Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Month kicks off in Hackney in June

The history, cultures and languages of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities will be explored in Hackney next month, as part of an annual awareness raising drive.

Britain’s 300,000 Gypsies, Roma and Travellers have lived, worked and travelled throughout Britain for over 500 years, yet little is known about their history and culture.

The result is a widespread ignorance about who they are, which sometimes turns to hatred, fear and misunderstanding.

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month will kick-off in Hackney Central Library on Thursday June 6 at 4.30pm with a musical performance the London Gypsy Orchestra followed by Irish dancing.

Other free events throughout the month will include Magic Violin Storytime on Saturday June 29 at 2pm and Crochet Fun on Thursday June 13 at 6.30pm, both in Homerton Library.

Crystal’s Vardo, a play for 7 -12 year olds about a young Gypsy girl who runs away from home takes place at the Hackney Empire on Friday June 21.

There will be the chance to see Reduced to Silence: Roma Holocaust, showing rare film footage with survivors of, and witnesses to, the Roma Holocaust telling their untold stories on Tuesday June 25 at 6.30pm at Homerton Library.

The screening will be followed by a question and answer session with the filmmaker, Roz Mortimer, and local Roma speakers.

For a full programme see www.hackney.gov.uk/libraries-whats-on.htm.