Roma families and children’s services have ‘damaged relationship’, study finds

A lack of trust based on historic discrimination has damaged the relationship between Roma families and children’s services in England, according to a new research report.

The report, entitled ‘Come to us in a peaceful way: Roma families’ experiences with children’s services’ was carried out by researchers from Anglia Ruskin University, Lancaster University and the charity Law for Life.

The report was commissioned in light of data that shows an increasing number of Roma children in the care system. In 2009, there were around 30 Gypsy/Roma children who are ‘looked after’. This rose to 250 in 2015 and stood at approximately 600 in 2023.

The report features the voices of Roma communities in England, and researchers also interviewed social care and legal professionals, in addition to examining previous literature on the subject.

Uniquely, this study examined legal cases referenced against child safeguarding practice reviews involving Roma families, and reviewed a range of policies implemented over the past 15 years which impact families in contact with child protection systems.


The research found that Roma communities tend to mistrust and fear authorities due to their experiences of historic persecution across Europe. It also found that social workers, frequently conflate the impact of poverty with neglect. It found that the challenges faced by Roma families in their interactions with children’s services are deeply rooted in experiences of historical discrimination, societal biases, and systemic failures in processes.


Co-author of the report Margaret Greenfields, Professor of Social Policy at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: “The trajectory of Roma history in Europe has included centuries of marginalisation and discrimination, including attempts at cultural annihilation involving the forced sterilisation of women and removal of children to the care of non-Roma families and placing of children in ‘special schools’. For many Roma people, both in the UK and internationally, these experiences create an often well-grounded fear of authority.

“Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach, including cultural competence training for professionals, addressing discriminatory practices and combating wide-spread negative stereotypes, supporting the legal empowerment of Roma families, and conducting further research to understand and respond to the specific needs of the Roma communities in the British context.”

The report also highlights inadequate data differentiation by Government departments, resulting in difficulties in understanding important distinctions between Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities, exacerbated by a lack of research into Roma communities’ needs.

The researchers make a large number of recommendations which are indicative of the necessity for a holistic approach to improve outcomes for Roma families involved with children’s services in England. These include calling on the Government to introduce a new Roma Inclusion Strategy – as is common in Europe – to address and alleviate the discrimination, isolation and poverty faced by the Roma communities; improved data collection methods to better understand the extent of Roma families' involvement with children’s services; ensuring cultural continuity and family connections are maintained if Roma children are living away from their families, and high-quality training for social work professionals on Roma culture and social context in which they live.

“This study underlines the pressing need for a more inclusive and culturally sensitive approach to the delivery of child protection services to Roma families in England,” Joanna Kostka, Lecturer in Social Work at Lancaster University, said. “By addressing the unique challenges faced by this community and enhancing the cultural competence of children’s services, we can improve outcomes for Roma children and families.”