Polish Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Poland lies in central Europe, between Germany and Ukraine. Polish servicemen who fought alongside Britain in the Second World War settled here afterwards, founding the first Polish parishes and clubs. A much larger generation arrived after Poland joined the European Union in 2004.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 8,583 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Polish; 9,965 people living in the city had been born in Poland; and 7,907 residents gave Polish as their main language. Main language figures leave out the many bilingual residents who use English day to day, so the number who speak the language at home is higher still.

Working for Birmingham

Polish workers are a major part of Birmingham's construction, manufacturing, logistics, food production and care sectors, and many Polish electricians, plumbers, builders and decorators run their own businesses. Polish doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers and IT professionals work across the city, and Polish shops and delis serve every neighbourhood.

Birmingham grew rich as the city of a thousand trades, and that spirit of making and doing is still strong. Today the trades sit alongside healthcare, education, finance, law, logistics and technology. The Polish community brings energy to that mix, from people starting small businesses to those caring for patients, teaching in classrooms and keeping homes and workplaces in good repair.

Culture and community life

Wigilia, the Christmas Eve supper, and Easter, with its blessing of food baskets, are the most important family occasions. Pierogi, bigos and paczki are much loved, Polish Saturday schools help children keep the language, and Catholic parishes and Polish clubs bring the community together.

The story of the Polish community in Birmingham is still being written, by students, workers, parents and pensioners who call the city home. It is a story of hard work, friendship and quiet pride, and Birmingham is richer for it.