Welcome to our website!
Polish Leodensians is a community-driven project created with the preservation of Polish culture and community traditions in Leeds in mind. Its main purpose to act as a testament of the work of our community to fellow Leodensians, as well as to motivate future young generations of Poles to continue the work of their ancestors.
The Polish community in Leeds has a deep and rich history, starting with the first wave of immigration after the Second World War. Going into the 2000s, with Poland's entry into the European Union, new generation of Poles arrived to search for a new and better life, while seeking to preserve their heritage.
Their stories have been captured through a series of digital stories, where we investigate activities in different areas, as well as the diverse experiences and feelings of its participants. By appreciating these stories, we want to show how despite the differences in talents and responsibility, we have one common trait - pride of being Polish.
With present challenges, such as the return of some Poles after UK's exit from the EU in 2020, and the breakdown of social and cultural values worldwide, it has never been more important than now to conserve what has been built in the past.
What are our digital stories about?
Our History and Culture
We have been based since the second half of the twentieth century in Chapeltown, an area north of Leeds city centre. However, the birth of our community can be traced back to after the Second World War.
Our Faith and Why it Matters
We investigate the Catholic faith among our community members and how it impacts their day-to-day lives.
Facilities and Activities
Our people have various passions and hobbies they invest their time into. We look into how important are they in their self-development and in the community's development.
Education
Community work doesn't stop at catering to needs of adults, it also focuses on raising the next generation of Poles and committing to educating them on their roots.
Watch the trailer to get quick insight of our community and what makes it so special!
Click below to discover stories and testimonies of our community members!