Polish Ex-Combatants Association in Great Britain Trust Fund

The Polish Ex-Combatants Association in Great Britain Trust Fund upholds a mission to provide charitable assistance to Poles worldwide, with priority to those of Polish origin resident in Great Britain, rooted in honoring ex-combatants, veterans, and their dependants through welfare, cultural preservation, and community solidarity. Core values emphasize remembrance, heritage safeguarding, advocacy for war invalids and aged survivors, and fostering Polish identity amid diaspora challenges. Their grantmaking philosophy centers on direct relief of poverty and hardship, empowerment through education and training, and community-led initiatives that sustain veteran welfare, cultural continuity, and social cohesion, believing transformative impact arises from targeted support honoring lived sacrifices and ethnic resilience.

They fund welfare assistance and social aid for elderly Poles experiencing poverty, isolation, or hardship, including war veterans, ex-servicemen, demobilized soldiers, and families facing employment barriers or dependency needs; educational programmes like Polish Saturday schools, language training, and skills development for Polish youth and adults preserving cultural heritage; cultural initiatives such as community events, Polish publications, and peer support groups strengthening ethnic identity; remembrance projects including maintenance of Polish memorials, cemeteries, and veterans’ clubs; and community welfare services addressing food insecurity, housing instability, and social exclusion for Polish diaspora families, carers, and isolated individuals. Supported interventions encompass preventative hardship relief, therapeutic cultural activities, outreach for aging veterans, befriending schemes, and holistic person-centred aid promoting resilience, integration, and intergenerational solidarity within Polish communities.

They exclude non-charitable purposes or support unrelated to Poles, prioritizing beneficiaries with ex-combatant heritage, elderly Polish residents, veteran dependants, and global Polish networks facing diaspora-specific vulnerabilities like cultural erosion or postwar trauma. Distinctive as a cornerstone of UK Polish veteran welfare, they favor grassroots Polish organizations, commemorative traditions, and flexible frontline services over broad generalism, with a niche ethos of trauma-informed remembrance, family-centric support, and evidence of direct community benefit through heritage-led empowerment.