Thai community in the United Kingdom
Encyclopedia
Thais in the United Kingdom or British Thais are citizens or residents of the United Kingdom who migrated from Thailand
to the UK or who possess Thai ancestry.
estimates that, in 2009, 35,000 Thai-born people were living in the UK.
The UK is home to the largest Thai expatriate community in the world outside of Asia and North America. Of the Thai-born people in the UK in 2001, 72 per cent were women (although in the British capital, this percentage was slightly lower at 68 per cent) which is considerably larger than the more or less 50/50 breakdown of males and females in the UK. The Home Office
states that the overwhelming majority of new Thai immigrants to the UK became naturalized citizens through marriage, with less than one in three cases occurring through residence. Between 2003 and 2006, 64 per cent of all settlement grants to Thai immigrants were given to wives, 3 per cent to husbands and 14 per cent to children. This means that the Thai community in the UK is surprisingly widespread, as marriage migrants are likely to be scattered across the country with their partners, instead of following the trend of migrant groups settling together in large cities. Despite this, due to their large populations already, the cities of London, Sheffield
, Birmingham
and Glasgow
are all home to significant numbers of people of Thai origin - However recent figures show that Brighton has the most.
, set up in 1901 by King Rama VI of Thailand its main aim was to unite and reinforce harmonious relationships amongst Thai people in the United Kingdom by organising various events and activities. Over a century later, Samaggi Samagom represents close to 40,000 Thais in the UK and still arranges events today that are seen as extremely dates in the Thai British calendar.
There are a large number of Thai temples in the UK with the oldest and most famous being the Wat Buddhapadipa
in Wimbledon, London
, which is home to monks and nuns, but welcomes visitors of any faith to view the grounds and temple as long as they are respectful.In 2004, Wat Charoenbhavana
located in Manchester
became the first Thai temple to be established in the region
. Also Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
is a monastery in the Thai Forest Tradition
of the Theravada
lineage of Buddhism, it can be found in Hemel Hempstead
, other examples of such Thai monasteries in the UK include Chithurst Buddhist Monastery
in Chithurst
, West Sussex and Aruna Ratanagiri
in Northumberland
. Despite not being British himself, Chah Subhatto is an important figure for the Thai Buddhist community in the UK.
are an annual event for Thai students in the UK, normally attracting around 1,000 participants. Normally held in February or March each year, it is one of the most popular events organised by Samaggi Samagom
(the Thai Student Association in the UK). The games have always been held at a university, and include such sports as football, basketball, tennis, badminton
, table tennis
, squash
, chairball and some traditional Thai games such as Thai chess. Notable Britons of Thai origin in general sport include the professional football players Tom Ramasut
and Jamie Waite. Former Prime Minister of Thailand
, Thaksin Shinawatra
is known in the UK for his involvement with Manchester City Football Club, as well as his attempt of trying to gain British citizenship.
, Master's degree courses and phD courses. Thais are a well-educated group of immigrants in the UK, and according to the 2001 Census, 39 per cent of Thai-born Londoners had higher level qualifications, compared to the city's 31 per cent average. Many organisations, such as British Thai InterLink Co. Ltd, promote British education in Thailand and thus help to create friendly ties between the UK and Thailand.
According to research by the Runnymede Trust
, many Thai immigrants to the UK wish their children to be bilingual in Thai and English, but opportunities to learn Thai are limited. Other than private tutoring, a number of institutions across the country offer Thai language classes, including Wat Buddhapadipa
, the Bournemouth Thai School, the Brasshouse Language Centre and the School of Oriental and African Studies
. English language classes have proved extremely popular with first-generation Thai immigrants. Besides the nationwide Samaggi Samagom
Thai students society, a fuller list of associations set up in the UK for Thai students can be seen here.
suggests that Thailand is one of the most likely countries of origin for women trafficked into the UK for sex work. Employment statistics for second and third generation Thai British people are not known, although it is thought they are becoming much more integrated into British society than their immigrant ascendants.
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
to the UK or who possess Thai ancestry.
Population
At the time of the 2001 UK Census, 16,257 people born in Thailand were residing in the UK. The Office for National StatisticsOffice for National Statistics
The Office for National Statistics is the executive office of the UK Statistics Authority, a non-ministerial department which reports directly to the Parliament of the United Kingdom.- Overview :...
estimates that, in 2009, 35,000 Thai-born people were living in the UK.
