Perceptions and practices: Exploring relationships between Roma and statutory services in Bradford

23 July 2026

Translational Fellow and author: Bianca Facunova, Bridging The Way.

Summary

The research explored relationships between Roma communities and statutory services in Bradford.

To ensure Roma voices were central to the research, the researchers themselves were Roma. This allowed their lived experiences to inform how they engaged with both Roma communities and statutory service professionals – an approach often missing from existing research.

Drawing on engagement with Roma and professionals from education, social care and police, the research found that trust and confidence were impacted by language barriers, misunderstanding of Roma culture, and experiences of discrimination in home countries. Roma trusted schools more than other services, partially due to children being required to engage with education until the age of 18. Greater challenges faced social care and police, with their statutory duty tending to conflict with Roma expectations and knowledge of roles and responsibilities within UK legal systems.

Moving forward, there needs to be more opportunities for Roma and statutory services to engage in conversations, with Roma-led organisations ideally placed to facilitate this. Also, professionals need to develop a better understanding of Roma culture so they can work more effectively and build trust.

Background

Roma migration to the UK increased in the early 2000s, with the expansion of the European Union enabling Roma to travel more freely. Moving to the UK was perceived to be a way for Roma to escape historical marginalisation and discrimination in Eastern Europe.

Whilst the UK provides a better standard of living, society keeps Roma communities on the outside, reinforcing notions of difference and not belonging. These experiences are often magnified within statutory services, with literature highlighting how Roma are overpoliced and at a greater risk of having children removed.

Bridging The Way is a Roma-led organisation based in Bradford that supports Roma and wider European communities through educational, community and family-based services. The organisation has developed knowledge of the barriers faced by Roma families, recognising the need for an evidenced-informed approach to improving engagement with statutory services. Moreover, processes of change need to be developed with Roma, not for them. Bridging The Way helps provide the space and support to enable Roma to have a voice and contribute to decisions that affect them.

To explore Roma trust and confidence in statutory services, Bridging The Way utilised existing connections with Roma communities in Bradford, alongside relationships with statutory services. The study examined Roma adults’ perceptions of education, policing and social care services through a survey and interviews. Bridging The Way also examined professionals’ experiences of engaging with Roma communities. The findings were then used to inform the development of a practical toolkit aimed at strengthening trust, improving communication and supporting culturally informed engagement between Roma and statutory services in Bradford.

What we did

This Roma-led research used an online survey completed by individuals who attended routine drop-in sessions facilitated by Bridging The Way in different community settings.

The survey aimed to capture broad perceptions and experiences of engaging with statutory services. There were 23 responses. Following the completion of the survey, individuals were invited to participate in an in-person interview to discuss their responses in more depth. Three Roma participants agreed to this stage.

Alongside this, six online interviews with professionals from education, social care and police were conducted, with questions focusing upon engagement with Roma, challenges and potential opportunities. Following data collection, findings were analysed using descriptive statistics and the principles of thematic analysis.

Key findings

Absence of trust between Roma and statutory services

Roma participants had negative perceptions of statutory services, with concerns around discrimination, not being treated equally, and language barriers underpinning such perceptions. For many, trust was lowest in relation to social services. This was largely shaped by negative experiences in their home countries, which influenced expectations of how social services would operate in the UK. In particular, there was a strong fear that engaging with social services could lead to children being removed from their families. Roma participants described how fears and perceptions of statutory services were passed down between generations.

They’ll [Roma] just trust what generations before have said about the police. – Roma participant.

Professionals also noted how the absence of trust influences engagement, with quotes suggesting that perceptions of statutory services may shape interactions before any direct contact. Professionals described how Roma could appear cautious or reluctant to engage. Police highlighted that the presence of a uniform could create an immediate barrier, with some Roma appearing anxious and avoiding contact, which made it harder to develop trust. Professionals suggested that these responses were often shaped by previous experiences and community narratives rather than the interaction itself.

Sometimes you can tell there’s already distrust. – Police participant

Language barriers affected engagement beyond communication

Participants and professionals described how English language proficiency influenced Roma understanding of services and processes, particularly around understanding roles and responsibilities of statutory services and the reasons why they may become involved in a family’s life. For Roma, an ability to speak English, even if it was broken, provided a level of respect when engaging with professionals, increasing a sense of trust and belonging. As one Roma participant said:

They [police] recognise you as a person because you can speak the language properly. – Roma participant

If English isn’t their first language, there can be misunderstandings about why we’re there or what we’re trying to do. – Police participant

Time and space to develop trust and confidence

Throughout the research, a limited understanding of Roma identity and the role and responsibility of statutory services were highlighted. Roma participants felt that their generational approaches to family life and raising children were not fully understood or valued by professionals, which could increase the likelihood of concerns being raised. At the same time, Roma participants reported that the reasons for these concerns were not always clearly explained, contributing to feelings of discrimination. Therefore, statutory services need to ensure communication mechanisms are effective. Roma are more likely to engage if conversations occur through a Roma community leader who can articulate concerns and responses in a clear and concise manner.

I think it’s a two-way street… Both sides [statutory services and Roma] are scared of each other. – Roma participant

Professionals indicated that they had limited knowledge of Roma culture, with opportunities to engage in Roma cultural awareness training being minimal. Often, techniques to engage with Roma communities have been developed through experience, with professionals aware that it takes time to gain trust. The importance of identifying appropriate spaces for engagement was also highlighted. Participants suggested that using settings already familiar to Roma communities, such as local community venues, could help support the development of more positive relationships. Alongside this, professionals agreed that Roma cultural awareness training, that has been developed with Roma, needs to be embedded into continual professional development programmes.

There isn’t much structured organisational training on Roma specifically – Education participant

Next steps

In response to the findings, Bridging The Way has developed a practical toolkit designed to support culturally informed engagement with Roma communities.

The toolkit has been developed using key findings from this research alongside existing literature relating to Roma engagement with statutory services. Bridging The Way will promote and embed the toolkit by working through existing partnerships and networks across Bradford, incorporating it into ongoing programmes, and sharing research findings and resources with professionals across sectors. The organisation will promote the findings and toolkit through community drop-in sessions so that Roma families are aware of the research and its recommendations.

Practical toolkit

The toolkit is designed for professionals working with Roma within education, social services and policing. It provides practical guidance to improve communication and relationship building. The toolkit promotes a strength-based approach by highlighting the importance of family, enablers and challenges to engaging with services, alongside the role Roma-led services can have in creating trust and confidence. Professionals should be encouraged to ask questions such as ‘what is working well?’ ‘What are you proud of?’

Bridging The Way will also use the findings to facilitate discussion between the Roma community and statutory agencies with attention given to barriers relating to trust, language and awareness of statutory processes.

Employ service-specific cultural training

Bridging The Way will support the development and delivery of service specific cultural awareness training for professionals within education, policing and social care. The training will focus on improving the understanding and confidence when working with Roma people.

Educate Roma on statutory services

Bridging The Way will develop accessible information and community engagement opportunities to increase awareness of statutory services and their roles, supporting ongoing partnership and co-production between the Roma community and statutory services.

Contact

• Pavel Bikar, Director of Operations, Bridging The Way: [email protected].

The support of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) is gratefully acknowledged. Grant reference number: ES/W002248/1.