visit Friends, Families and Travellers - Know your rights.

Pledge for schools

We are encouraging all schools to take the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boaters' Pledge for Schools (PDF).

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month

June is Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month (GRTHM). The theme for this year is 'Weaving Journeys', looking at the historic patterns and traditional stopping places of Romany Gypsy, Irish Traveller, Roma, New Traveller, Liveaboard Boater and Showmen communities. To bring GRTHM to life, traditional patterns have been used from each of the communities.

View Weaving Journeys GRTHM 2023 (PDF) for some stories from the community and history throughout time in the UK.

Enfield will also be hosting a variety of events in libraries over the month and schools are also getting involved. There is a trip to City Hall for 15 local school students on 13 June 2023.

You will also find activities throughout the month of June at Ordnance Unity Library, Palmers Green Library, Enfield Town Library, Edmonton Library and The Living Room Library Fore Street.

On 1 June we will be raising the Roma Flag at the Civic Centre at 11am to kick start the celebrations for GRTHM in Enfield. All welcome.