European's Welfare Association CIC

European's Welfare Association CIC European's Welfare Association CIC
Non for profit community led organisation established to educate, serve and support

EWA is a social enterprise CIC which had been called to life under management of Elizabeth Kardynal, Agnes Cyl (founders of Midlands Polish Community Centre- MPCC) and Marcin Klein- founder and director at Polish Artist in London (PAIL). These people had merged both organisations' interest and resources together in the name of passion for community work in areas of education, activism and support

for most vulnerable European immigrants in the UK. EWA’s crucial resource and assets is the team of highly motivated and qualified staff and volunteers. This includes teachers, teacher assistants, employment and welfare advisors, artists and community activists. EWA is advocating the importance of strong local partnership and networking with 3rd sector organisations in delivering the real change. We believe in asset based approach and are solution driven.

Happy Independence Day Ukraine!Yesterday, we celebrated 35 years of Ukrainian independence, resilience, culture, and the...
25/08/2026

Happy Independence Day Ukraine!

Yesterday, we celebrated 35 years of Ukrainian independence, resilience, culture, and the enduring spirit of a people who continue to inspire the world with their courage and determination.

To all Ukrainians and Ukrainian-Britons in the West Midlands, we wish you a joyful and meaninful Independence Day!

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З Днем Незалежності, Україно!

Вчора ми відсвяткували 35 років української незалежності, стійкості, культури та незламного духу народу, який і досі надихає світ своєю мужністю та рішучістю.

Усім українцям та українцям-британцям у Вест-Мідлендсі бажаємо радісного та змістовного Дня Незалежності!

Next month, Graham Stubbs will deliver a workshop in Wolverhampton in partnership with the Yam From Here project! Graham...
25/08/2026

Next month, Graham Stubbs will deliver a workshop in Wolverhampton in partnership with the Yam From Here project!

Graham Stubbs (he/him) is a Wolverhampton-based photographer, videographer and podcast producer. He has been working in the midlands for over 20 years, using his creativity to bring people together and support positive things happening in the region.

He is also part of the team at Wolverhampton Art Gallery and has had multiple exhibitions in locations across Birmingham and Wolverhampton - including the 'We Are Wolverhampton' project.

Find out more about Graham by checking out his website - www.GrahamStubbs.com alongside his Instagram and Facebook accounts -

Did you know the Titanic's anchor was made in the Black Country?Netherton, located near Dudley, is not an area of Englan...
24/08/2026

Did you know the Titanic's anchor was made in the Black Country?

Netherton, located near Dudley, is not an area of England particularly close to the sea. However, from the 1840s onward, the Black Country became a hub for the production of marine goods such as anchors and chains.

Among its most prominent businesses was Noah Hingley & Sons at Netherton Ironworks, which had previously supplied the White Star Line with the anchor for the sister ship to Titanic, the Olympic.

The Titanic's centre anchor was the largest anchor Hingley had produced for, at the time, the world's largest ship, thus requiring over a thousand feet of chain.

Complementing the size, its journey to the shipyard was similarly long, slow, and divided into stages. Initially, it was transported to the nearby Lloyd's Proving House for strength testing, then by rail to Fleetwood, afterwards by boat to Belfast and finally by horse-drawn dray to the shipyard.

The ship sank on its maiden voyage the following year. When the wreck was located in 1985, the anchor was still fixed to the bow, where it remains. A replica now stands in Netherton town centre, a few streets from where it was made.

While undertaking our Active Listening Campaign in March and April of this year, we had the privilege of speaking with l...
22/08/2026

While undertaking our Active Listening Campaign in March and April of this year, we had the privilege of speaking with local Sandwell residents who generously shared their experiences, concerns, hopes and, most importantly, their ideas for creating stronger, safer, and more connected communities.

A key theme which emerged from these conversations was community health in Sandwell. To improve mental and physical wellbeing in the borough, Sandwell residents proposed a number of ideas, including increasing consultations for people suffering from mental health conditions.

You can read find out much more about local residents’ observations about changes to their area by reading our Executive Summary Report on our website: https://www.ewacic.com/our-organisation/our-work/publications-and-research/
If you would like to learn more about our work, collaborate with us, or become part of future community initiatives, please don't hesitate to get in touch: [email protected]

Together, we can turn these conversations into meaningful change, strengthening community cohesion, improving community safety, and building neighbourhoods where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.


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WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT!Coming up on Saturday 5th September, Magdalena Jasiak and Abigail Villarroel will return to CoLab ...
21/08/2026

WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT!

Coming up on Saturday 5th September, Magdalena Jasiak and Abigail Villarroel will return to CoLab on Dudley High Street for the third part of their workshop series.

Participants are invited to continue decorating a 'journey scroll', which will be a reflection of the journeys we have all made through time and through space.

From embellishing embroidery, decorating drawings to pointillating paintings, Abigail Villarroel and Magdalena Jasiak will be on hand to provide expert artistic guidance on whatever you choose to do.

As this workshop concludes, participants will consider how the journey scoll will look once displayed at an exhibition in spring 2027!

Sign up now by following this link: https://ReflectionsInTransitIII.eventbrite.com or following the link in our bio!

Yam From Here is a multimedia project funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and delivered by EWA.

