Charlotte’s journey to university – A Romany Gypsy perspective

Charlotte James is the Leeds Team Leader at Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange (Leeds GATE), a member-led organisation working to improve quality of life for Gypsies and Travellers across West Yorkshire for over 20 years. Leeds GATE is a partner of the University of Leeds in their pledge to improve and support access to education for Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showmen and Boater communities.

In this blog, Charlotte shares more about her Romany Gypsy heritage, her journey to university and experiences as a University of Leeds alumni, as well as her current work supporting others in Gypsy and Traveller communities.  

I like to share my story because it’s a viewpoint that not many people hear, especially in the context of higher education, and I hope it changes people’s perceptions on learning.

I came out of education when I was 11. I enjoyed school and was confident with my ability in reading and writing. It was sometimes a challenge staying in school coming from the Romany Gypsy community and many like me are home schooled.

There are lots of misunderstandings and lack of knowledge about Gypsies and Travellers so even at young age, you learnt to hide yourself. I felt I didn’t fit in fully and knew I was different from my peers. Sitting in school could feel to me like I was leading a double life.

At the same time, I could feel like I was hiding my experiences in school from my own community and not show those social norms you’d taken on to fit in.

I did a bit of college with Travellers Education Service as it was then at Leeds Council for a short period of time with some friends – this was a great experience. Sadly due to many council cuts this service no longer exists, which has cut off other routes back into education for Gypsies and Travellers.

Later on, I got a cleaning job in my old primary school I used to attend. The head teacher knew who I was and my background and I think took me under her wing.

My mum then died when I was in my early twenties, and the head teacher knew I had my younger sister to look after. She offered me a pathway to become a teaching assistant and do my NVQ qualifications on the job.

The educational setting of my work made me driven to learn more. I got back into college in Leeds and passed my English, maths and science GCSE’s over two years. While I was there University of Leeds staff came to speak to us, which was my first exposure to university.

At this time I was 25 and had never even considered doing a degree. But the staff made it clear there were opportunities and routes in for mature students. Courses were on offer that were built around people who didn’t have all the usual qualifications, and helping those who would be the first in their family to go to university, like me.

Starting on the course was a challenge. I continued working part-time in the primary school and was studying as well. But it was my lack of confidence in what I was doing – I didn’t believe that I should be there. It felt like I’d snuck in through a back door.

The support of mentors and my peers on my course, and the Lifelong Learning Centre meant I felt more comfortable and my confidence grew in my abilities over time. I loved being in that learning environment.

As I was finishing my dissertation, I saw an advocate job with Leeds GATE supporting Gypsies and Travellers in Leeds. I’d been aware of the organisation all my life through my family and knew the support they gave the community – especially as a member-led organisation with a mixed team of people from the community and not. I applied, graduated from university and got the job all within the same month! Looking back it was a really happy time in my life.

When I started at Leeds GATE, I applied a lot of what I’d learnt at university but making it relatable to Gypsy and Traveller people as I moved into a community public health role around 2020 and then became Leeds Team Leader two years ago.

I’ve always had a passion for education and learning, which I think a lot of people don’t understand about the community if you leave school earlier. It’s about more than just traditional education routes.

Going to university I did feel like I was moving away from my culture and beliefs and I was scared I would in some way lose myself. Over the years I’ve understood I can do all those things and still be me. I bring my culture and who I am with me.

That’s why I’ve been passionate about working with the University of Leeds over the last few years, doing outreach and research on the education needs and experiences of young Gypsy and Traveller people.

The university has joined many other institutions in signing the GTRSB into Higher Education pledge last year, committing to further developing their work with us and improving access to education for Gypsy and Traveller communities through staff training, awareness, and outreach and engagement.

For me, the importance of this work is about the university understanding how different the experiences people coming to study from other communities may have and how this affects them. Being prepared with support and spaces for people to go, like the Lifelong Learning Centre was for me. Access courses are also key. Universities and colleges being places where people can mix, be welcomed and seeing different personal experiences as strengths. I was slightly older when I started, so for 18 year old Gypsies and Travellers this is even more important.

University and all the experiences I had definitely changed me as a person and has made me passionate about empowering adults and our young people on their education journeys, whatever that looks like for them.