Tim runs English classes for Poles (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Tim runs English classes for Poles

7:46am Wednesday 21st February 2007 in News By Peggy Clatworthy

Around 1000 Polish and other Eastern Europeans are now living and working in Tewkesbury - according to Robert Fajkowski.

He has lived here for four years. Until September he was head chef at the Hobnails public house, since then he has run a Polish shop in Barton Street.

He says that migrant workers are doing a wide range of jobs including building, factory and farm work.

Ian Cooper of Cooper Clegg, one of the town's largest employers said they have a few foreign temporary workers from time to time, but none on their permanent books Many are single men, or have left their families behind and go home at regular intervals.

A few, like him have settled here with their families.

When language teacher Tim Faull arrived back in Tewkesbury after 6 years in Australia he was surprised to hear so many foreign voices in the streets, and so shocked to find that no provision was being made to teach migrant workers English he has set up his own classes.

He said: "The government is trying to say that they should all learn English, but is making no provision for them to be taught."

Gloscat does run classes in English for speakers of other languages in both Cheltenham and Gloucester, but there is a waiting list to get onto the courses.

The library has also responded to the influx of foreign workers and has a selection of books in Polish on display.

Librarian Marilyn Lane said: "We get a lot of them in here, especially on a Saturday.

They use the Internet to keep in touch with their families back home and we thought it would be a good idea to offer them books in their own language."

The police station also has information in Polish, listing where help of different kinds is available.