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Polish Educational and Cultural Association

Documents 674 days overdue

Overdue: 674 days

  • Charity no. 103717
  • Date registered. 18/01/2016

Public benefits

The direct benefits which flow from purpose a) include improved educational outcomes of bilingual children, better self-esteem and reduced stress and anxiety, better communication and language skills in both Polish and English, improved sense of cultural identity and hence integration in the society. These benefits are evidenced through existing

and on-going research. The possibility of harm, for example while using school facilities and during events organized in public spaces is low and greatly reduced by relevant policies and procedures (Health and Safety, Child Protection Policy, Access NI scheme, Volunteering Policy) and is outweighed by the benefit. The direct benefits which flow from purpose b) include: improved provision for the needs of bilingual children, better recognition and meeting of children and young people’s linguistic and cultural needs as well as special educational needs, such as speech and language development or Autism Spectrum Disorder; reduction in educational inequalities; raised cultural awareness on the part of statutory and voluntary bodies. These benefits are evidenced through reports written for and/or by Social Services, Educational establishments and other statutory and voluntary bodies with whom we cooperate. This benefit does not lead to harm. The direct benefits which flow from purpose c) include: improved family and communal relations, increased sense of security and belonging; families better equipped to deal with challenges related to education and upbringing of children. These benefits are evidenced through surveys taken and regular reports submitted which provide information on activities of the Association contributing to better support structures. This benefit does not lead to harm. The direct benefits which flow from purpose d) include: strengthening cultural identity of the Polish community and raising public awareness of an enriching contribution the Polish community makes to the Northern Irish society. These benefits are evidenced through surveys and questionnaires following events promoting Polish language and culture. This benefit does not lead to harm. The direct benefits which flow from purpose e) include: better understanding of Northern Irish support structures and systems and improved resilience and coping mechanisms among Polish community; increased employability of young people; increased awareness of ‘right to identity’ and heritage rights of ethnic minorities in Northern Ireland; better outcomes for children and young people with special educational needs. These benefits are evidenced through records maintained by a bilingual development officer/advisor and reports written by the Association’s staff and the Board and surveys conducted. This benefit does not lead to harm. The charity’s direct beneficiaries are children and young people, and in particular but not exclusively those of Polish origin and descent, aged between 3 and 18 years old, their families and the wider Polish Community in Northern Ireland. The wider Northern Irish public also benefits through participation in cultural and educational activities organized by the Association. A private benefit to trustees, staff and volunteers may arise from our programme of ongoing training in good governance, finance and other topics associated with operations of the Association. Through the training, trustees, staff and volunteers gain sskills and experience which are transferrable to other settings. The staff, namely teachers, classroom assistants, a part-time principal, an administrator and a bilingual development officer/advisor, are employed solely in furtherance of the charitable purposes; therefore the private benefit is incidental and necessary to ensure adequate provision to our beneficiaries and therefore is outweighed by the benefit.

What your organisation does

Purpose 1 Our Association runs Saturday Supplementary School for children aged 3-18 years old which provides tuition in Polish language and other subjects. All activities are carried out in Polish. School admits also children whose first language is not Polish eg. those coming from mixed marriages. The current enrolment is 183 children. We have 14

teachers educated to university degree level. All of them hold teaching qualifications recognized by the Polish Ministry of Education. Purpose 2 The facilities are regularly inspected by Principal of St. Michael's School. All teachers and volunteers attend required courses and possess appropriate certificates such as Child Protection. We work in parnership with various organizations to provide quality resources and facilities to carry out our aims. Purpose 3 School organizes regular parent teacher meetings. Parents also receive regular information about their children progress and end of term's reports. Parents are getting involved at various time both as regular volunteers and in planned and ad hoc activities such as one day outings, open days, etc. The opportunities are created for staff, parents and children about different ways they can get involved in the life of the school. Social events are organized which help to build strong relationships between parents, children and staff.

The charity’s classifications

  • The prevention or relief of poverty
  • The advancement of education
  • The advancement of citizenship or community development
  • The advancement of the arts, culture, heritage or science
  • The advancement of human rights, conflict resolution or reconciliation or the promotion of religious or racial harmony or equality and diversity
  • The relief of those in need by reason of youth, age, ill-health, disability, financial hardship or other disadvantage
  • Other charitable purposes

Who the charity helps

  • Adult training
  • Children (5-13 year olds)
  • Community safety/crime prevention
  • Ethnic minorities
  • General public
  • Language community
  • Parents
  • Preschool (0-5 year olds)
  • Victim support
  • Voluntary and community sector
  • Youth (14-25 year olds)

How the charity works

  • Advice/advocacy/information
  • Community development
  • Cultural
  • Education/training
  • Human rights/equality
  • Playgroup/after schools
  • Research/evaluation
  • Volunteer development
  • Youth development

Charitable purposes

The Association is established to promote and advance Polish culture, to promote and advance education and to provide and promote leisure, social and recreational activities and facilities for children and young people, and in particular but not exclusively those of Polish origin and descent, aged between 3 and 18 years old (“hereinafter called the beneficiaries”) who are resident in the Belfast and Greater Belfast areas and their environs of Northern Ireland (hereinafter called the “area of benefit”) without distinction of age, gender, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, ethnic identity, political or religious opinion, by associating the statutory authorities, community and voluntary organisations and the inhabitants in a common effort to advance education and to provide facilities in the interests of social welfare for recreation or other leisure-time occupation, with the object of improving the conditions of life for the said beneficiaries and in particular: (1) to promote and advance education in all matters relating to the Polish Language, Polish Affairs, History, Geography, Arts, Crafts and Polish Cultural Heritage together with the welfare and social interaction of the Polish community in the area of benefit; (2) to establish and maintain or co-operate with any local educational authority, statutory or voluntary body in the maintenance of a supplementary school for the provision of out of school hours educational and recreational facilities in the interests of social welfare for children and young people aged 3 to 18 (3) to foster an atmosphere of mutual support among parents of Polish children and encourage the provision of mutual support and encouragement among such parents and their children; (4) to promote the integration of the Polish Community and to encourage appreciation within the area of benefit in all matters relating to Polish arts, history, traditions, language and culture thereby promoting good race relations in an effort to foster a sentiment in favour of equality and diversity and thereby endeavour to eliminate ethnic discrimination; (5) to advance any other exclusively charitable purpose as the Board, may from time to time, decide in accordance with the law of charity.

Governing document

Constitution

Other name

  • PECA / Polish Saturday School in Belfast
  • 4 Trustees
  • 21 Employees
  • 11 Volunteers

Trustee board

  • Mrs Ewa Kolakowska
  • Mrs Magdalena Laszcz
  • Mr Tomasz Cieslar
  • Miss Agnieszka Kucala

Contact details

Public Address

Polish Educational And Cultural Association, Holy Rosary Primary School, Sunnyside Crescent, Belfast, BT7 3DB

List of regions

  • In Northern Ireland

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