I’m a gypsy & we’re not like the stereotype… just because you had one bad experience does not mean we are all the same

A ROMANI Gypsy has called out racist stereotypes after saying "we are not all" the same.

Charmaine Abdul-Karim, from Nantwich in Cheshire, says her community faces a daily struggle to fight prejudice.

The mum-of-two has previously claimed she had to pull her kids out of three different schools due to racist abuse.

Charmaine said often Romani people are victims of the bad behaviour of a minority.

She told : "We're not that stereotype.

"You may have had a bad experience with a gypsy or traveller but that doesn't mean that we're all that way."

Charmaine intends to break down misconceptions about her community.

She wants to encourage gypsies to take pride in their heritage - traced back to the 12th century for some families - while engaging with wider Cheshire population.

The traveller mum-of-two said: "We're not asking permission to be part of the community - we are part of the community.

"We want to change things - change legislation, the narrative in the story and we can do that because we have a group now of gypsy people, powerful gypsy women, who really want to change things for the next generation.

"It's very important to get the ball rolling, particularly with some of the legislation that's gone through recently."

By working together, she hopes to create something that will change the lives of her children.

Charmaine said her family have been "very distressed" by the "abhorrent" way they have been treated.

"My children have had to leave three schools as a result of racist bullying", the mum explained.

"One headteacher even did a social services evaluation without my knowledge which was very distressing.

"Another situation involved an ambulance being called.

"The school staff were more interested in telling paramedics that my family were 'travellers' rather than helping."