I met around 40 new Polish workers at 2 meetings in Sherwood Rise on Sunday 25thMarch.
The GMB are doing a lot of work to organise the new workers.
The meetings focussed on ensuring people are briefed on the range of services available to them from public agencies, trade unions and even law firms.
Some organisers were also explaining their work, including websites ( http://www.emidlands.pl/news.php ) and newsletters.
Draft of 2 speeches given to new Polish immigrants at Sunday’s event follow.
Appendix 1 – Short speech of welcome.
Welcome to Nottingham.
We hope you enjoy working and living in the city.
To help you enjoy your time here, there are a range of services to help.
But the key point is – you’ll only get help if you ask.
In an emergency, phone 999. It is particularly important to help the fight against crime and the Police can be contacted on 999.
For less urgent enquiries, phone the City Council on 91 55555 (that’s nine one, five fives). If the Council is not responsible for offering the kind of help you need, they will advise you on whom to contact. Meanwhile, if you get stuck, phone my office in working hours (915 fifty fifty).
Part of the way to improve things further, is for people to take part in the political processes.
Poland is a member of the European Union, and as such, Polish citizens are entitled to vote in this May’s City Council elections. Phone the City Council to register to vote.
And why not aim for getting someone elected to the Council in 4 years’ time?
Appendix 2 – Fuller speech of welcome.
Welcome to Nottingham, a city started by immigrants, shaped by immigrants and at [times] driven by immigrants.
Nottingham was started by an Anglo-Saxon king, most probably from the north of today’s Germany.
Its significance was established by William Conqueror, a Norman, who chose Castle Rock as the site to establish a castle to dominate the lowest fordable point of the River Trent.
Significant industrial development was founded on the establishment of the lace industry, led by the Huguenots, religious exiles from France and Germany.
World War II was a defining time for our relationship with Poland. Many Polish servicemen were based in Notts and their leader, General Sikorski, was [buried] in Newark.
As a result [of our war time links], Nottinghamshire is twinned with the PolishCity and Region of Poznan.
The war also brought about the welfare state which is significant for Polish people working in Britain because –
- their work and their taxes [are] paying for the upkeep of the welfare state; the latest budget was able to offer more because more people are now in work in Britain;
- the welfare state is there to help Polish workers in Britain too, but the key to getting such help is to ask.
Nottingham now is best known for
- Robin Hood (“he stole from the rich to give to the poor"; these days we still want to help the poor, but we don’t encourage stealing);
- The great night life, including a very high number and wide range of restaurants; no doubt you’re enjoying Britain’s favourite dish – Lasagne!
Which brings us back to the opening point. Much of Nottingham is shaped by the influence of immigrants.
Thank you for choosing to live and work in Nottingham. Now how’s about thinking about how you can contribute to shaping its future?
[Originally posted 2007-03-26; Last updated 2007-06-09] A proper Polish translation of my English article is taken from eMidlands.pl.
The presntation below doesn't work so well - font management?
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Michael Edwards by³ goœciem spotkania informacyjnego dla Polaków, które odby³o siê w Polskim Oœrodku Katolickim przy Sherwood Rise w Nottingham
Michael Edwards
Wyst¹pienie Michaela Edwardsa:
Witam w Nottingam, mieœcie za³o¿onym przez emigrantów, ukszta³towanym przez emigrantów i przez pewien czas kierowanych przez emigrantów
Nottingham zosta³o za³o¿one przez króla anglosaskiego pochodz¹cego najprawdopodobniej z pó³nocnej czêœci dzisiejszych Niemiec.
Jego znaczenie zosta³o zapocz¹tkowane przez Wilhelma Zdobywcê, ksiêcia Normandii, który wybra³ Castle Rock jako miejsce ¿eby zbudowaæ zamek kontroluj¹cy najni¿szy punkt przepraw na rzece Trent.
Znacz¹cy rozwój przemys³owy zosta³ osi¹gniêty na bazie bran¿y koronkowej kierowanej przez Huguenotów, religijnych wygnañców z Francji i Niemiec.
II Wojna Œwiatowa okreœli³a czas nawi¹zania naszych zwi¹zków z Polsk¹. Wielu polskich ¿o³nierzy stacjonowa³o w Nottingham, a ich przywódca, Genera³ Sikorski mia³ swoj¹ siedzibê w Newark. W rezultacie Nottinghamshire jest zwi¹zane z miastem i okolic¹ Poznania jako regiony partnerskie.
Wojna równie¿ wywo³a³a dobrobyt, który jest niezwykle znacz¹cy dla Polaków pracuj¹cych w Wielkiej Brytanii, poniewa¿:
- praca i podatki wp³ywaj¹ na utrzymanie dobrobytu, ostatni bud¿et by³ w stanie oferowaæ wiêcej wiêcej ludzi teraz pracuje w Wielkiej Brytanii
- dobrobyt jest po to ¿eby pomagaæ równie¿ Polakom, ale kluczem do jej otrzymania jest pytanie i proszenie o t¹ pomoc
Nottingham jest znane z:
- Robin Hooda (okrada³ bogatych ¿eby oddawaæ biednym; w dalszym ci¹gu chcemy pomagaæ biednym, ale nie zachêcamy do kradzie¿y)
- wspania³ego ¿ycia nocnego, w³¹czaj¹c w to wiele ró¿nego rodzaju restauracji, bez w¹tpienia bêdzie Ci smakowaæ ulubione brytyjskie danie - Lasagne!
Wracamy tym do punktu wyjœcia. Jak bardzo Nottingham zosta³o ukszta³towane przez wp³yw emigrantów.
Dziêkujê za, ¿e zdecydowaliœcie siê ¿yæ i pracowaæ w Nottingham. Teraz co powiecie na to jak mo¿ecie wp³yn¹æ na kszta³towanie miasta w przysz³oœci?
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t³umaczy³ Sebastian Kawa³ko
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