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What does the UK Thai community look like? How many Thais live in the UK and what do they do? Can we really talk about a 'community' and if so, what is it that brings Thai people together? Thais living in the UK live with the stereotypes about them and their country which continue to persist in the British imagination. This view of Thailand is characterised on the one hand by a fascination with the food, and on the other with a view of Thai women portrayed in Little Britain's cruel depiction of Ting Tong Macadangdang. In between all this thousands of Thai people try to make their way in the UK and yet there is virtually no information about their experiences of living here. Their profile is such that in a recent publication by the Institute for Public Policy Research (which was covered extensively by the BBC and in The Guardian,) there was absolutely no mention of the Thai community. Smaller communities were mentioned but not Thais. Academic research into ethnic minority groups in the UK shows a similar lack of interest. The library at Warwick University's Centre for Ethnic Minority Studies contains over 30,000 items in its catalogue and none of them refer to studies or research in to the UK Thai community. A search on the larger Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) database also fails to bring up any relevant information. The problem with being part of an invisible community in the UK is that public services tend to overlook your specific cultural or linguistic needs. When things are going fine this matters less. But when problems arise such as legal or health matters, it can make all the difference in being properly understood. The Telephone Helpline Association has over 1,100 member organisations providing support services across the UK. They provide help in over 30 languages but not one of them offers support in Thai	Thai temples in the UK There are Buddhist temples in the Thai tradition throughout the UK and web links, where they exst, are given below. Many run meditation sessions, talks and retreats. Some also hold celebrations for the Thai Buddhist festivals such as the end of the rains retreat (Aukpansaa) and on these occasions are a focus for the Thai community to come together and celebrate. 1 Wat Pah Santidhamma, Warwick* 2 Harnham Buddhist Monastery, Northumberland.* 3 Amaravati Buddhist Monastery, Hemel Hempstead.* 4 Wat Buddhapadipa, Wimbledon, London. 5 Wat Buddharam, Leytonstone, London. 6 Wat Sanghathan, Birmingham. 7 Buddhavihara Temple, Staffordshire. 8 Dhammapadipa Temple, Edinburgh. 9 Wat Charoen Bhavana, Salford, Manchester 10 Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, Sussex* * These monasteries follow the teachings of the Venerable Ajhan Chah (Luang Por Chah). Find out more >>>.	. Women's Aid: Tel: 0800 2000 247 Callfree 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline. Thai language support available. . Immigration Advisory Service is an independent organisation which offers legal advice on immigration and nationality. Offices throughout the UK . Work Permits (UK) is the section of the Home Office that administers work permits on behalf of the UK government. . Government Records Office; useful web site with information about registering births, deaths and marriages. . Home Office: has the Home Office got worse since it was re-designed? Lots of useful information here, but it's not so easy to find - some forms take a lot of searching for! Stick with it for the guidance on visa requirements, information for wives joining partners, children joining parents, sponsoring visitors, applying for British nationality.....   Thai community groups . The Thai Cultural Association, Wales . Thailand-Sussex.com

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