Rural Social Work with Romani and Travellers

This chapter focuses primarily on social work with Romani and Traveller people in rural locations and includes some reference to Showmen and Boater people. The impact of historical and ongoing Anti-Gypsyism, discrimination, bullying and hate crime is a theme that runs through the chapter, which challenges traditional views of rural life and social work practice. It is acknowledged that social workers in the UK receive hardly any orientation or educational/practice guidance that provides knowledge about Romani and Traveller and other nomadic communities, so are vulnerable to the influence of negative media stereotypes, whereby these communities are vilified and othered. The realities of insidious discrimination, a loss of traditional employment and the loss of right to lead a nomadic life are discussed, as is the changing nature of the countryside and its ‘fit’ with Romani and Travellers, who have lived there for centuries. Voices of the Romani and Traveller communities are heard throughout the chapter, with a particular emphasis on the Welsh context. The chapter notes the positive moves within the UK social work profession with the inception of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Social Work Association (GRTSWA) whose aim is to work alongside communities in ways that uphold social work’s values, ethics and social justice roots.