About Us

Polish Lanarkshire Community Forum

POLA was established in 2015 by a group of Poles living in Lanarkshire. We had already faced the tough challenge of making a new country our home and we wanted to help others do the same.

Scotland is a wonderful place to call home and we're proud to be Polish Scots. We also understand how important it is to keep those close connections to our culture and traditions from Poland. We work to help you integrate into your new Scottish Family, whilst also helping you stay connected to your roots.

We're here to support you on your journey, as you build a new home for you and your family in Scotland.

Our Partners

We've been so privileged to have many others support us in delivering our mission. Our thanks goes to North Lanarkshire Council for their continued support and to the National Lottery Fund who have supplemented our fundraising efforts and allowed us to deliver critical learning programs for our community.

Our Team of Volunteers

Teresa Collins - Chairperson

"Scotland has been my home for 40 years. I still remember those early days when everything seemed strange and I felt so alone. The Sikorski Club in Glasgow was my life line, letting me connect with the home I missed so much, and learn how to understand this new world. For me POLA is my chance to give back that same support I was given in those early years so everyone can discover what a wonderful community Scotland is, and why it is now my home."

Magdalena Izbinska.

Oringally from Kłodzko, Magdalena now calls Airdrie home. A teacher at Polska Szkoła w Glasgow, Magdalena is the driving force behind our Education programme.

"Integrating into our new home and making new friends with all these wonderful people we meet every day here in Scotland is critical. So to is letting our children know where they've come from and still feel connected to their roots. Our various programmes are designed to help maintain and pass down those traditions so dear to us."

Beata Balanda

Originally from Lublin in Poland, Beata moved to Scotland 5 years ago. An artist and active member of the Lanarkshire Community Beata is the heart of our events program.

"I miss home terribly of course I do. I'm lucky to have built a full life here with so many new friends. It is still so nice to come to POLA and relax and chat in Polish. POLA is a place to feel a piece of home while we make this brave journey of building a new life here in Scotland."