BARKA UK in Scotland!

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From 23^rd to 25^th August 2013, in Edinburgh an event in support of Barka UK took place. The event was organised by Mrs. Lesley A. Duncan, Director of Scotpipe, a traditional Scottish Pipe band (http://scotpipe.moonfruit.com/) and Dr. Anna Martowicz, Programme Director of The Frederic Chopin Polish Centre, Edinburgh (http://www.pce-chopin.org/indexen.html). Barka UK would like to warmly thank the organisers for their wonderful initiative.

During the three days celebration that was filled with a variety of events, the organisers collected £310.25. The money was handed in the form of a cheque to Barka UK’s representative during the closing concert, which was a part of the famous Just Festival within the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest arts festival that takes place in August each year.

Lesley from Scotpipe, who has been supporting Barka, both in Poland and in the UK for the last 10 years, stresses that the problem of homelessness among Polish people in Edinburgh is on the rise. At the present moment, there have been 200 homeless Polish people living in the streets in Edinburgh and the number is rising constantly.

This event, which attracted numerous guests highlighted the issue within local Polish community, but also among Scottish people. The celebrations included many cultural events including concerts, which took place at St. Mary’s Star of The Sea Church, St.Ninians R.C. Church , in  St. John,s Church,  Princes street and in the Ukrain Club  in Edinburgh. Apart from Scotpipe, a traditional Polish Pipe band ‘Koźlary’ from Stęszewo near Poznan also performed. Here, we would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks to Mr Romuald Jędraszak, the leader of the group, and Ms Barbara Bawer, the director of the Cultural Centre In Stęszewo.

We would like to thank all the Friends of Barka UK for their support!