Polish Saturday School in Medway – a local centre of Polish intangible cultural heritage in the United Kingdom
Polish Saturday School in Medway – a local centre of Polish intangible cultural heritage in the United Kingdom

Summary/Abstract: This paper discusses the Polish Saturday School in Medway – a local centre of Polish intangible cultural heritage (ICH) in the United Kingdom. The research focuses on the characteristics of the institution’s functioning, its activities in the field of promoting, sustaining and safeguarding Polish ICH, as well as examines the school’s potential and the difficulties it faces. The research material was collected through interviews with teachers and parents, as well as observation and analysis of secondary sources. The institution is a family-like community, shaped by interactions among students, teachers, and parents. The goal of the teaching process is to foster the bonds between children and young people and their homeland, while Polish ICH is perpetuated and protected through the organisation of holiday festivities, national celebrations, and cultural events. The school must address limitations in terms of infrastructure, staff, and funding, as well as varying levels of cultural identification among its pupils.

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