Aktualności

Polish Roots - British Born (Rodem Brytyjczyk - Korzenie Polskie)

2012-05-17

This is the first of a series of meetings, aimed at people born in Britain of Polish origin. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss and focus on their needs. The meeting will be held in English, with Polish used as required.

We will hear from several speakers, born in GB, who are actively involved in organisations such as the Federation of Poles in GB (FPGB*), about their background, current activities and their hopes for the future. We will then invite everyone to participate in an open discussion about their concerns, ideas and how to get involved. There will be an opportunity to get to know each other and to network. Finally, we hope to produce a plan to move forward so that Poles born in GB have more of an influence on shaping the future policy of the Polish Community here.

Programme:

7.00 - Registration

7.30 - Start
Chairman of meeting - Chris Zarębski, Chairman of Advisory Council FPGB

7.40 - Dr. Wlodzimierz Mier-Jedrzejowicz - Chairman FPGB

7.50: Tadeusz Stenzel - Vice Chairman FPGB

Other speakers to include: Andrzej Tutkaj, Marek Laskiewicz, Bożena Karol, Katy Carr, Jan Niechwiadowicz and others (list is subject to change).

8.30 - Open Session - Topics include:

1) Definition of our identity. - What criteria?
2) What role do we have if any in shaping the future of the Polish Community?
3) How do we maintain our parent's/grandparent's legacy?
- buildings: POSK, Fawley Court, Ognisko, Laxton Hall etc.
- memorials: Katyn massacre at Gunnersbury Cemetry, Polish Airmens' at Northolt etc.
- cultural & religious: Polish Library & Conrad Room, Sikorski Institute, SPK, parishes)
4) What is our contact and interface with current Polish migration? (± 800,000)
5) Is Polish needed for activity in Polish organisations? Polish: lifelong learning?
6) What are the challenges ahead? (20,000 Polish children born in the UK annually)
7) Do we need a new organisation? Can we adapt existing organisations?
8) What next?

9.15 - Closing remarks

9.30 - Close of meeting: Networking

Further information:

Bozena Karol - tel: 07979 037183, e-mail: polishroots@ymail.com
Federation of Poles in GB - tel: 0208 741 1606, e-mail: office@zpwb.org.uk

* FPGB is the Federation of Poles in Great Britain,
(In Polish ZPWB; Zjednoczenie Polskie w Wielkiej Brytanii.

2012-05-15

72. Anniversary of the Katyń Massacre

2012-04-16

Programme:

12.00 Solemn Mass Polish R.C. Church of St. Andrew Bobola
         1 Leysfield Road, Hammersmith, London W12 9JF

13.50 Members of the Public take their position at the Katyń Memorial

14.00 Banners take ip their position at the Memorial

14.05 Opening of the Ceremony by Mr. C. Maryszczak
          Chairman of Polish Ex-Combatants Association in Great Britain

14.10 The Polish and British flags take up positions at the Memorial

14.15 Address - Ambassador of Poland
          H.E. Barbara Tuge-Erecinska

14.25 Preyers

14.35 Laying of wreaths

14.50 Closing of the Ceremony by Mr C. Maryszczak
          Chairman of the Polish Ex-Combatants Association in Great Britain

14.55 National Anthems - Polish and English

15.00 Departue of Banners

UK Poles at "Who do you think you are? Live"

2012-02-13

The Polish community is often seen as one of the UK's newest ethnic minorities, but less well known are the 250,000 Polish citizens that came to call the country home just after the Second World War. They are the parents and grandparents of hundreds of thousands of Britons today, and arrived here by chance, having found themselves forced into slave labour by Stalin in 1939 and deported to endure inhumane conditions in Siberia. The survivors faced a treacherous journey back to Europe under Nazi occupation via Iran, Africa and India. From Iran, thousands of the men joined a new Polish army under British command that fought the Nazis in one of the bloodiest battles in history in Italy. Unable to return to Poland after the war, the displaced Poles were given sanctuary by the British government and settled successfully into towns and cities all over the UK.

"Who Do You Think You Are?" takes place in Olympia, London on 24-26 February 2012, see http://www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.com/. This is the show's sixth year, packed with exhibitors, workshops, genealogy experts and TV celebrities. The show is visited every year over the three days by more than 14,000 people keen on researching their family history.

The founder and President of the Kresy-Siberia Foundation, Stefan Wisniowski, explained:

"We are dedicated to the research, remembrance and recognition of the history of Polish citizens from the Eastern Borderlands (Kresy), their forced exile to Siberia during WWII and the subsequent fate of Survivors. Some never spoke of the trauma of their experience and their descendants are often now, years later, searching for those missing parts of their family history and identity. We are here to help them fill that gap. Our biggest project is the building of a Kresy-Siberia Virtual Museum (www.Kresy-Siberia.org).

Visitors to the stand can see the Kresy-Siberia Virtual Museum as well as original photos and documents, join an online discussion group of over 1000 members worldwide, and buy DVDs, CDs and books. The Kresy-Siberia Virtual Museum has a database of over 40,000 people listed on the Memorial Wall of Names and galleries showing the history of Kresy before the war, the 1939 invasions by Hitler and Stalin, the deportations to Siberia and the refugee camps in India and Africa.

