GTRSB Pledge Website Plan

The College has created an open statement to support the Gypsy, Travelers, Roma, Showmen, and Boaters Pledge. To have a look please click on the following link: NCL GTRSB Pledge


The Principal of Nelson College London commits to providing educational opportunities for students from the Gypsy, Travelers, Roma, Showmen, and Boater backgrounds. Please have a look at the video below:

GA: GTRSB - YouTube


What is the GTRSB pledge?


The Gypsies, Travelers, Roma, Showmen and Boaters (GTRSB) into Higher Education Pledge consists of a firm commitment by a University, College or educational Institution to undertake certain steps to support GTRSB students into and within higher education.


The Principal of Nelson College's commitment to providing educational opportunities for Gypsies, Travelers, Roma, Showmen and Boater can be found in the YouTube link provided: GA: GTRSB - YouTube


What is the purpose of the pledge?


The Office for Students has highlighted that pupils from Gypsy, Traveller and Roma backgrounds (which includes New Traveller, Showmen and Boater communities) do least well at school compared with all other ethnic groups and this reduces their chances of going on to Higher Education.


Nelson College London (NCL) has embedded widening participation into its mission statement as the College aims to offer access to higher education to people from the widest possible range of backgrounds. This enables them to transform their lives through the acquisition of the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their chosen careers.


In that same spirit, Nelson College London commits to the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boaters (GTRSB) into Higher Education Pledge and the College welcomes applications from prospective students from these backgrounds. There is a full range of academic and personal support to help students through their studies here at Nelson College London.


The Pledge is designed to support best practices in ensuring the monitoring of data; inclusive pedagogy and representation in the College, and the development of widening participation practice to support GTRSB students and potential students.


The Pledge sets out to deliver effective practice and also create an open and welcoming environment where members of the communities can be confident that their culture and learning needs are understood by the institution which they attend, or which they are interested in attending. 


What happens next after the College has taken the pledge?

The College will be entitled to utilise the GTRSB Higher Education logo in publicity materials e.g. in relation to Widening Participation and Access activities, or to use the logo on our institutional marketing materials.

The College will hold regular staff training sessions with key staff to ensure appropriate support is provided and raise awareness of the needs of GTRSB students and staff.

The College commits to monitoring the number of students from this background and will include this within its reporting structure at recruitment which will be reviewed by the College’s Equality and Diversity Committee and the Student Access and Success Steering Group. The College will aim to increase the number of students from the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen and Boaters community year on year. The College will investigate the barriers to entry for students from the GTRSB community to ensure relevant support is made available.

To ensure students feel comfortable discussing key areas, the College will have a Student Lead from the GTRSB background who will work with the key named contacts to ensure relevant support is provided.

Who are the key contacts at Nelson College London?

The College will have designated key contacts for working with applicants and students from this background to ensure support is provided through recruitment to make an informed decision, whilst the students are studying with the College and after they have obtained their intended qualification.

The College will ensure that staff recognise that visibility and awareness of the GTRSB communities in and around higher education institutions and reduces the barrier to access, Success and Progression, and help to support these students through creating a welcoming environment.

Team Members