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This paper describes the development of the veraPDF validator. The objective of veraPDF is to build an industry supported, open source validator for all parts and conformance levels of the PDF/A specification for archival PDF documents. The project is led by the Open Preservation Foundation and the PDF Association and is funded by the EU PREFORMA project.

veraPDF is designed to meet the needs of the digital preservation community and the PDF industry alike. The technology is subject to the review of and acceptance by the PDF Association’s PDF Validation Technical Working Group, including many participants of the relevant ISO working groups. Cultural heritage institutions are collecting ever-increasing volumes of digital information, which they have a mandate to preserve for the long term. However, in many cases, they need to ensure their content has been produced to the specifications of a standard file format, as well as any acceptance criteria stated in their institutional policy.

With increasing knowledge and experience of processes and policies, cultural heritage institutions are influencing the production and development of digital preservation software. The product development funded by the PREFORMA project shows how such cooperation can benefit the community as a whole.

This paper describes the value of an open source approach to developing a PDF/A validator for cultural heritage organisations.

Gypsy, Roma and Traveller (GRT) people within the UK and the Republic of Ireland are underrepresented within research and policies despite high rates of mental illness and suicide. This study aims to explore the mental health (MH) support needs for GRT people within the British Isles.

This study was a thematic analysis of semi-structured interviews with nine self-identified GRT people.

The analysis revealed a longing for acceptance, both within and outside the GRT community; barriers to help seeking, specifically unsuitable services, poor awareness, stigma and distrust; and increased vulnerability owing to participants’ perceived lack of prospects and adverse life events.

Despite increased vulnerability, MH services are underutilised by GRT people for a variety of cultural and practical reasons. To reduce the current inequality, it is imperative that services take steps to increase accessibility. This study expands upon previous research by using the voices of GRT people themselves, creating a narrative built from their own emic perspectives. Unlike previous research, this study focuses exclusively on the MH of participants and includes participants from across the British Isles.