Did you know? Walsall is famously recognised as the hub of saddlery and leather goods in Britain. Indeed, during World W...
07/08/2026

Did you know?

Walsall is famously recognised as the hub of saddlery and leather goods in Britain. Indeed, during World War I, a saddle manufacturer in Walsall produced 100,000 saddles for the British Army within a single year.

The roots of Walsall's leather industry can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when most production took place in small workshops staffed by only 1-3 men, usually located in the backyard of houses.

The required materials were relatively affordable and included basic hand tools such as hammers, knives, pincers, and pricking irons.

By the mid-19th century, larger leather factories began to emerge, employing men, women, and children alike.

As time went on, the industry adaptedto changes brought by the internal combustion engine and the decline in horse riding, expanding its business to include fashion items such as bags and wallets.

Currently, the luxury goods market remains a significant segment of Walsall's leather industry, with a revival in traditional saddlery and bridle-making practices. Unlike many other manufacturing sectors in Britain, Walsall's leather industry has continued to thrive into the 21st century.

While undertaking our Active Listening Campaign in March and April of this year, we had the privilege of speaking with l...
31/07/2026

While undertaking our Active Listening Campaign in March and April of this year, we had the privilege of speaking with local Sandwell residents who generously shared their experiences, concerns, hopes and, most importantly, their ideas for creating stronger, safer, and more connected communities.

A key theme which emerged from these conversations was the erosion of community cohesion in Sandwell. To alleviate this erosion, Sandwell residents proposed a number of ideas, including the establishment of free events, featuring art and live music to bring the local community together.

You can read find out much more about local residents’ observations about changes to their area by reading our Executive Summary Report on our website: https://www.ewacic.com/our-organisation/our-work/publications-and-research/

If you would like to learn more about our work, collaborate with us, or become part of future community initiatives, please don't hesitate to get in touch: [email protected]

Together, we can turn these conversations into meaningful change, strengthening community cohesion, improving community safety, and building neighbourhoods where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

WORKSHOP PICTURES! On Tuesday 21st July, Magdalena Jasiak and Abigail Villarroel returned to CoLab on Dudley High Street...
30/07/2026

WORKSHOP PICTURES!

On Tuesday 21st July, Magdalena Jasiak and Abigail Villarroel returned to CoLab on Dudley High Street for the second part of their workshop series.

Participants were invited to continue decorating a 'journey scroll', a reflection of the journeys we have all made through time and through space.

This part of the series took inspiration from Magdalena’s artistic style, which draws inspiration from traditional gatherings in Eastern European villages, where women would come together to help each other with chores during long winter nights and weave together.

Check out these pictures of the workshop below and keep updated with Yam From Here's instagram for exhibition announcements!

Yam From Here is a multimedia project funded by Heritage Lottery Fund and delivered by EWA.

Did you know? Artist Dion Kitson recently created a mural of Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers at the Classic Fryer chip...
29/07/2026

Did you know?

Artist Dion Kitson recently created a mural of Jude Bellingham and Morgan Rogers at the Classic Fryer chip shop in Quinton.

Interviewed in The Guardian, he emphasised that “It’s strange that he’s (Bellingham) from our neck of the woods, having role models that sound like us. I’m quite protective over the Black Country. I grew up here, and I’ve been in the art world since I was 18.”

The Black Country clearly has its value as an incredibly diverse region that not only has produced some of the most famous sports and musical stars but, as Yam From Here’s own several workshops portray, is a clear creative hub for artists working across different mediums.

28/07/2026

Our ESOLability Project is so much more than just learning English and supporting people into employment.

Last Wednesday, our participants took part in an incredibly valuable session delivered by Maria, our Immigration Advisor, focusing on understanding different types of employment contracts and the rights and responsibilities of both employees and employers.

The session created space for meaningful discussions, practical advice, and plenty of questions. It was also a great opportunity to reflect on how different cultural backgrounds and experiences can influence our understanding of workplace expectations, communication styles, and professional relationships-with a good dose of laughter along the way!

The feedback from our participants speaks for itself:
💬 “It was really helpful, with a lot of new and useful information.”
💬 “These sessions with Maria were really useful for me. Thank you very much.”
💬 “The best, deep, up-to-date, very easy to understand and detailed explanation of job-related relations that I have ever heard. Many thanks to Maria.”
💬 “Thank you very much for a very useful and detailed session, providing answers to all our questions.”

We are incredibly proud that ESOLability is not only about improving language skills. It is about building confidence, increasing understanding of workplace culture, strengthening employability, and creating opportunities for people to thrive in their communities.

If you are a Ukrainian national, based in Birmingham and would like to improve your English skills in the context of employment, gain a better understanding of the workplace, explore work experience opportunities, job shadowing, or connect with employers, we would love to hear from you.

Get in touch to find out more about how you can become part of ESOLability.

We look forward to hearing from you.

📧 [email protected]
📞 07719 105 278
📍 Stryx Gallery, 89-90 Vyse Street Jewellery Quarter Birmingham, West Midlands B32 2PS

We are so much more than an English and employability programme -we are a community where people learn, connect and grow.

Address

Registered Office: 33 Ludgate Hill
Birmingham
B31EH

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

+441217400824

Website

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