The Romani Community in Gorton South, Manchester

Abstract

The Romani community in the Gorton South area of Manchester comprises up to 50 mostly related nuclear families, each composed on average of around 7 persons. Most of the families originate from Ţăndărei in southeastern Romania and belong to the Romani group referred to as Peptenari or Kangliari (“Comb-makers”). They arrived in Manchester largely in two waves. The first came in 2001-2003 via other western European countries (Germany, France, Italy and Spain). The second, informed and attracted by the first wave, arrived in 2007 directly from Romania or via Spain. They keep close contact with family networks spread across several European cities as well as in Ţăndărei, and these also function as economic networks. Income is often sent back to Romania to support the elderly generation and other dependents. The parent generation living in Manchester are typically in their early 30s and have only a low level of formal education and in many cases only very basic reading and writing skills (in Romanian). Most have work experience as manual labourers. The community relies on benefits and occasional work such as selling newspapers (Big Issue), though some are engaged in other trades. Children generally attend the local primary school. Regular school attendance is an aspiration but in the absence of educated role models, immediate family activities are often allowed to take priority. Most members of the community are of Christian Orthodox background but are now followers of a Romani Pentecostal church, which is the main community forum. However, there is no evidence that the church plays any significant role in the day to day social organisation of the community beyond religious affairs. There is no apparent community leadership structure, and nuclear families function as autonomous units within a tight-knit network of related households. Members of the community generally have a positive view of their present living conditions and future prospects in Manchester and they intend to stay. Overall, their network of mutual support gives the community a feeling of confidence. They have access to health care and their access to casual work opportunities, social benefits, and education generally meets their level of expectation. Articulated short-term needs include more employment opportunities and easier and more transparent access to social services and school places. Members of the younger age groups between 17-25 express some interest in regular employment, but in the absence of role models or contacts outside the community they generally lack clear ambitions or expectations regarding career prospects. These charcteristics highlight the importance of an effective engagement strategy. Suggested options are outlined in more detail at the end of this report in the section “Towards an engagement strategy”.