Documentary puts Polish experiences in the frame

12:00pm Sunday 24th February 2013 in Latest News

From left, project manager Rachel Efeney, Marak Kala, Ewa Kaczorek-Mahey, Rafal Maciolek, Mary Cullen and Justyna Suszek at the DVD launch From left, project manager Rachel Efeney, Marak Kala, Ewa Kaczorek-Mahey, Rafal Maciolek, Mary Cullen and Justyna Suszek at the DVD launch

A new DVD documentary focusing on the issues Wiltshire’s Polish community have encountered leaving their home country behind was launched in Trowbridge on Tuesday.

The Wiltshire Council feature follows the fortunes of five residents of the town who have swapped Poland for England, focusing on the advantages it has brought them and the difficulties they’ve experienced.

The year-long work, The Polish Community in Wilt-shire, is part of the Wiltshire Voices project giving the spotlight to under-represented elements of the community.

“When I arrived my life spun 180 degrees,” said Marak Kala, 49, who works at Lyons Seafood, in Warminster.

“It can be difficult for us; I had a friend who came over who just wasn’t settled in life and he committed suicide, he was torn and couldn’t find himself, he wasn’t happy living here without his family or at home without money.”

Mr Kala, a former financial advisor, originally from Czestochowa, arrived in England four years ago and has worked hard to learn English which he thinks makes a big difference.

He said: “If Polish and English people could communicate better it would make the community even better.”

During the feature, the residents pinpoint language as being one of the biggest challenges they face while they also discuss the differences in healthcare and education services as well as how the benefit system affects them.

“I was very pleased to be part of the film, and I’m enjoying my time in Trow-bridge,” said Rafal Maciolek, who moved to England five years ago and works in a factory in Melksham.

“I would like to go to university here and I do hope in the future more Polish people here will get more respected jobs, with the council for example and maybe even the Government.”

There are around 3,000 Polish people living across Wiltshire, with a large section in Trowbridge, which is why the town’s area board picked them to be represented in the feature.

The DVD is the latest in a project of 12 features from Wiltshire Council to get the opinions of people who may not normally be represented with features also planned for those with learning disabilities, gypsies and travellers and unemployed young people amongst others.

Wiltshire Councillor Chris Williams, portfolio holder for area boards, said: “Our aim is to find out more about people whose voices are seldom heard and then to act upon what we hear.”

The Wiltshire Voices films will be given to service providers and local bodies to help them when making wide-impacting decisions.

For more information visit www.wiltshirevoices.wordpress.com

Comments (11)

12:25pm Sun 24 Feb 13

redrum says...

First of all i have nothing against any race or religion, my concern is that there are not enough places in college and uni for the people already in our country, the same goes for jobs, there are people i know who have been on a housing list for years and still waiting. We do not have enough of these things as it is, so yes it may be a struggle for these people but there are millions in our country suffering too.
First of all i have nothing against any race or religion, my concern is that there are not enough places in college and uni for the people already in our country, the same goes for jobs, there are people i know who have been on a housing list for years and still waiting. We do not have enough of these things as it is, so yes it may be a struggle for these people but there are millions in our country suffering too. redrum

2:12pm Sun 24 Feb 13

Mrs Donnyfly says...

redrum wrote:
First of all i have nothing against any race or religion, my concern is that there are not enough places in college and uni for the people already in our country, the same goes for jobs, there are people i know who have been on a housing list for years and still waiting. We do not have enough of these things as it is, so yes it may be a struggle for these people but there are millions in our country suffering too.
If they are here and working then they are contributing to the good of the country through tax payments and national insurance, so they should be entitled to the same as anyone else.
[quote][p][bold]redrum[/bold] wrote: First of all i have nothing against any race or religion, my concern is that there are not enough places in college and uni for the people already in our country, the same goes for jobs, there are people i know who have been on a housing list for years and still waiting. We do not have enough of these things as it is, so yes it may be a struggle for these people but there are millions in our country suffering too.[/p][/quote]If they are here and working then they are contributing to the good of the country through tax payments and national insurance, so they should be entitled to the same as anyone else. Mrs Donnyfly

7:29am Mon 25 Feb 13

old 'arry says...

They may not yet play cricket, buit they are Europeans, they work, and they are Christians - three things which make them different from most immigrants, especially African and Asian asylum seekers. I think they are a welcome change.
They may not yet play cricket, buit they are Europeans, they work, and they are Christians - three things which make them different from most immigrants, especially African and Asian asylum seekers. I think they are a welcome change. old 'arry

10:16am Mon 25 Feb 13

lensman says...

old 'arry wrote:
They may not yet play cricket, buit they are Europeans, they work, and they are Christians - three things which make them different from most immigrants, especially African and Asian asylum seekers. I think they are a welcome change.
So you are an old racist then Old 'arry.
[quote][p][bold]old 'arry[/bold] wrote: They may not yet play cricket, buit they are Europeans, they work, and they are Christians - three things which make them different from most immigrants, especially African and Asian asylum seekers. I think they are a welcome change.[/p][/quote]So you are an old racist then Old 'arry. lensman

12:28pm Mon 25 Feb 13

XXXXXXIPA says...

