City of Brighton & Hove is, to this minute, the busiest and most populous seaside resort in England. There is a growing population of Mediterranean community in the city, but there is no accurate statistical data on the demographic, social and group profiles of the members of the residents of Mediterranean origin.
Mernet has been conducting some preparatory work since early summer this year for a city-wide project. The project aims to identify the needs and challenges in the livelihoods of the Mediterranean community so that the necessary steps can be promptly taken for addressing such needs and supporting them in overcoming the challenges they may face.
Mernet intends to conduct a project package with two main components: a “Community Profiling” survey and a “Community Needs” survey within the Mediterranean community in Brighton and Hove.
The project will be the first ever of its kind in the city with a unique collection of facts and figures. The data will be extremely valuable for the world of academia as well as the media and statutory bodies.
Mernet sought for project partners and Mernet projects team held a series of meetings since August with the Community University Partnership Programme (CUPP) of the University of Brighton.
Following initial meetings, the first large meeting took place in Mernet office on 21 August 2009, between Mernet team and CUPP staff members. Mernet's Chairman Umit Ozturk and Projects Coordinator Paul Gregory held a further meeting on 29 September with CUPP Research Helpdesk Manager Polly Rodriguez.
Mernet team had a strategic planning meeting last week to prepare the final project draft for a final meeting with the CUPP team before applying for funding.