Construindo comunidades: community building with Portuguese migrant workers on the east coast of England
This chapter describes work with Portuguese migrant workers in Great Yarmouth, a typically economically depressed and isolated community — one that is highly representative of many such communities within the UK over the last twenty years. Characteristically, such migrants are the victims of racial hostility, being blamed both for taking away native workers' jobs and for depressing wage levels in the local economy. Traditional forms of community organisation have led to some gains, although the creation of organisations and groups continues to be undermined to some degree by both the transience of some migrants and their focus on economic goals. The key role for the community development worker appears to be to act as a broker between migrants and host community, and particularly to challenge the myths that have been promoted by those on the political Right.