Guest Profiles:
Olivia Morrison
Olivia Morrison is the Head of Partnerships and Advocacy at the Traveller Movement. Of Romani (Gypsy) heritage herself, she oversees the organisation's Equalities and Social Justice Unit, as well as projects relating to domestic abuse, health and wellbeing, heritage, and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month. In the episode, she highlights the organization's work in health, criminal justice, and education policy, emphasizing the importance of community consultation in their advocacy.
Olivia Hammond
Olivia Hammond is the Community Advocacy Caseworker at the Traveller Movement. She is a Romani (Gypsy) woman who handles education and discrimination casework, supporting Romani (Gypsy), Roma, and Irish Traveller community members with issues such as school exclusions, bullying, and refusal of service. Drawing on her personal experience growing up in a traditional family and returning to education later in life, she works to support young people in the community to access opportunities outside of traditional paths.
Episode Summary
In this episode of How Does Social Work?, hosts Colleen Simon and Yohai Hakak discuss the unique challenges and cultural nuances of the Romani Gypsy, Roma, and Irish Traveller communities. The guests dismantle the "homogenous" view of these groups by explaining the distinct ethnic and linguistic differences between Romani Gypsies (originating from India), Irish Travellers (indigenous to Ireland), and Roma people (more recent migrants to the UK).Key themes include:
• Erosion of Lifestyle: The conversation addresses how legislation such as the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act (2022) and the revocation of statutory duties to build sites have made the traditional nomadic way of life "virtually impossible". This cultural erosion has led to the loss of communal support systems—described as a "village" where everyone pitched in—contributing to a mental health crisis and disproportionately high suicide rates.
• Barriers to Education and Services: Olivia Hammond shares her personal journey of leaving school after primary levels—a common practice to protect children from bullying and cultural erosion—and the resistance she faced when returning to education. The guests also discuss the deep-seated fear of discrimination that prevents community members from accessing healthcare or police support, citing instances where individuals are refused service or dismissed based on their ethnicity.
• Advice for Social Workers: The guests offer practical advice for professionals entering Traveller homes, such as understanding that a lack of visible toys is often a response to the fear of being judged for untidiness rather than a lack of enrichment. They also highlight communication differences, noting that "dramatised" language or loud speech is often a cultural norm rather than aggression.
