Dorset’s Gypsies and Travellers tell their stories
DEED works with Kushti Bok, a charity that provides a voice for Dorset’s Gypsy and Traveller community and Life Changing Choices, a local gym supporting mental health and fitness to support local Gypsies and Travellers tell their own stories.
Together, we want local Gypsy and Traveller communities to let others know that their lifestyles may be different but their hopes, dreams and concerns for the future are the same as those of the wider community. We hope these stories will help challenge the negative image that many people have of Gypsies and Travellers, who often experience prejudice and discrimination.
Stories include an eye witness account of a Gypsy funeral, reflections on the ‘gorja,’ or non-travelling, way of life and a celebration of Romany Gypsy culture. A local Romany Gypsy woman told us her ‘dream’ as a little girl was of being outside at night under the wagons, “I heard lovely music – the Irish drum, banjos, (typical Gypsy music).”
After running workshops on film-making, photography and interview techniques by local writer Louisa Adjoa Parker, filmmaker Sara Whistance, and photographer Sue Deegan several stories were gathered.
Please read some of the stories collected below:
We also have several online resources to support learning about local Gypsy and Traveller culture. See our Many Voices webpage for a wealth of learning resources based on the short film, Ghost Gypsy. And our new Rites of Passage project resources can be downloaded here. This includes a general booklet called ‘Rites of Passage’ and a PowerPoint aimed at key stage 3 students in school called ‘They Belong in Two Worlds.’ Both explore significant events and memories in the lives of local Gypsies and Travellers, such as childhood, school and marriage and discuss the very real challenges and opportunities in their everyday lives. We also have a pop-up banner called ‘We Have A Voice, Too!’ available for display.
“We at Kushti Bok are committed to the success of this project and hope it will help to alleviate the discrimination and prejudice that Romany Gypsies and Travellers still face today.”
— Chair of Kushti Bok, Betty Smith-Billington (A Romany Gypsy)