Belarusian Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Belarus lies in eastern Europe, between Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Ukraine. It is known for its forests, including the ancient Bialowieza Forest, home to the European bison. Belarusians in Britain include professionals, students and families.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 37 Birmingham residents described their ethnic group as Belarusian.

Working for Birmingham

Belarusian residents work in IT, engineering, healthcare, education and business, and Belarus has a strong reputation for software development. Many Belarusian professionals bring technical skills that are in demand in Birmingham's growing digital sector.

Birmingham grew rich as the city of a thousand trades, and that spirit of making and doing is still strong. Today the trades sit alongside healthcare, education, finance, law, logistics and technology. The Belarusian community brings energy to that mix, from people starting small businesses to those caring for patients, teaching in classrooms and keeping homes and workplaces in good repair.

Culture and community life

Draniki, potato pancakes, are the national dish, and Kupalle, the midsummer festival, is celebrated with bonfires and flower wreaths. Folk songs, embroidery and the traditional red and white patterns are cherished parts of Belarusian culture. Belarusian is closely related to Russian and Ukrainian but has its own literature, and many families in Britain make a point of speaking it at home. The painter Marc Chagall was born in Vitebsk, in what is now Belarus, and his colourful work is admired in galleries around the world.

In a city where scores of languages are spoken, the Belarusian community adds another voice to the conversation. Its members, old and new, are helping to make Birmingham the confident, outward-looking city it wants to be.