The mayor of Oldham stood alongside members of the Roma community and Oldham Coliseum Theatre to raise the flag of the Roma people above the Civic Centre for the first time on Friday.

Members of the Roma community, along with staff members from Oldham Coliseum, were met by Oldham mayor Cllr Jenny Harrison and Cllr Shaid Mushtaq to raise the Roma flag.

The Coliseum is currently undertaking an 18-month creative programme, Roma Connections, in partnership with Roma-led charity KaskoSan, which explores how taking part in cultural activities can boost wellbeing in Oldham’s Roma communities.

International Roma Day was first launched in 1990 to raise awareness of Roma culture and of the issues facing the Roma people, such as racism.

ALSO READ:  Gypsy, Roma and Traveller families ‘upset’ by Jimmy Carr joke, MPs told.

Cllr Harrison said: “I’m delighted to see the Roma flag raised at the Civic Centre on International Roma Day.

“The Roma community forms part of the rich, diverse community we have here in Oldham and it’s wonderful to be able to celebrate with them and proudly fly the flag.

“I wish everyone a happy International Roma Day.”

The founder of KaskoSan, Juice Vamosi, said: “Oldham is home to the first Roma charity founded and run by East European Roma in England but also to the largest Roma Church in the North.

“Roma (sometimes wrongly confused with Romanians) aka Gypsies, originating in India many centuries ago, celebrate their culture and raise awareness of anti-Gypsyism on April 8 every year all over the world.

“This year we are celebrating with Oldham Coliseum and Oldham Council, the first institutions in Oldham to work with the wider Roma community.

“We encourage all other institutions in Oldham and all over the UK to follow their example: be the first to smile at Roma in order to bring a positive change in all residents’ lives.”

Olivia Race, Oldham Coliseum’s head of learning and engagement, said: “Raising a flag on International Roma Day is a small thing we can do as a mark of celebration and respect.

“But it hasn’t been done before in Oldham, so I’m delighted that in 2022 we are taking the time to celebrate this day.

“When you pair an act like raising a flag with the work we’re doing within the Roma Community, allowing participants to take part in creative activities that improve personal and social well-being whilst developing new skills, confidence, as well as raising aspirations, the flag-raising becomes another mark of inclusiveness amongst many other actions.

"We are striving to make Oldham an inclusive and welcoming place for everyone.”