Personally, I am more worried about yet another waste of money by Wiltshire County Council.
Personally, I am more worried about yet another waste of money by Wiltshire County Council. XXXXXXIPA

7:03am Wed 27 Feb 13

old 'arry says...

lensman wrote:
old 'arry wrote:
They may not yet play cricket, buit they are Europeans, they work, and they are Christians - three things which make them different from most immigrants, especially African and Asian asylum seekers. I think they are a welcome change.
So you are an old racist then Old 'arry.
If not liking cheating, scrounging layabouts who come to UK to get the benefits system is racist, then yes I am, and proud of it. But since a lot of them are from the Balkan and Baltic states and the same "race" as me (Caucasian) then no. But Arab and Pakistani moslems don't like us (unless of course they are gang-raping teenaged girls as in the current trial), they want to impose their outdated ideas. I don't suppose your limited experience stretches to knowing Lee Kwan Yew, who was Prime Minister of Singapore for 30 years, and to whom is attributed the immortal remark that "Islam is a contraceptive against the birth of progress". How right!
[quote][p][bold]lensman[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]old 'arry[/bold] wrote: They may not yet play cricket, buit they are Europeans, they work, and they are Christians - three things which make them different from most immigrants, especially African and Asian asylum seekers. I think they are a welcome change.[/p][/quote]So you are an old racist then Old 'arry.[/p][/quote]If not liking cheating, scrounging layabouts who come to UK to get the benefits system is racist, then yes I am, and proud of it. But since a lot of them are from the Balkan and Baltic states and the same "race" as me (Caucasian) then no. But Arab and Pakistani moslems don't like us (unless of course they are gang-raping teenaged girls as in the current trial), they want to impose their outdated ideas. I don't suppose your limited experience stretches to knowing Lee Kwan Yew, who was Prime Minister of Singapore for 30 years, and to whom is attributed the immortal remark that "Islam is a contraceptive against the birth of progress". How right! old 'arry

3:47pm Wed 27 Feb 13

lensman says...

Re; previous post :......Yep thought so!
Re; previous post :......Yep thought so! lensman

5:54pm Wed 27 Feb 13

old 'arry says...

lensman wrote:
Re; previous post :......Yep thought so!
DID you see today's papers? Do you think they are white British citizens?

"Three men have been convicting of abducting a 13-year-old girl and forcing her to become their sex slave.
Suran Uddin, 28, of St Matthew's Row, Bethnal Green, London; Mohammed Sheikh, 31, of Seaton Point in Hackney, London; and Hamza Ali, 38, of Chilford Road, Waltham Forest, London, denied various sex offences during a three-week trial.

NO? I THOUGHT NOT!,
[quote][p][bold]lensman[/bold] wrote: Re; previous post :......Yep thought so![/p][/quote]DID you see today's papers? Do you think they are white British citizens? "Three men have been convicting of abducting a 13-year-old girl and forcing her to become their sex slave. Suran Uddin, 28, of St Matthew's Row, Bethnal Green, London; Mohammed Sheikh, 31, of Seaton Point in Hackney, London; and Hamza Ali, 38, of Chilford Road, Waltham Forest, London, denied various sex offences during a three-week trial. NO? I THOUGHT NOT!, old 'arry

7:39pm Wed 27 Feb 13

Mrs Donnyfly says...

F.A.O lensman...

Islam is not a race. Being anti-Islamic is not being racist.
F.A.O lensman... Islam is not a race. Being anti-Islamic is not being racist. Mrs Donnyfly

6:33am Thu 28 Feb 13

old 'arry says...

Good grief, me agreeing with Mrs Donnyfly? You are quite right, and neither is being Jewish. There was a totally delalla elderly titled lady who was always being arrested a few years back in Parliament Square for handing out anti-Jewish leaflets. She was charged under the (then) Race Relations Act and invariably discharged, as being Jewish is NOT a race - you or I could become Jewish and Jews can equally renounce their religion.
Good grief, me agreeing with Mrs Donnyfly? You are quite right, and neither is being Jewish. There was a totally delalla elderly titled lady who was always being arrested a few years back in Parliament Square for handing out anti-Jewish leaflets. She was charged under the (then) Race Relations Act and invariably discharged, as being Jewish is NOT a race - you or I could become Jewish and Jews can equally renounce their religion. old 'arry

8:06pm Fri 1 Mar 13

New 2 Trow says...

"He said: “If Polish and English people could communicate better it would make the community even better.”

How about the following then;-

1) Learn to speak English, you know the language of the country you have moved to

2) Try to integrate into the community, stop living in ghettos and segregating yourselves with polish clubs

3) Try eating our food and stop opening polish food shops where you can further ghettoize yourselves

Sorry but the onus should be on you to fit into our society and not on us to 'communicate better' with you!!
"He said: “If Polish and English people could communicate better it would make the community even better.” How about the following then;- 1) Learn to speak English, you know the language of the country you have moved to 2) Try to integrate into the community, stop living in ghettos and segregating yourselves with polish clubs 3) Try eating our food and stop opening polish food shops where you can further ghettoize yourselves Sorry but the onus should be on you to fit into our society and not on us to 'communicate better' with you!! New 2 Trow

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