Embedded Files
Workshop: Sharing data from the Roma Health Stories project
In July 2026 we held a workshop with more than 20 people working to improve equity and inclusion in South Yorkshire. During the two hour event, participants learnt about the Roma Health Stories project, heard about its key findings, and discussed how outputs from the project might support their work. Discussions focussed on:
Ways of working with Roma people
Challenges in the way that Roma, and the health inequalities they face, are understood in policy and practice
Real life stories of Roma, and Roma women specifically, including the impact of racism and the role of faith and religion.
It was a valuable opportunity to share learning from the Roma Health Stories project and for different professionals working across the region to get to know one another. The event ended with lunch and a chance to get to know staff at Clifton Learning Partnership, a local charity supporting the Roma community of Rotherham, and a key ally throughout the project.
Symposium: Towards a Sociology of Health and Illness with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Communities
In June 2026 we joined with Roma and non-Roma academics, policy and practice partners at Manchester Metropolitan University to share knowledge on better ways of understanding and addressing the inequalities faced by Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in the UK.
BSA Annual Conference 2026: 75 Years of Sociology
We were honoured to present preliminary findings of our recent study in upcoming paper revealing a connection between the pre-existing beliefs and practices of Czech and Slovak Roma Women (living in the UK and Czechia) and their health and wellbeing. The aim of this study is to help broaden the 'Roma health' narratives in ways that recognise not just disadvantage but also foreground agency.
BSA Annual Conference
Manchester, April 2025
We presented a paper on the political (non-)construction of Roma people in English health and social policy.
Findings were based on an analysis of 31 public health and social policy documents produced 2004-2024 and 19 semi-structured interviews with those involved in developing/implementing or attempting to influence them.
In our presentation we argued that the treatment of Roma people in English health and social policy provides a key example of the contradictions produced when the post-racial imaginary plays out in a world of permanent racism.
The 20th Biennial Conference of thr European Society for Health and Medical Sociology (ESHMS)
Antwerp, July 2024
We presneted the 'Visual I poem' approach developed in the Roma Health Stories project to share first person perpsctives on the health journeys of Roma women living in South Yorkshire and Czechia.
In My Own Words and Pictures
Migration Matters Festival, Sheffield, 2024
In My Own Words and Pictures was an exhibition of visual poems created by Czech and Slovak Roma women living in South Yorkshire. The visual poems use words, drawings and other materials to explore their perspectives on life, health and illness. The women gave readings from their poems, sang and shared food.
Angéla Kóczé, Visiting Fellow, Sheffield, 2024
Angéla Kóczé, Visiting Fellow, Sheffield, 2024
Eminent Professor Angela Kocze (Central European University) visited the University of Sheffield to meet with colleagues in the Department of Sociological Studies, to present her new book 'Gender, Race and Class: Romani Women's Social and Political Struggle at the Post-socialist Semi-Periphery in Global Capitalism' and to co-lead a Research Sharing Workshop (with Lois Orton) on Feminist and Decolonial Approaches to Race.
International Roma Day
8th April marked International Roma Day. To mark the occasion, Olga Fuseini organised an exhibition of Roma culture and history at Clifton Learning Partnership and Lois Orton was an invited panellist at the 11th Annual Roma Conference ‘Legacies and Manifestations of Anti-Roma Racism in Health Policies, Practice and Research’ which took place at Harvard’s FXB Center for Health and Human Rights. See our blog for more information: https://socstudiesresearch.com/2023/04/08/international-roma-day/
ComplicityFinal.mp4Animation: Resisting Complicity with Oppression of Roma people
This video was created in collaboration by various members of the project leadership team and advisory board.
Based on our personal experiences in conducting research with and for Roma it opens up discussion about how those non-Roma (Gadje) scholars among us can better resist complicity with oppression of Roma people.
It is intended to encourage discussion. We welcome any feedback.
For a more detailed discussion of these issues, please see our accompanying paper 'Researching the health and social inequalities experienced by European Roma populations: Complicity, oppression and resistance.'
Community Celebration
On 12 October we held a celebration with food, music and dancing to thank the local Roma community of Eastwood for supporting our research project over the last 6 months.
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