Chapter 4: Supporting students from Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater communities in higher education: The role of professional services

This chapter explores how professional services and support staff in a range of roles can engage with good practice initiatives which support Romany Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boater students (and potential students) into and within Higher Education. Conversations with students and community groups highlighted the critically necessity of taking a joined-up approach to undertaking the social justice work of supporting GTRSB students in their educational journey. Modelling both a ‘whole university’ approach which embeds enhancing cultural competency and knowledge of professional services staff as well as lecturers and other academics, whilst engaging in learning exchange with communities and Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) can be fundamentally important in creating a welcoming environment in which learners and their families feel confident in self-identifying and celebrating their ethnicity and heritage in the same way as other minoritised populations. This chapter presents examples and proposals from a range of perspectives, including that of a higher education experienced Romany student, support professionals and academics.