The nicest group on Facebook? - ‘Traveller and Gypsy recipes and tips’
A Facebook group for Gypsies and Travellers to share recipes and pictures of food reaches over six thousand members during the Covid-19 crisis!
‘Traveller and Gypsy recipes and tips’ Facebook group was created in March 2018 by the then Traveller Movement employees Cassie-Marie and Christina who wanted to see if they can get enough recipes to write a Traveller cookbook.
The group wasn’t a big hit for the first two years, few posts now and then, but when the world was hit by the Covid-19 pandemic and people were stuck in their homes nothing else but cooking and eating to do, the requests to join the group has exploded!
Early into lockdown we were thinking of ways we could give people something else to think about, how to give them a break from the doom and gloom of coronavirus, Cassie-Marie and Christine tell the Travellers’ Times.
This is when we remembered our ‘Traveller and Gypsy recipes and tips’ Facebook group.
We shared few posts, people liked them and shared few of their own, and the word about the group just travelled and we started to get more and more member requests. Today we have almost 6000 members and counting!
We want this to be the nicest group on Facebook and therefore, to avoid any arguing or bullying, we came up with these simple group rules:
1. This is a group for everyone that appreciates Traveller and Gypsy cooking and food
2. We love to see traditional recipes but we also like to see all kinds of foods
3. This is a group about food, ALL other posts will be removed
4. This is a friendly group, all nasty or argumentative posts/people will be removed.
5. We don't tolerate any questioning of peoples ethnicity and heritage, it doesn’t matter in this group.
And it’s working, people are posting amazing pictures of their foods, some traditional, some more modern, and we love them all.
And the group members think it’s working as well!
"That’s what it is all about, a good bit of talk and kindness and sharing - made my day it’s been lovely honest to god," said a recent comment from a group member.
I don’t usually get involved with Facebook groups but this is exceptional and I mean that, it’s cushty. Kind hearted people and a good bit of sharing both old and new.”
Yum Yum Yum!
Good food and good company? What more could you want?
Travellers' Times/ Traveller Movement Feature
(Main pic - family fry up from Zara Coles)
