The Latin American community in the UK is denied access to services and decent jobs by a combination of restrictive immigration laws, language problems, low wages, prejudice and discrimination, rendering them an impoverished community. This has a disproportionate effect on women, for whom it is a continuous cycle that is difficult to break. This article discusses how marginalisation affects Latin American women migrants, restricting their ability to meet their practical gender needs. The article then examines a community project working with women to overcome discrimination, identifying and achieving both practical gender needs and strategic gender interests.