Exploring the everyday experiences of Roma people aged 40+ in Peterborough, Luton and Glasgow to understand how they access health and wellbeing support, and using this insight to develop best practice, policy recommendations and practical tools that improve outcomes for Roma communities.
Why is the research needed?
Roma communities are among the most disadvantaged groups in Europe, yet they remain largely overlooked in UK research, policy and service design. This has real consequences: Roma people experience significant inequalities in health outcomes, alongside barriers to accessing healthcare and support.
These inequalities are shaped by wider challenges, including poor or insecure housing, discrimination and social exclusion. For Roma people aged 40 and over, these issues are often compounded, yet their experiences of ageing remain largely unrecognised.
At the same time, there is growing policy interest in ageing in place, aimed at supporting people to live independently in their communities. However, Roma communities have been largely excluded from this agenda, meaning current approaches risk overlooking those facing the greatest inequalities.
What are we doing?
This project explores how Roma people aged 40+ experience ageing in three UK areas: Govanhill (Glasgow), Peterborough, and Luton, and uses these insights to co-design place-based interventions to improve health and wellbeing. By understanding their experiences, we inform the design of services, support and future interventions, ensuring they are more responsive to the needs and realities of Roma people.
We take a community-based participatory research approach, working closely with communities, policymakers and practitioners. This include walking (go-along) and formal interviews, photo diaries and storytelling, knowledge cafés and participatory mapping and we will co-design workshops with communities, services and policymakers.
Roma community researchers play a central role in shaping the research and identifying priorities for change. The key outcome is the co-development of practical, place-based interventions that respond to local needs and can be taken forward by services and organisations.
How are we working with communities, services and organisations?
We are taking a co-production approach, working alongside Roma communities at all stages of the research. This includes training and supporting 25 Roma community researchers across the three sites in interviewing, visual and mobile methods, and collaborative analysis. So far, we have worked with over 200 Roma community members across the three locations. They play a central role in data collection, interpretation, and identifying priorities for action.
The project is co-led by community organisations, including COMPAS, Community Renewal Trust, Rom Romeha, Luton Roma Trust and Roma Support Group. These organisations help shape the research, engage communities, and support the development of locally relevant interventions.
We also work with local services and stakeholders to ensure the research reflects real-world challenges and supports the co-design and implementation of place-based interventions.
What will the impact and benefits of this research be?
This research will strengthen the visibility and voice of Roma communities in research and policy, support services to better understand and respond to Roma communities . We will co-develop place-based interventions to improve access to support and reduce inequalities and inform more inclusive, community-led approaches to health and wellbeing. In the longer term, the project aims to improve health and wellbeing outcomes for Roma people as they age.
What do we have planned for knowledge mobilisation and implementation?
We are committed to ensuring that our research leads to practical change. We work closely with Roma communities, community‑organisation co‑leads and service providers to translate findings into action. Our plans include sharing findings in accessible formats such as community reports (with translations), creative outputs and digital platforms, and working with community co‑leads to ensure all outputs are locally relevant. We will also deliver workshops with communities, practitioners and policymakers to identify priorities for change.
A central focus of the work is the co‑design and implementation of place‑based interventions. Through co‑production workshops, Roma communities, services and decision‑makers will come together to identify priority areas, co‑design practical interventions and explore how these can be delivered through existing services and partnerships. This approach ensures that findings are embedded into practice and supports the development of more inclusive and effective services.
Related papers, outputs and resources
We will also be producing blogs, training manuals, policy briefs and academic articles.
Who is involved?
- Principal Investigator: Professor Ryan Woolrych, Heriot-Watt University
- Professor Margaret Greenfields, Anglia Ruskin University
- Professor Judith Sixsmith, University of Dundee
- Dr Rosa Cisneros, Coventry University
- Dr Sasho Marinov, Heriot-Watt University
- Ann Hyde, Community Renewal Trust, Rom Romeha
- Petr Torak, COMAS Charity
- Crina Morteanu, Luton Roma Trust
- Gaba Smolinska-Poffley, Roma Support Group
Get in contact
Email Professor Ryan Woolrych at r.d.woolrych@hw.ac.uk.
