I’m starting to feel more and more British

‘I’ve worked in many different professions and all these have helped British people in some way – some directly, others indirectly. I’m starting to feel more and more British as I live here for longer, and am thinking of applying for British citizenship’,says Jacek Wandzel, Head Care Assistant in an interview with Brin Best.

What was your early life in Poland like?

‘I grew up in a traditional family in the Polish southern highlands in the 1970s. My home town was Żywiec – it’s located in an area that’s famous for its beautiful scenery and its beer. I have great memories of my childhood. We had snow every winter and we always used to go skiing and sledging, and I was very close to my family.’

What did you study at university?

‘At university in Cieszyn I specialised in social work and its management. However, after graduating I found it difficult to get a job in this area of work, even when I moved to Poland’s capital city Warsaw. I tried many different jobs and for a while was even a mountain guide for foreign tourists in southern Poland.’

Why did you move to the UK?

‘I realised that if I couldn’t find a job in social work in my home country I would have to be prepared to travel overseas. I then found an advert for work opportunities in the UK in a newspaper. After thinking carefully about this opportunity, even though it wasn’t in my profession, I decided to make the big move to the UK. This was in October 2005.’

How did you get on in the UK when you arrived here?

‘I got a few jobs in a warehouse to begin with. My basic English was holding me back, so I took some one-to-one lessons and was able to get a higher level qualification in English, which helped me progress into better paid jobs. A former girlfriend also helped me develop my English.’

What was the next step?

‘With my improved English skills I was then able to get a job in care work with a company called Helping Hands, which is based in Harrogate (North Yorkshire). My job was to act as a one-to-one carer, helping people carry out their day-to-day life: eating, washing, going to appointments and that sort of thing. I worked with some lovely people and it was great being able to help them. For many years I worked with a young boy who was deaf and I even managed to learn some sign language, which was so much fun.’

What is your job now?

‘I’m still employed in the care industry, helping people to be independent or live their lives to a higher standard. My job title is now Head Care Assistant. I really enjoy it – I get a real sense of achievement helping people and I’m lucky that I have really supportive managers.’

What do you do in your spare time?

‘I like to do charity work and have carried out this sort of work in Yorkshire, mainly supporting elderly people. I also enjoy going to the Polish church in Leeds, sharing my Catholic faith with other people from my home country.’

How do you think you have made a contribution to the UK?

‘I realise that I’ve made a contribution to the UK in lots of different ways. I’ve worked in many different professions and all these have helped British people in some way – some directly, others indirectly. I know I’ve made a difference as I’ve received some really good feedback from the people I have worked with. I’ve never claimed a penny of benefits during my time in the UK, and overall I feel Polish people have contributed so much more to the UK than they have taken.’

‘Ideally, I would like to become a social worker, as this is what my university training was in. I’m starting to feel more and more British as I live here for longer, and am thinking of applying for British citizenship. I have lots of British friends, enjoy British food and even enjoy the British sense of humour!’

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This text was first published in the book Poles in the UK: A Story of Friendship and Cooperation (by Brin Best & Maria Helena Żukowska, 2016). 

For more details see the Poles in the UK Facebook page and www.polesintheuk.net.