1: Introduction – Intersectionality, Integration and Empowerment

Mariam's statement that ‘This place means freedom to me’ represents the powerful impact of community work with some of the most marginalised groups in society. Mariam's story, before engaging with the women's project, is of a woman who had been several years in the United Kingdom but not yet learned English or made steps towards integration beyond taking her children to school and nursery. She was unable to communicate with their teachers about her children's education – or speak to her doctors about her health problems, without a family member or an interpreter present. She felt almost completely isolated. Other women in our research reported similar experiences of never having been able to shop alone, use public transport, learn to drive, or access services. Many did not socialise outside of their immediate families. Few of them took time to focus on themselves. One small grassroots community project became a place of freedom and empowerment for these women where they developed social solidarity, knowledge and resources, set goals for their lives and became both more aware of the inequalities they face and more able to stand together to overcome them.