The UK is home to the largest Thai expatriate community in the world outside of Asia and North America. Of the Thai-born people in the UK in 2001, 72 per cent were women (although in the British capital, this percentage was slightly lower at 68 per cent) which is considerably larger than the more or less 50/50 breakdown of males and females in the UK. The Home Office
Home Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
states that the overwhelming majority of new Thai immigrants to the UK became naturalized citizens through marriage, with less than one in three cases occurring through residence. Between 2003 and 2006, 64 per cent of all settlement grants to Thai immigrants were given to wives, 3 per cent to husbands and 14 per cent to children. This means that the Thai community in the UK is surprisingly widespread, as marriage migrants are likely to be scattered across the country with their partners, instead of following the trend of migrant groups settling together in large cities. Despite this, due to their large populations already, the cities of London, Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
are all home to significant numbers of people of Thai origin - However recent figures show that Brighton has the most.
Community
There are many organisations and associations located across the United Kingdom. One of the most notable Thai British associations is Samaggi SamagomSamaggi Samagom
Samaggi Samagom , The Thai Association in the UK, was established in 1901 by King Rama VI of Thailand. Set out to unite and reinforce harmonious relationships amongst Thai people in the United Kingdom by organising various events and activities...
, set up in 1901 by King Rama VI of Thailand its main aim was to unite and reinforce harmonious relationships amongst Thai people in the United Kingdom by organising various events and activities. Over a century later, Samaggi Samagom represents close to 40,000 Thais in the UK and still arranges events today that are seen as extremely dates in the Thai British calendar.
Religion
Wat Buddhapadipa
Situated in Wimbledon, the Buddhapadipa temple was the first Thai Buddhist temple to be built in the UK. It is home to monks and nuns, but welcomes visitors of any faith to view the grounds and temple as long as they are respectful....
in Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
, which is home to monks and nuns, but welcomes visitors of any faith to view the grounds and temple as long as they are respectful.In 2004, Wat Charoenbhavana
Wat Charoenbhavana
On 8 February 2004 saw the establishment of Wat Charoenbhavana, Manchester - also known in English as the North-West Centre for Buddhist Meditation. It is the first Thai Buddhist temple the Northwest of England. It is presently located in a converted curtain-rail factory in Salford.The temple was...
located in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
became the first Thai temple to be established in the region
North West England
North West England, informally known as The North West, is one of the nine official regions of England.North West England had a 2006 estimated population of 6,853,201 the third most populated region after London and the South East...
. Also Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
Amaravati Buddhist Monastery
Amaravati is a Theravadin Buddhist monastery at the eastern end of the Chiltern Hills in south east England. The centre, in practice as much for ordinary people as for monastics, is inspired by the Thai forest tradition and the teachings of the late Ajahn Chah....
is a monastery in the Thai Forest Tradition
Thai Forest Tradition
The Thai Forest Tradition is a tradition of Buddhist monasticism within Thai Theravada Buddhism. Practitioners inhabit remote wilderness and forest dwellings as spiritual practice training grounds. Maha Nikaya and Dhammayuttika Nikaya are the two major monastic orders in Thailand that have forest...
of the Theravada
Theravada
Theravada ; literally, "the Teaching of the Elders" or "the Ancient Teaching", is the oldest surviving Buddhist school. It was founded in India...
lineage of Buddhism, it can be found in Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead
Hemel Hempstead is a town in Hertfordshire in the East of England, to the north west of London and part of the Greater London Urban Area. The population at the 2001 Census was 81,143 ....
, other examples of such Thai monasteries in the UK include Chithurst Buddhist Monastery
Chithurst Buddhist Monastery
Cittaviveka, popularly known as Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, is a Theravada Buddhist Monastery in the Thai Forest Tradition. It is situated in West Sussex, England in the hamlet of Chithurst between Midhurst and Petersfield...
in Chithurst
Chithurst
Chithurst is a village in the Chichester district of West Sussex, England. It lies within the civil parish of Trotton with Chithurst, just off the A272 road 3 miles west of Midhurst....
