“If you were born without wings,
do nothing to prevent them from growing.”
Coco Chanel
Inspiration Support Growth
BSB Better Together CIC - since 2018
Polish women regard ourselves as strong and easily adaptable to whatever life throws at us. We are proactive and always seek to better ourselves.
However, living in a foreign country, far from one’s family, established support networks, and in a different system, very often proves overwhelming and poses a challenge which is very difficult to navigate on one’s own.
BSB Better Together CIC stemmed from a grassroot community group Babskie Spotkania Bristol established in October 2018 to combat those challenges.
According to the latest census of 2021, there are approximately 7000 Poles living in Bristol, so if we assume that half of them are women, it will mean that there are about 3500 of us. It is a large community to serve.
At BSB Better Together CIC, we firmly believe that the stronger, better educated, healthier, and happier its members, the stronger, better and more resilient the community they form; the richer and more valuable the community’s contribution to the wider society.
Therefore, we have built an inclusive and diverse community which strives to improve the quality of life of Polish women.
HOW WE DO IT
To achieve our goal, we:
ECOURAGE SOCIAL CONNECTIVITY TO COMBAT LONELINESS
by organising events, trips and outings, where we provide a safe and inclusive space for getting together, exchanging experiences, and making friends, thus enabling good quality social relationships
PROMOTE AN ACTIVE AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
to improve our community’s health and wellbeing by organising walks, trips, cycling, canoeing, dance events, fitness classes and workshops on the subject
EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY TO EDUCATE THEMSELVES
by hosting guest speakers and workshop providers, as well as organising trips to museums, places of historical and cultural importance, book clubs, communal library; we believe that education is crucial in every area of life – the better informed we are, the wiser the choices we make about our life
ENCOURAGE PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
by organising workshops and networking events
FOSTER A SENSE OF BELONGING AND SUSTAIN POLISH TRADITIONS
by organising events in Polish, attending exhibitions of Polish artists, gigs and concerts in Polish, bringing Polish authors to our events, running a book club where the participants read books in Polish and/or of Polish authors and discuss those in their mother tongue, cultivating Polish traditions
INTEGRATE INTO BRITISH SOCIETY
by going on trips to historical sites and learning about the people and the country we live in, its past, and its relations with Poles and Poland
CREATE A CLOSE-KNIT SUPPORT NETWORK
by having a moderated WhatsApp group where its members can ask for recommendations and/or advice, have a general chat about current affairs and/or their lives. Our events provide opportunities for making new friends and connecting with like-minded women, thus expanding everyone’s support network and enabling checking-in with the most vulnerable. Our special focus is on women who are fighting serious diseases, such as cancer, are homeless or mourning. Four members of our group have been trained as Mental Health First Aiders and are available to provide support in this area
GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
by collecting food and other necessities for a local food bank, taking part in national fundraising initiatives such as Race for Life, organising blood donation, and during COVID we supported local NHS by making face mask adapters