Gypsy, Roma Traveller education conference comes to Liverpool

Gathering at my own university for the Advisory Council for the Education of Romany and other Travellers (ACERT) conference in early February was a better experience than having it anywhere else, I think, because it felt like I could bring people that I had met in the city of Liverpool into it ... writes Journalism undergraduate student Ruby Smith.

Liverpool is a city steeped in history and culture, with a rich legacy that has helped to shape the modern world. It is known for its impressive waterfront, historic docks, and status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Liverpool is also famous for its music scene, which gave birth to The Beatles and numerous other iconic bands. The city is home to several world-renowned museums and galleries, including the Tate Liverpool and the Merseyside Maritime Museum. Additionally, Liverpool is known for its passion for football, with two of the world's most successful clubs, Liverpool FC and Everton FC, calling the city home.

ACERT is an organisation which was set up to promote the welfare of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers. They work mainly in education and safe accommodation for all. Currently, membership can be purchased. They also run annual conferences, putting them online during the pandemic, and collaborate with other organisations who share their objectives. It is important to me, as a second-year university student, that people who think that we, as members of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller are not anything less than they are.

That we can go to university, and whilst our enrolment numbers may not be high at the moment, they have the potential to grow, if the participants at the conference have their way, those numbers will grow. Indeed, in the last eight academic years, GRT students entering higher education at degree level have increased from around 60 students a year to about 300.

The ACERT conference was a little different to how it had been in recent years in that it was in person. How wonderful it was to see familiar faces, and meet new ones. It was also a great addition to have the conference streaming live, with people joining from across the UK. Held at Liverpool John Moores University, the event was jointly organised by current LJMU student Sheldon Chadwick, who identifies as a Showman; ACERT personnel, and Helen Collins and Doctor Patricia Jolliffe from the university. Doctor Jolliffe said: “Helen and I were delighted on behalf of LJMU to host the ACERT Conference where the community connected to share knowledge and practice. The hybrid conference allowed participants from across the United Kingdom to learn and participate, fostering old and developing new relationships.”

The event was chaired by storyteller and published author Richard O’Neill, with a welcome from ACERT patron Baroness Janet Whittaker and Doctor Jolliffe. I myself then collaborated with Sherrie Smith and Emma Nuttall (Friends, Family and Travellers). All three of us spoke about the development of the Gypsy, Roma, Travellers, Showmen and Boaters (GRTSB) into higher education pledge. The pledge was developed by Sherrie Smith, BA, and Professor Margaret Greenfields at Buckinghamshire New University to encourage GRTSB into higher education and to support them once they were there.

Following our presentation, Paula Strachan and Jonathan Green then spoke about implementing the pledge into schools prior to higher education. Other presentations followed: the importance of story and poetry (Oein DeBhairDuin, Richard O’Neill, Mitch Miller and Raine Geoghegan), improving mental health and wellbeing (Sheldon Chadwick, Candace Thomas, Sally Carr, Violet Cannon Smith) and community involvement (Rosa-Maria Cisneros, Lisa Smith, Oein DeBhairduin). Some of these were delivered online but were no less interesting, informative and exciting. It was truly a pleasure to be at the annual ACERT conference, even better to be there in person and in a city which I love.

Ruby Smith for TT Features

(Top photograph: Storyteller and published author Richard O’Neill (centre, standing) chaired the ACERT conference © Lisa Smith)