Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities across Britain will be celebrating the fourth Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Month (GRTHM) next month, held to raise awareness and explore history of the largest ethnic minority community in the European Union.

Hackney Council together with the Learning Trust’s Travellers Education Service, Hackney Homes, London Gypsy and Traveller Unit and Irish Women’s Centre will be holding a series of entertaining, interactive family events to help raise awareness of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in the borough.

Highlights include and Irish dancing performance at the launch event at Hackney Central Library in Reading Lane on Thursday June 9, from 4.30 to 6pm, where Hackney’s Mayor Jules Pipe will present awards to winners of a poster competition.

The Road to Hackney, a free exhibition of Ali Dunn’s photographs of three generations of New Age Travellers and their journeys to Hackney will be on display in Hackney Museum in Reading Lane until July 2.

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.

A full list of events in Hackney can be seen at http://www.hackney.gov.uk/libraries-whats-on.htm