In 2020, the Roma Support Group received a grant of £60k from the ‘Explore & Test’ programme of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation to further develop our pilot project - Roma News (‘Project’) - an audio-visual news programme produced by young Roma in Romanes and English and disseminated via social media [1].
We piloted Roma News in 2019 and wanted to continue building young Roma people’s confidence, increase their media and campaigning skills, and enhance their communities’ awareness of policies and practices that affect them, such as the EU Settlement Scheme.
The Project – delivered between April 2020 and December 2021 - aimed to support young Roma through a media training programme (co-delivered with On Road Media) to develop their skills and creativity as well as creating an outlet for their activism, and leadership.
The Project helped young people to address barriers, which they (and their communities) face, and empowered them to take collective action for a change in their communities.
The Project has also shaped public opinion about matters of uttermost importance to Roma communities and highlighted inequalities they face. It contributed to “narrative change” regarding Roma communities in the UK, bringing Roma voices, perspectives and addressing the negative representation of Roma by some media outlets in Britain.
We piloted Roma News in 2019 and wanted to continue building young Roma people’s confidence, increase their media and campaigning skills, and enhance their communities’ awareness of policies and practices that affect them, such as the EU Settlement Scheme.
The Project – delivered between April 2020 and December 2021 - aimed to support young Roma through a media training programme (co-delivered with On Road Media) to develop their skills and creativity as well as creating an outlet for their activism, and leadership.
The Project helped young people to address barriers, which they (and their communities) face, and empowered them to take collective action for a change in their communities.
The Project has also shaped public opinion about matters of uttermost importance to Roma communities and highlighted inequalities they face. It contributed to “narrative change” regarding Roma communities in the UK, bringing Roma voices, perspectives and addressing the negative representation of Roma by some media outlets in Britain.
[1] Episodes of Roma News can be found here.
Project delivery
The Project has gone through significant changes and adaptations during the Covid 19 pandemic and supported 21 young Roma through online delivery of three main strands of activities. (Click on the headings below for more information about each strand.)
- Producing Roma News Videos
A group of eight young Roma, (aged under 16), worked together to produce a series of Roma News editions. They were provided with training and support from a range of experts in script writing, filming techniques, video editing and social media. The group produced seven Roma News editions covering the following topics: Roma Genocide Remembrance Day; local elections and Gypsy, Roma, Travellers History Month; Easter message and Coronavirus updates; International Roma Day and a message to our parents; Roma children education during the pandemic; Roma News Project and EU Settlement Scheme updates; and a Roma News competition.
Some of the feedback from our beneficiaries included:
"I feel like I gained more confidence in expressing myself and helping others to be proud of their nationality (Roma), and also new skills such as filming and editing.”
and
“I always thought that I will never be able to do things like this, to speak, to be filmed and to do things like this. This project gave me so much confidence, I now think that I can do whatever I want in my life. I also learn so many things about our own community. And I liked learning how to film.”
The full list of Roma News videos is available here.
Some of the feedback from our beneficiaries included:
"I feel like I gained more confidence in expressing myself and helping others to be proud of their nationality (Roma), and also new skills such as filming and editing.”
and
“I always thought that I will never be able to do things like this, to speak, to be filmed and to do things like this. This project gave me so much confidence, I now think that I can do whatever I want in my life. I also learn so many things about our own community. And I liked learning how to film.”
The full list of Roma News videos is available here.
- Peer Support Programme
Another group of Roma, (aged 16+), took part in media training and peers support sessions provided by On Road Media. Five participated in the training and seven participated in the peer support sessions. The group comprised Roma advocates, most of whom worked for charities that support Roma communities. The training and peer support was intended to equip them with knowledge and skills that they could use in their advocacy work. The sessions covered: getting to know one another and deciding priorities for peer support sessions; confidence and presence workshop; tips on planning and structuring an article; strategic communications; and wellbeing, boundaries and self-care.
Speaking about the impact of these activities one of the participants noted:
“I absolutely loved and enjoyed to role play activities where we were put in various situations and had to comment or discuss about unknown topics for us…I learned a lot from all participants and facilitators too. The way that we write or present an article in the media or to the media was really well covered in the sessions at it made me feel confident in applying them in my own work changing narratives and making use of the positive aspect of media”
Speaking about the impact of these activities one of the participants noted:
“I absolutely loved and enjoyed to role play activities where we were put in various situations and had to comment or discuss about unknown topics for us…I learned a lot from all participants and facilitators too. The way that we write or present an article in the media or to the media was really well covered in the sessions at it made me feel confident in applying them in my own work changing narratives and making use of the positive aspect of media”
- Making a Short Documentary Film
This activity involved six young Roma, (aged under 16), who participated in a documentary film-making project. The Project provided in-depth practical media experience for participants and allowed them to focus on a specific area of interest to them. The activity comprised: an online workshop, a full-day face-to-face training session covering camera, sound, writing and editing, two further online meetings, and a face-to-face filming day.
The group has developed the “3 Roma Girls” short documentary video exploring life in the UK comparing to country of origin.
The group has developed the “3 Roma Girls” short documentary video exploring life in the UK comparing to country of origin.
Roma News Project Full Evaluation Report
For more information about the Roma News Project, please see the evaluation report available here.
Are you interested in volunteering?
We always welcome volunteers with media skills (especially video editing), who would like to support Roma News and help us coordinate our media activities.
Anyone interested in these volunteering opportunities or have any questions, please contact Mihai Bica at mihai@romasupportgroup.org.uk.
Anyone interested in these volunteering opportunities or have any questions, please contact Mihai Bica at mihai@romasupportgroup.org.uk.
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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 |
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