Abstract

The Showmen community is a unique and often misunderstood group, which has been referred to as the ‘last lost tribe of Britain’. To the layperson, ‘Showmen’ are simply the community who own and operate fairgrounds throughout the UK and abroad. To those who do know, Showmen are an intricate network of small business owners creating a community going back to the medieval period. They were only recognised on the national census as a cultural minority in 2021 and are not yet included in the NHS data dictionary. Although they have been identified in higher education within the Gypsy, Traveller, Roma, Showmen, and Boater Pledge (GTRSB). There have been few studies undertaken on the education, health, and well-being of Showmen.

This talk explores Sheldon Chadwick’s autoethnographic journey through his doctoral studies. Which he has developed the first comprehensive mental health statistics for the community, building on the findings of the pilot health report ‘In-fair Health’ (Greenfields et al., 2023). During this talk, Sheldon will delve into Showmen’s identity, voice, and relationship with mental health while examining risk factors, including discrimination and prejudice.