Migrant stories: From Poland to Lincolnshire for a better life
In 2004, Poland was one of 10 countries that joined the European Union, sparking a wave of migration to the UK. Many settled in Lincolnshire, working in the agricultural sector, and although some returned in the aftermath of Brexit, others have put down roots in the county.
"My home is where my family is, and the people that I love," says Maciej Michalski, who came to the UK in 2006.Originally from Bydgoszcz, a city in northern Poland, he stayed with his sister in Sleaford after losing a well-paid job in security."I was really scared," he admitted. "I didn't know what I would find here, but after a few days I had a job at a recycling company.After working for about four months, Mr Michalski said he had earned enough money to rent his own house and buy a trailer, so that he could bring his family and their possessions "over for a better life".He added: "I had a small child and my wife couldn't go to work to help. In Poland, just one person working isn't enough - unless you get help, or live with your parents."The Polish economy at the time, it was hard to find something good."He said that despite the upheaval, there were many benefits to living in the UK, including being able to afford the rent on a house, run a car and enjoy days out as a family."That was impossible in Poland," he added.
Gregory Lesiak, 40, who is now a HGV technician, originally came over on his own in 2007."I never planned to emigrate from Poland – I came over here for two weeks and the second week my brother-in-law asked if I could help him out, and that's how I started my first job at a recycling plant."It was the same place where Mr Michalski still works and the two men became friends.Mr Lesiak said for him the decision to stay in the UK was really easy as he earned more money in a week than he could in a whole month in Poland."I thought 'hold on a second' there is a different world out there."Mr Lesiak, who is originally from Tychy in southern Poland, met his partner Magdalena during a trip back home, and eventually asked her to come and live with him in Lincolnshire."I was excited, so I said yes," Magdalena added. "He is a good man."And despite being late to pick her up from the airport, they are now happily married with two children and living in Sleaford.
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The influx of migrants to Lincolnshire after 2004 sparked protests in Boston, with the market town also recording the highest leave vote in the Brexit referendum.But despite some of their compatriots deciding to leave after Brexit, both Mr Michalski and Mr Lesiak said their experience had been mostly positive."I never experienced any issues - everyone is friendly and gets on with each other, Mr Lesiak said."Our kids were born here - our home is here."Mr Michalski concurred, but added that home for him was wherever his family was - not a geographical location.Of the 1.2 million people who came to live in the UK in the year ending June 2024, only around 10% were from EU+ countries, which includes Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, according to the Office for National Statistics.Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
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