, West Sussex and Aruna Ratanagiri
Aruna Ratanagiri
Aruna Ratanagiri Buddhist Monastery is a Theravadin Buddhist monastery of the Thai Forest Tradition in Northumberland, England...
in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
. Despite not being British himself, Chah Subhatto is an important figure for the Thai Buddhist community in the UK.
Sport
The Samaggi GamesSamaggi Games
Samaggi Games is a fun and friendly annual sports event, open to all Thai students in the UK. Samaggi Games is normally held in February or March each year. It is one of the most popular events organised by Samaggi Samagom, the Thai Student Association in the UK. The event accommodates over 1000...
are an annual event for Thai students in the UK, normally attracting around 1,000 participants. Normally held in February or March each year, it is one of the most popular events organised by Samaggi Samagom
Samaggi Samagom
Samaggi Samagom , The Thai Association in the UK, was established in 1901 by King Rama VI of Thailand. Set out to unite and reinforce harmonious relationships amongst Thai people in the United Kingdom by organising various events and activities...
(the Thai Student Association in the UK). The games have always been held at a university, and include such sports as football, basketball, tennis, badminton
Badminton
Badminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
, table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
, squash
Squash (sport)
Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
, chairball and some traditional Thai games such as Thai chess. Notable Britons of Thai origin in general sport include the professional football players Tom Ramasut
Tom Ramasut
Mahan William Thomas 'Tom' Ramasut is a Welsh footballer of Thai descent who currently plays for Haverfordwest County in the Welsh Premier League.-Career:...
and Jamie Waite. Former Prime Minister of Thailand
Prime Minister of Thailand
The Prime Minister of Thailand is the head of government of Thailand. The Prime Minister is also the chairman of the Cabinet of Thailand. The post has existed since the Revolution of 1932, when the country became a constitutional monarchy....
, Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra
Thaksin Shinawatra is a Thai businessman and politician, who was Prime Minister of Thailand from 2001 to 2006, when he was overthrown in a military coup....
is known in the UK for his involvement with Manchester City Football Club, as well as his attempt of trying to gain British citizenship.
Education
Between 2003 and 2006, over half of all Thais to enter the UK (regardless of how long they intended to stay in the country) were students, the UK is a popular destination for Thai expatriate students with the most popular subjects areas being the English languageEnglish language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, Master's degree courses and phD courses. Thais are a well-educated group of immigrants in the UK, and according to the 2001 Census, 39 per cent of Thai-born Londoners had higher level qualifications, compared to the city's 31 per cent average. Many organisations, such as British Thai InterLink Co. Ltd, promote British education in Thailand and thus help to create friendly ties between the UK and Thailand.
According to research by the Runnymede Trust
Runnymede Trust
The Runnymede Trust is a leading pro-multiculturalism think tank., Its aim is to generate intelligence for a "multi-ethnic" Britain through research, network building and policy engagement...
, many Thai immigrants to the UK wish their children to be bilingual in Thai and English, but opportunities to learn Thai are limited. Other than private tutoring, a number of institutions across the country offer Thai language classes, including Wat Buddhapadipa
Wat Buddhapadipa
Situated in Wimbledon, the Buddhapadipa temple was the first Thai Buddhist temple to be built in the UK. It is home to monks and nuns, but welcomes visitors of any faith to view the grounds and temple as long as they are respectful....
, the Bournemouth Thai School, the Brasshouse Language Centre and the School of Oriental and African Studies
School of Oriental and African Studies
The School of Oriental and African Studies is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the University of London...
. English language classes have proved extremely popular with first-generation Thai immigrants. Besides the nationwide Samaggi Samagom
Samaggi Samagom
Samaggi Samagom , The Thai Association in the UK, was established in 1901 by King Rama VI of Thailand. Set out to unite and reinforce harmonious relationships amongst Thai people in the United Kingdom by organising various events and activities...
Thai students society, a fuller list of associations set up in the UK for Thai students can be seen here.