TV presenter/actress Mel Giedroyc ("Sadie J", "The Great British bake Off"), whose father is a Siberian Survivor, will be visiting the stand on Friday 24 February at 11.00 am. Agata Blaszczyk-Sawyer (University College London), a historian specialising in Polish immigration to UK during and after WWII, will be on hand to offer her expertise. Representatives of Pilsudski Institute in London and several WWII veterans will also be present.

Visit Kresy-Siberia at Stand No. 36 for photo opportunities and a chance to explore the incredible story of the Siberian Survivors.

Take part in a project and get cinema voucher!

2012-01-17

The interview will take approximately one hour and will be conducted in English. If you prefer, arrangements can be made to have an interpreter.

All information however will be confidential and any information that could identify you will be removed.

If you would like to participate, please contact Dr. Sarah Scuzzarello:
tel: 020 4070 4581, e-mail: Sarah.Scuzzarello.1@city.ac.uk

About the project:

The project "How migrants identify with their society of settlement: a comparison of migrant communities in Malmo (Sweden) and Ealing (London, UK)", which runs from September 2011 to September 2013, aims to study the experiences of migration and settlement among migrant groups and how these experiences are shaped by the environment to which migrants move. The study will contribute to the research on ethnic diversity and multicultutralism by providing contextualised understanding of migration's political, social and psychological consequences.

The analysis is comparative. The study focuses on three migrant/minority groups who live in Malmo (Sweden) and in Ealing (London, UK). The selected groups are: recently migrated Polish citizens (in Malmo and Ealing); Somali (in Malmo and Ealing); and Iranians (in Malmo) and Indian Sikh (in Ealing).

The project is divided in two phases:

The analysis of the political environments in Malmo and Ealing. This Part of the project maps the polities that deal with community cohesion, integration, and the race equality.
The study of people's experience of migration and settlement. In particular, the project wants to understand how people relate to their communities; and how they engage with the state (e.g. council; statutory services). This phase constitutes the core of the project and is planned to begin in December 2011.

The findings of the project will contribute to a deeper understanding of migrants'/minorities/ integration in Western Europe. The results will be written up as report for the Swedish Research Council, who are funding the project, and as articles for publication in academic journals.

First time in Cambridge - Polish Dance Spectacular

2012-01-17

12 nationally & internationally acclaimed dance companies, come together for the 8th time to present an atmospheric and enchanting song & dance spectacular, featuring over 300 talented performers. Enjoyed by thousands around the UK, now coming to Cambridge.

This is a wonderful opportunity to experience the richness and excitement of Polish folk culture. A fabulous evening of entertainment.

BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!!

£12 & £15,
£2 Discount available for children when you buy tickets at £12.

Mayor's special award for volunteers

2012-01-16

Organisations are made up of individuals who go the extra mile to make things happen in our society. The Mayor would like your help in awarding his certificate of thanks - the Team London Star - to volunteers. If you know a family member, friend, colleague or someone in your community, who volunteers regularly and is an unsung hero, we would really like you to nominate them and help us to uncover a Team London Star. Winners will receive the certificate by post. For more information on the programme please go to the Team London website, where you can also view the Stars Gallery of certificate winners and their blogs.

The process of awarding Stars is as simple as possible. It should not take any more than a few minutes.

Mayor's special award for volunteers

2012-01-16

Community and voluntary organisations are vital drivers behind London's success, and the Mayor is determined to support and recognise their achievements. This was the impetus behind Team London, his volunteering programme, which celebrates the unsung heroes in our city, provides funding for volunteer-powered projects and identifies volunteering opportunities for Londoners to get involved in.

If you know a family member, friend, colleague or someone in your community, who volunteers regularly and is an unsung hero, we would really like you to nominate them and help us to uncover a Team London Star. Winners will receive the certificate by post.

For more information on the programme please go to the Team London website, where you can also view the Stars Gallery of certificate winners and their blogs.

The process of awarding Stars is as simple as possible. It should not take any more than a few minutes.

Team London

Film premiere of "Inka" - Sunday 5th February 2012

2012-01-13

"Inka's Struggle"

A 15 year old girl is a nurse in the Polish Resistance against the German occupation. A couple of years later a Communist regime has taken over the country and the Security Police find her and arrest her. She is threatened with torture and execution if she does not give away her Resistance colleagues. A drama inspired by a 17 year old girl shot in Gdansk jail in 1946, a true story of supreme courage in Stalinist times - when brother was forced to betray brother - never told here before.

"Polish Saturday School"

There are now three generations of Poles, hundreds of thousands, living in the UK. What do their children think of being uprooted from their homes in Poland and brought here? Do they want to go home? How do they adapt to their English schools? How do they keep up their Polish education? The documentary makers go into a Polish Saturday School to find out.

Time and place

Drama (40 minutes) and documentary (12 minutes) made in English by Jan Ledóchowski with the help of scouts, friends and students living in London.

Sunday 5^th February, 16.00 and 18.30, POSK cinema in Hammersmith. Reservations 020 8748 1116 (10am - 4pm), or mobile outside these times 0771 409 0582, or email medaidpoland@yahoo.com.

Websites:
Film: www.ledochowski.eu/inka
Charity Medical Aid for Poland: www.mapf.org.uk

Christmas break

2011-12-12