Partner countries

Only now are we starting to appreciate the challenges associated with delivering welfare in an era of superdiversity. As cities in Europe become increasingly diverse and dynamic through migration, policy makers seek to ensure that both long-established and new residents can access health services that meet their needs.

In healthcare, the challenge of adapting services to cater for increasingly diverse populations is compounded by the economics of austerity. Furthermore, gaps in knowledge about the way institutions work and a paucity of information can make the task of accessing health provision difficult for residents. Policy-makers struggle to keep up with these changing dynamics, due partly to a lack of research on the needs of diverse communities.

We do not know enough about the understandings and health-seeking behaviours of diverse residents. Understanding such behaviour is important if we are to shape services so that they can meet the needs of everyone.

The UPWEB Project seeks to fill the gaps in knowledge around the health-seeking behaviours of residents in superdiverse neighbourhoods. The project represents collaboration between academics across the European Union, and the research will be taking place within two neighbourhoods in each of the following cities: