Date |
History of Roma migration |
History of the Roma Support Group |
1989 |
The collapse of communism in Europe marks the beginning of a new migration
westwards as racially-motivated violence against Roma increases. |
1990s - 2003 |
Roma asylum-seekers from Eastern and Central Europe arriving in UK are met with hostile reaction of British media.
Roma asylum claims are refused by the Home Office point-blank on the basis of failing to demonstrate “a well-founded fear of persecution” within the terms of the 1951 United Nations’ Convention in their countries of origin. |
1998
The Roma Support Group is established at a meeting attended by over eighty Roma people at the Holy Cross Church in Kings Cross in London. 1999 An advice service and social activities are launched at our first base at St Stephens Church in Royal Oak in London. 2000 An advice service starts at White City Community Centre and Froud Community Centre in Manor Park. 2001 A grant from the Association of London Government enables us to develop our Advice and Advocacy Project. 2002 Our new venue in Harold Road Centre in Upton Park opens. Our services expand and an art and sport project is established thanks to funding from Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. 2003 The production of our first publication – ‘Colours of Hope: A Little Book by Roma Refugee Children for Everybody’. |
2004-2006 |
5 –14 April 2004
The Home Office informed 2,614 families, most of whom are Roma asylum seekers that their subsistence support will end and they must leave their accommodations on the 30th April or be evicted as they are due to become EU nationals on the 1st May. Three ‘choices’ are offered: 1) destitution; 2) finding employment; 3) ‘voluntary’ return to their countries of origin. The second choice is impossible due to a lack of necessary IDs and documentation. 26th April 2004 Pierce Glynn Solicitors applied for Judicial Review in the High Court appealing against the Home Office decision. On the 4th May 2004, permission is granted to challenge the Home Office, but before the final hearing, the Home Office decided to reinstate support to destitute Roma families until they find employment and readjust to the new situation. 2004 With the accession of their countries into the European Union on 1st May 2004, Roma from new EU Accession states, including the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia are granted freedom of movement as their status within Western Europe changes from that of asylum-seeker to EU migrant. |
2004
From mid-April until the end of May 2004 we supported over 500 Roma families to submit individual appeals to the Asylum Support Adjudicators and numerous Local Authorities across London. The capacity of the organisation is at breaking point as we manage the crisis. 2005
Release of CD ‘Journey’ by our cultural project - Romani Rad. 2006 Launch of the DVD -‘Be Roma or Die Tryin’ Participation in oral history project leading to an exhibition - ‘Belonging: Voices of London’s Refugees’ at the Museum of London. |
2007-2010 |
After Bulgaria and Romania join the EU on 1st January 2007, Roma from these countries can also travel freely within Member States.
|
2007
The First London Roma Talent Show is organised. The grand finale takes place at Stratford Circus. 2008 We organise the first national celebration of the Gypsy, Roma, Traveller History Month in London and Leeds. 2009 We organise Young Roma Awareness Seminar - our models of good practice are shared with over 100 professionals and launching of the Mentoring Project’s evaluation report. 2010
We organise ‘The Big Issue for Roma: Exclusion or Engagement?’ conference at the Old Town Hall, Stratford. The Roma Support Group’s service users successfully challenge in court London Councils’ decision to terminate their funding for frontline voluntary sector organisations in London. Romani Rad are invited to take part in the Hyde Park Evening Vigil during Pope Benedict XVI visit to London. |
2011 |
Launch of Roma Support & Engagement Programme, our first national project.
RSG starts the campaign to ‘Save Independent Advice in Newham’ and one of our service users legally challenges Newham Council’s decision to terminate independent advice provision in the borough. |
2012 |
We organise an exhibition ‘From India to Islington: a 1,000 Year Roma Journey’ in partnership with Islington Museum.
Roma FC becomes an officially recognised club affiliated to Essex FA and goes on to compete in Ilford & District Football League. They also win their 1st official football tournament, organised by the City of London. |
2013 |
We release a CD, 'Roma Youth Music', recorded by young Roma and their music teachers.
The Roma Support Support, represented by two Roma Trustees, officially contributes during the Holocaust Memorial Day UK Commemorative Ceremony in London. |
2014 |
Citizens of Bulgaria and Romania can work without restrictions across the EU.
|
We launch the Roma Bridging Sounds Orchestra (RBSO) in partnership with Newham Music.
We co-organise an exhibition, 'From "Extra" to "Ordinary"' at Romanian Cultural Centre in London. |
2016 |
EU referendum takes place on the 23rd June and the people of the UK vote to leave the European Union (Brexit), which impacts on thousands of Roma migrant families, causing anxiety and fear in Roma communities.
|
We publish two reports: ‘Education – a Roma Perspective’ and ‘Rough Sleeping in the City of Westminster’
Release of the CD ‘The Roma Bridging Sounds Orchestra’ The Roma Bridging Sounds Orchestra plays at the Music for Youth Proms in the Royal Albert Hall. |
2017 |
The Home Office policy to detain and deport rough sleeping EU migrants is ruled as discriminatory and unlawful by the High Court.
|
We publish a report: ‘Fulfilling their potential? Exclusion of Roma Pupils in the English Education System’
We publish ‘Young Roma Calendar 2018’ |
2018 |
We address MPs at the Parliamentary Women and Equalities Select Committee (WESC) with regards to the Race Disparity Audit and the absence of Government policy to generally recognise and support migrant Roma communities in the UK
We organise a roundtable event, Roma & Brexit, in the House of Lords hosted jointly by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Gypsy, Roma, Travellers and APPG on Migration The RSG is a major contributor to ‘Roma & Brexit’ report on the future for Roma migrants in post-Brexit UK, co-published jointly with APPG for Gypsy, Roma Travellers and APPG on Migration. |
|
The Roma Support Group is a registered Charity (No. 1103782)
and a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales, (No. 0464598). Registered office address: 17 Old Ford Road, London, E2 9PJ |
|
