The challenge: A call for more inclusive maternity care
Across the UK, health inequalities remain a pressing issue – particularly for underserved communities like Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families. In Kent County Council (KCC), an Equality Impact Assessment conducted highlighted a critical gap: professionals working in maternity and perinatal care often lacked the cultural understanding needed to offer inclusive, effective support to Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.
This concern was amplified by the maternity Steering Group, whose members shared a wide array of stories about the gaps they’d witnessed. Based on these findings, the council recognised the need to go beyond any existing training that had offered some awareness about the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. This time around, there was a greater need to create something more in-depth – a learning experience that truly reflected the lived experiences of these communities and helped practitioners build trust and deliver care that is both inclusive and respectful.
The Solution: A bespoke digital module to bridge the gaps
To address this gap, Kent County Council commissioned Me Learning to create a new digital module – Gypsy, Roma and Traveller Perinatal Cultural Practices. The course builds on the success of the existing Gypsy and Traveller Cultural Awareness training previously developed by Me Learning and goes further by focusing specifically on pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood.
This new e-learning course dives deeper into the perinatal period. From maternity appointments to birth planning, it equips practitioners with culturally sensitive knowledge while reinforcing the importance of treating everyone’s experience with care and respect.
Crucially, the course includes real voices and lived experiences from GRT mothers and community advocates.
Kasha Sotgiu de Verny, Gypsy, Roma and Travellers Project Coordinator, played a key role in involving a cohort of grassroots Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community members who helped shape the course content. This collaborative model was central to the unique perspective captured in the content of the course.
The course features powerful real-life stories from mothers from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community, ensuring learners hear first-hand accounts of experiences within maternity services – something that makes the learning deeply impactful
Speaking about the course, Kasha Sotgiu de Verny said:
“Me Learning truly captured and respected the voices of our community. We didn’t just consult with organisations – we knew it would be vital to have real experiences from the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller community included. I was so thrilled when I saw the final product and I was amazed by how much of what we said was respected and woven into the course. It’s not just an e-learning course – it’s a model for how to truly listen, collaborate, and create something that could address critical training gaps.”
The course was thoughtfully designed with accessibility at its core – ensuring a clear, user-friendly experience that supports a wide range of learning needs, including learners who are neurodiverse.
This thoughtful approach means that the course is not only informative, but also comfortable to engage with – helping more people connect with the content in a meaningful way.
Laura Angela Collins, Gypsy, Roma and Traveller advocate and CEO of Collins Cultural Consultancy further said:
“As an Irish Traveller woman, I’ve seen how damaging it is when services or policies about us are built without us. Romany Gypsy, Roma, and ethnic Traveller groups are too often misunderstood, judged, or excluded from decisions that affect our lives. Our histories, cultures, and unique needs are often grouped together under the term ‘GRT community’, which erases important differences. Our lived experiences hold insights that too often goes unheard. Co-production is essential if services are serious about equity and lasting change. This training matters because it was created with us, not just about us. That difference is everything, it means those delivering care will have more awareness, leading to fewer assumptions and helping to build trust and deeper understanding.”
Another key outcome Charlotte Heydon-Millard and Kasha Sotgiu de Verny hope will come through from this course is the importance of moving beyond the broad “GRT” label. The course encourages professionals to recognise these differences and to resist one-size-fits-all assumptions. It also highlights the ongoing need to confront both unconscious and conscious bias. This is still a challenge that persists across many services. There is more work to be done, and continued education, open dialogue, and a broader range of voices must be part of that journey forward.
The Impact: A Tool for Widespread Change
The course will be available on KCC’s Delta and KSCMP platforms, meaning it can reach a wide workforce – extending well beyond maternity services to include social care, housing, education, front-line responders and even third-sector partners.
Charlotte Heydon-Millard, Family Hubs Workforce Development Programme Manager said:
“Partnering with Me Learning has allowed us to create a digital module that strengthens our workforce development strategy in a meaningful and lasting way. The real power of e-learning is its sustainability – it’s there whenever professionals need to revisit it, especially when supporting families during critical stages. This e-learning course plays a vital role in our broader commitment to reducing health inequalities and building a workforce that truly understands and respects the diverse communities we serve.”
The course encourages a responsive, thoughtful approach — one that empowers professionals to deliver more inclusive, personalised support that truly meets the needs of every individual.
Looking Ahead: Why Digital Learning Matters
This course is more than a one-off initiative. It’s a clear example of how digital learning—when designed with care, collaboration, and community at its heart, can address deep-rooted challenges and drive meaningful change.
What began as a response to a specific need has become a blueprint for inclusive workforce development. It proves that e-learning can go beyond information-sharing; it can shift perspectives, and create a stronger, more culturally responsive public sector.
As the course rolls out across Kent and beyond, it stands as more than just a training resource, it’s a practical model for others to follow. It shows what’s possible when digital learning is built around real voices, real experiences, and real needs. By putting inclusion at the centre, we can create services that are fairer, more human, and ready to meet the needs of every community.
If you would like to find out more, please contact Anne Clayton, Digital Learning Consultant at Me Learning or learn more about our bespoke digital training and other solutions.
