The Role of Atmosphere in Negotiations of Groupness: A Study of a Meeting Place for Older Russian-speaking Migrants

While existing literature on third-sector support for ageing migrants shows that social clubs can be a vital source of support, what remains unclear is how these positive outcomes are attained an interactional level. Drawing fieldwork conducted over the course one year in meeting place older Russian-speaking capital region Finland, this paper adopts processual approach to examine sense groupness negotiated place. The attendees comprise different nationalities and backgrounds, who mainly share age Russian language. This heterogeneity creates situation where attendees, together with organisers, negotiate category ‘Russian-speaking’. I argue such reached by drawing from shared traits culturality, while excluding aspects could cause conflicts. further contributes analysing role atmosphere plays attaining groupness, argues notion important take into consideration when thinking places wellbeing.