Polonia Northern England (PNE), founded in 2024, is a new charity dedicated to preserving the archival and heritage materials of the post-war Polish diaspora in Northern England, covering the 1940s to the 1990s. Led by an experienced board, PNE has already established partnerships with Manchester Archives+, the Polish Institute and Sikorski Museum, and the Community Archives and Heritage Group.
The charity connected with Bury Council and Bury VCFA in 2025, receiving support with governance, volunteering and funding. . One of its first challenges was rescuing at-risk materials, including a large collection stored in poor conditions in Yorkshire and another significant private archive. These materials now form the foundation of PNE’s growing collection.
After initially being stored in Prestwich, limited access made cataloguing difficult. Working with Capacity Building Development Officer Katherine Warburton-Gibb, the charity received guidance on governance, volunteering and funding, alongside support to strengthen its policies and long-term development. With support from Bury Council and the Fusilier Museum, the collection was relocated in January 2026 to a dedicated, accessible space—marking a key step forward in safeguarding the archive.
This progress has already led to success. In March 2026, PNE secured a £3,000 National Archives Scoping Grant, supporting expert assessment of the collection and helping build future funding opportunities.
PNE’s first exhibition, “Exiles and Descendants”, is currently on display at Manchester Central Library until 30 June. It explores the experiences of Polish communities displaced during the Second World War and resettled in Northern England.
Looking ahead, the charity is planning further exhibitions, expanding its collections, and developing academic partnerships, with interest from universities including Manchester and Oxford. A growing volunteer team is also supporting archival work and community engagement.
With continued support from Bury Council, the Fusilier Museum and Bury VCFA, Polonia Northern England is building a unique archive that preserves and shares the stories of Polish life in exile for future generations.
For more information, visit www.pnecharity.org.uk or follow Polonia Northern England on Facebook.
The Trustees of Polonia Northern England (PNE) are extremely grateful for the support and guidance provided by Katherine Warburton-Gibb from the VCFA Bury .
Katherine’s assistance with reviewing and strengthening small funding applications has been incredibly valuable to the charity during an important stage of charity resettlement in Bury and early-stage development. Her input has helped trustees to complete small funding applications, understand funders mission alignment, financial capacity and application criteria.
We are incredibly grateful to work with such a kind, understanding, and supportive person who quickly grasps the needs of our charity and creates tailored support in response to those needs. Katherine’s professionalism and willingness to offer her time and expertise made a positive impact on the charity.
We would highly recommend Katherine and the VCFA’s support to other voluntary and community organisations looking for practical guidance, encouragement, and capacity-building support.
Thank you Katherine and we look forward to continuing this exciting journey with you
