Regional Community Resilience Group Pilots

This case study focuses on pilot projects which worked with communities to address a broad range of risks and resilience strategies. It originally appeared on the Climate NI website as a NICCAP3 Case Study

This case study focuses on pilot projects which worked with communities to address a broad range of risks and resilience strategies.

Introduction

The Regional Community Resilience Group (RCRG) was established in 2013 by the Department for Infrastructure and Local Government to bring together statutory and voluntary partners for emergency planning. Initially focused on flood response, the RCRG has since expanded to work with 50 communities to enhance resilience to flooding and extreme weather, which has been escalated by climate change.

Pilot projects

From January to July 2024, the RCRG funded two Community Resilience Group (CRG) pilot projects, led by Derry City and Strabane District Council (DCSDC) and Mid and East Antrim Borough Council (MEABC). These pilots aimed to address a broad range of risks and resilience strategies, work closely with existing resilience groups, and advocate for increased budgetary provision for these groups.

Key outcomes

Community-led engagement ensured that local populations were active participants in resilience strategy development. DCSDC set a baseline for understanding community risk and resilience, using a questionnaire scoping exercise with eight groups. DCSDC created a response protocol for local risks and engaged council officers to integrate community input into council workstreams, through two workshops.

MEABC gathered insights into what resilience means locally for two rural communities, through interviews, and using a Q&A template to identify specific issues and resilience sources. This was later discussed with council officers to develop a “resilience toolbox” for communities.

Pilot Outputs – MEABC Community Workshop

• Highlighted the importance of community resilience and the need for a whole of society approach.
• Recommended the need for sustained funding streams to build relationships and networks that are embedded in preparedness, response, and recovery arrangements.
• Lessons learned from the participating communities were gathered through two concluding workshops.

The pilot groups have begun connecting local resilience groups with each other and local government.

Legacy of the Pilots

These groups were key to the RCRG’s business case for central coordination, expanding resilience efforts, and securing consistent funding. Strong community resilience networks and well-defined protocols are vital to mitigating the impacts of and improving response and recovery from extreme weather and other risks.

The pilots produced valuable models that can be utilised to ensure coordinated multi-agency approaches to preparedness and responses, and demonstrated the importance of co-production.

Relevant transformational adaptation principle(s)

Systems thinking: This is about looking at the bigger picture – how different sectors, places, and people are connected – and making sure actions in one area don’t cause problems in another. It means working across boundaries, creating benefits for people and nature, and being fair about who carries the costs.

The case study shows how resilience work goes beyond a single sector by bringing together emergency services, local authorities, health, voluntary groups, and communities. It demonstrates how social, environmental, and economic systems are interconnected and how collaboration across scales can deliver wider benefits for resilience.

Targeted vulnerability assessment: To adapt well, we need to understand why certain people and places are most at risk, from both environmental and social pressures. This focuses on tackling root causes of vulnerability, making adaptation fair, and planning with future generations in mind.

The group’s work is rooted in understanding which people and places are most at risk, from both environmental hazards and social pressures. By identifying vulnerable groups and tailoring support, the approach ensures that resilience planning addresses root causes of risk rather than only immediate threats.

Active engagement: Lasting change depends on genuine collaboration with communities. This is about working together over time, recognising that emotions and values shape how people see risk, and building a shared vision for the future of each place. 

This case study highlights long-term collaboration with communities and partners, ensuring their voices shape planning and decision-making. By involving diverse groups and fostering shared understanding, the initiative builds a collective vision of resilience tailored to local needs.

Changes to governance, values and approaches: Adaptation means rethinking how decisions are made and resources are shared. This calls for new ways of governing, fairer distribution of costs and benefits, and securing long-term funding, skills, and capacity. 

The case study demonstrates new ways of working by creating structures that cut across traditional boundaries and sectors. It reflects a shift in governance towards more inclusive, collaborative approaches where responsibility is shared, values are re-examined, and community resilience is prioritised alongside statutory obligations.

Further details

LOCATION: Derry City and Strabane District Council; Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

LEAD ORGANISATION: Resilience Team (Local Government)

DATE: 2013 – Present

PROJECT PARTNERS: Derry City and Strabane District Council; Mid and East Antrim Borough Council

PROJECT FUNDER: Department for Communities

REPORTED BY: Regional Community Resilience Group