DAY-MER is a voluntary membership organisation and registered charity. It is a user-led membership organisation; members are elected to the MC and participate actively in the sub-boards directing its work, which includes arts/culture, women’s, youth and education subgroups.

In the early period of its establishment, when the largest influx of Turkish and Kurdish people was taking place in Britain, DAY-MER primarily concentrated on issues of immigration, settlement and formation as an ethnic community. In the late 1990s, however, thanks to continued community support, local and European funding, DAY-MER went through a period of rapid growth to develop a wide range of community support services, which built capacity within the organisation and provided a springboard for its continued development and growth.

DAY-MER, as a community centre, provides advice services and cultural, sport and community activities, including support campaigns for working people’s and migrants struggle for rights. Since supporting the Liverpool Dockers’ struggle in September 1995, DAY-MER has become more widely recognised by workers’ organisations and trade unions in Britain, including national trade union support for its festivals and working in partnership to raise awareness around, identify the needs of, and create initiatives for the promotion of worker and living rights. Indeed, with its ethos and in order to raise awareness and provide support to the plight of migrants, Day-Mer also organised visits to and donations for the refugee camp in Calais from 2016-2018. DAY-MER continues to run migrant solidarity, equality campaigns and other pieces of work against discrimination and advocates for solidarity between ethnic minorities and British people. DAY-MER has campaigned against racist immigration laws and been part of successfully lobbying Parliament.

As a Turkish and Kurdish community centre, most of DAY-MER’s members and service users are of Turkish or Kurdish ethnic origins, however, the centre, its services and facilities are open to anyone on the basis of equal opportunity (regardless of race, nationality, religion, ethnic origin, class, gender, disability or age).

Aims:

• To provide quality controlled relevant direct services to the community.
• To enable refugees to reach their full potential.
• To ensure the service is accessible to all.
• To constantly respond to the changing needs of the community.
• To encourage integration with the local community.
• To increase understanding in the wider community about refugees.
• To foster co-operation between Refugee Community Organisations

Objectives:

• Provide a drop in centre with direct services 6 days a week.
• Provide well-trained staff, available when needed, offering a range of services.
• Provide clear monitoring and evaluation of services that influence service provision.
• Provide a wide range of resources for users.
• Provide effective management of the centre.
• Provide clear written information about services.
• Develop links with other voluntary agencies and service providers.