Durham University is committed to developing a culture of inclusion and respect for all our staff and student communities, through our University Strategy and our data-driven, holistic Inclusive Durham Framework, launched in 2024. As part of this, we have signed up to the Gypsies, Travellers, Roma, Showmen and Boaters (GTRSB) into Higher Education Pledge, which solidifies our commitment to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment in which GTRSB students can stay resilient and thrive academically and personally.
In this video, our Vice-Chancellor and Warden, Professor Karen O’Brien, discusses the University’s commitment to the GTRSB into Higher Education Pledge and its significance.
Research shows that Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller pupils have the lowest attainment in compulsory education of all ethnic groups, which significantly reduces their access to Higher Education (HE). There is an estimated average of 200 members of these communities in HE at any one time in the UK. This represents about 3-4% of 18-30 year olds, as compared with 43% of the broader population in that age range.
While the trend in HE participation is upwards for many other underrepresented groups, for Travellers of Irish Heritage it has declined, and for Gypsy/Roma groups it has remained static. When members of these communities do enter HE, research shows that they frequently feel invisible or unwelcome.
A round table event hosted by the All Party Political Group on Gypsies, Roma and Travellers in 2019 at the House of Lords recommended that HEIs collaborate more closely to support the educational journey of GTRSB students. The GRTSB Pledge into Higher Education was developed to this end, with reference to multiple streams of evidence, and launched by Buckinghamshire New University in January 2021.
Activities supporting the fulfilment of our GTRSB Pledge commitment include the following:
(1) Better data monitoring of GTRSB student and staff numbers
We will align our data collection and monitoring for GTRSB students with our existing Race Equality Charter (REC) action plan and REC monitoring processes. To enhance collection and accuracy of this data, we will create a range of self-identification mechanisms that may be added to our current processes and systems, along with ad-hoc reporting forms, and explore wider system developments (i.e. Banner) which will allow disaggregated recording.
(2) Outreach and engagement with local GTRSB communities
Aligning with our institutional Access and Participation Plan (approved by OfS in January 2025), and broader work to establish closer links between Durham University, the city and the wider region, we will develop an engagement strategy to establish robust and meaningful connections with GTRSB communities, aligning with our overall University Strategy. We will utilise the links developed through the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024 between Durham University and four local FE providers, and further develop our outreach activities with local schools (many of which have a high proportion of GTRSB students) to ensure that these activities are fully inclusive of GTRSB.
(3) Organisational and Institutional Culture
Durham University has multiple support access routes for all staff and students. To ensure that we can provide culturally-sensitive support for GTRSB, we will explore in-house and external online and in-person training options that can be rolled out to all front-line support staff. We have well-established staff and student reporting mechanisms, directly linked to our HR and Student Conduct policies, and via our Report + Support online reporting tool, by which any member of our communities can raise concerns or report incidents and connect either with case managers or with support. Linked to our Inclusive Durham action plan, we are working to further increase overall confidence in reporting. We will work with our EDI Team and Concerns, Bullying and Harassment Network to better capture reporting information linked to GTRSB, and inform prevention and education activity.
(4) Inclusion, celebration and commemoration of GTRSB cultures and communities
Through our Faculties and Colleges, we commemorate the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month, Holocaust Memorial Day, and other key cultural dates across the University. We will develop this further by developing and promoting our EDI Calendar as a central directory for accessing celebration events, linking directly to our GTRSB webpage. We will embed monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in all of our GTRSB and EDI events, to allow us to develop a broader range of events and activities focused on GTRSB inclusion.
/prod01/prodbucket01/media/durham-university/professional-services/equality-diversity-and-inclusion/86245-1-2999X718.jpg)