A new £1.1M research aims to address health inequalities within the Roma community across the UK, and will work with Community Renewal’s Rom Romeha (For Roma By Roma) group in Govanhill.

The Roma Women’s Wellbeing group run by Community Renewal in Govanhill

Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh is leading a £1.1million research project looking to ‘improve health outcomes and reduce inequalities for Roma communities across the UK’.

The three-year project, in collaboration with Roma community groups, civil society organizations, and public authorities, addresses pressing health challenges faced by Roma populations, including lower life expectancy and increased social exclusion. It will work across three focus areas in Luton, Peterborough and Glasgow – including in Govanhill.

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Funding led by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), in collaboration with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) research councils, will support the research team, including co-researchers from Roma communities. Innovative visual and creative methods, such as storytelling and dance, will be employed to identify barriers to healthcare access.

Dr. Ryan Woolrych, Director of the Urban Institute at Heriot-Watt University, stressed the urgency of addressing health inequalities within the Roma community, stating:

"This research is urgently needed as public health bodies and government reports continue to evidence the inequalities faced by Roma people living in the UK today which is severely impacting life expectancies and creating growing social exclusion.

“There is a significant evidence gap in terms of exploring what it means to age within Roma communities and the interventions needed to ensure healthy and active ageing.

This new research project takes a community-centred approach, aiming to understand barriers faced by Roma individuals before co-designing 'Integrated Hubs' to connect Roma people with culturally appropriate health, wellbeing, and community resources.

The research, involving the Roma Support Group, Luton Roma Trust, Compas, and Community Renewal Trust’s Rom Romeha (meaning ‘For Roma, By Roma’) in Govanhill, as well as expertise from Coventry University, Anglia Ruskin University, and the University of Dundee, builds on established relationships with Roma communities.

Read more: Peer Support: How Rom Romeha built a community approach to removing barriers

Leon Puska of Rom Romeha in Govanhill highlights the importance of this UK-wide partnership:

“As a Roma-led organisation, we bring first-hand understanding and passion to address the unique challenges our community face for maintaining good health throughout their lives. We are delighted to be part of this opportunity to work with community researchers to better understand community situations and to co-design appropriate responses.”

During 2023, Greater Govanhill and The Ferret worked collaboratively to report on health inequalities faced by those in the local area and the solutions to them. Read more at Mind The Health Gap