18 November 2015, 6:00pm

McGrath Centre, St Catharine's College, Cambridge

With well over half a million Poles currently living in the UK, Polish culture has become a part of British life as never before. Poles work in a range of diverse occupations, from London's Square Mile to local shop counters, contributing to the economy and to the fabric of life in a country that has largely welcomed their presence. But with the UK set to decide its future in the EU by the end of 2017, and a refugee crisis affecting the whole continent, the question of immigration has perhaps never been more controversial.  

In this public forum, Polish and British experts discussed various aspects of the current situation for Poles living in the UK, examining the triumphs and challenges of the last ten years, while also looking to the uncertain future. What have Poles brought to British culture? What has prompted them to migrate? How many wish to return? What kind of discrimination do they face? How do the British view Poles? What effect has migration had in Poland? How do Poles understand the current refugee crisis in Europe? 

Audience participation in the discussion was very strong. The forum was hosted by Stanley Bill, Lecturer in Polish Studies at the University of Cambridge.

Forum participants:

Ines Czajczyńska-da Costa, Vice-Consul of the Embassy of the Republic of Poland

Jakub Krupa, London Correspondent with the Polish Press Agency

Tadeusz Stenzel, Chair of the Federation of Poles in the UK 

Anne White, Professor of Polish Studies and Social and Political Science, University College London

Tadeusz Stenzel (Chair of the Federation of Poles in the UK), Ines-Czajczyńska-da Costa (Vice-Consul, Embassy of the Republic of Poland), Jakub Krupa (Polish Press Agency, London), Anne White (University College London).

Stanley Bill (University of Cambridge), Tadeusz Stenzel (Chair of the Federation of Poles in the UK), Ines-Czajczyńska-da Costa (Vice-Consul, Embassy of the Republic of Poland), Jakub Krupa (Polish Press Agency, London), Anne White (University College London).