Employment
According to the 2001 Census, Thai-born Londoners were most likely to be working in industries such as hotels and restaurants (40.8%, which is much, much higher than the capital's average of 4.6% of the population working in this industry), wholesale and retail (13.0%) as well as real estate and renting (11.8%). There are estimated to be almost 2,000 Thai restaurants in the UK owned primarily by Thai immigrants. Despite their success in many professions, discrimination is seen by many Thais in the UK as a reason for limiting where they are employed, many Thai women find themselves caught up in human trafficking, with 20 out of the 33 London boroughs reporting numerous female Thai sex workers. The Home OfficeHome Office
The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...
suggests that Thailand is one of the most likely countries of origin for women trafficked into the UK for sex work. Employment statistics for second and third generation Thai British people are not known, although it is thought they are becoming much more integrated into British society than their immigrant ascendants.
Notable individuals
- Mark Abhisit VejjajivaAbhisit VejjajivaAbhisit Vejjajiva , , ; born Mark Abhisit Vejjajiva; 3 August 1964 in Newcastle upon Tyne) is a Thai politician who was the 27th Prime Minister of Thailand from 2008 to 2011 and is the current leader of the Democrat Party...
- 27th Prime Minister of Thailand, born in NewcastleNewcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
Northumberland and educated at Eton CollegeEton CollegeEton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and St John's College, OxfordSt John's College, Oxford__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
and a British citizen - Giles Ji Ungpakorn (born 1953) - Thai-British academic and political activist with both Thai and British citizenship; fled charge of Lèse majesté in Thailand.
See also
- Temples and monasteries
- Wat BuddhapadipaWat BuddhapadipaSituated in Wimbledon, the Buddhapadipa temple was the first Thai Buddhist temple to be built in the UK. It is home to monks and nuns, but welcomes visitors of any faith to view the grounds and temple as long as they are respectful....
- Wat CharoenbhavanaWat CharoenbhavanaOn 8 February 2004 saw the establishment of Wat Charoenbhavana, Manchester - also known in English as the North-West Centre for Buddhist Meditation. It is the first Thai Buddhist temple the Northwest of England. It is presently located in a converted curtain-rail factory in Salford.The temple was...
- Amaravati Buddhist MonasteryAmaravati Buddhist MonasteryAmaravati is a Theravadin Buddhist monastery at the eastern end of the Chiltern Hills in south east England. The centre, in practice as much for ordinary people as for monastics, is inspired by the Thai forest tradition and the teachings of the late Ajahn Chah....
- Chithurst Buddhist MonasteryChithurst Buddhist MonasteryCittaviveka, popularly known as Chithurst Buddhist Monastery, is a Theravada Buddhist Monastery in the Thai Forest Tradition. It is situated in West Sussex, England in the hamlet of Chithurst between Midhurst and Petersfield...
- Aruna RatanagiriAruna RatanagiriAruna Ratanagiri Buddhist Monastery is a Theravadin Buddhist monastery of the Thai Forest Tradition in Northumberland, England...
- Wat Buddhapadipa
- Community
- Samaggi SamagomSamaggi SamagomSamaggi Samagom , The Thai Association in the UK, was established in 1901 by King Rama VI of Thailand. Set out to unite and reinforce harmonious relationships amongst Thai people in the United Kingdom by organising various events and activities...
- Samaggi GamesSamaggi GamesSamaggi Games is a fun and friendly annual sports event, open to all Thai students in the UK. Samaggi Games is normally held in February or March each year. It is one of the most popular events organised by Samaggi Samagom, the Thai Student Association in the UK. The event accommodates over 1000...
- Samaggi Samagom
- Related ethnic groups
- Thai peopleThai peopleThe Thai people, or Siamese, are the main ethnic group of Thailand and are part of the larger Tai ethnolinguistic peoples found in Thailand and adjacent countries in Southeast Asia as well as southern China. Their language is the Thai language, which is classified as part of the Kradai family of...
- Thai AmericanThai AmericanA Thai American is an American of whose parents or grandparents came from Thailand. Many of them may in fact be of Thai Chinese or at least part Chinese ancestry, but they are still considered to be Thais.-History in U.S.:...
- Thai people
External links
- Thai-UK, an on-line magazine promoting positive links between Thailand and the UK
- Thailand-UK, website and community forums for Thai nationals, their friends and family staying in the UK
- Buddhapadipa Thai Temple
- Thai London Community
- The Thai Cultural Association, Wales
- Contact details for Thai Consulates in the UK plus some useful Thai links