This article highlights important literature and good practice relevant to healthcare professionals working with and supporting Gypsy, Traveller and Roma populations in the UK. Members of these minority ethnic communities are often seen as ‘hard to reach’. Healthcare practitioners frequently identify that mutual gaps in cultural competence and knowledge exist, which can affect ways of working with these populations, leaving service users and professionals baffled and upset, with negative effects on health. By exploring the effects of social determinants of health on these groups and focusing on ways of improving communication and tailored access to services, it is possible to develop effective ways of supporting vulnerable individuals and communities while building trust, enhancing communication and increasing health literacy among potentially ‘at risk’ people.