Research from the University of Manchester reveals significant differences in how well communities across England can handle and recover from crises. Coastal, rural, and northern areas are less resilient than their urban and southern counterparts, highlighting regional inequalities in the ability to cope with adversity.

The study, which introduces a Community Resilience Index (CRI), found that Yorkshire and the Humber, along with the North East, had the lowest resilience scores, while London and the South East scored the highest. Rural and coastal regions also performed poorly compared to inland and urban areas.

Responding to challenges

Using local authority data, the research offers the first detailed look at how different parts of the country respond to long-term challenges, such as the financial crisis, Brexit, the pandemic, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The CRI measures factors like jobs, education, housing, and social networks to rank local areas by their resilience.

On average, local authorities in England scored 83.1 on the CRI. However, a clear North-South divide emerged, with northern areas scoring an average of 80.6 compared to 83.9 in the South. Coastal areas fared even worse, with an average score of 76.0, while urban areas scored 85.1.

The study also looked at specific categories of resilience. London scored highest in access to services and infrastructure, while coastal and rural areas lagged. The South East and London led in economic resilience, with stronger job prospects, while the North and coastal regions scored lower. Social networks were stronger in urban areas, but the North scored better than coastal regions on measures of diversity and inclusion.

The researchers urge policymakers to target interventions in the most vulnerable areas. Strengthening community resilience will require a mix of local empowerment and national support to improve infrastructure, economic opportunities, and social cohesion where they are most needed.

“Understanding how well communities can cope and adapt is vital for building a more resilient society,” the researchers conclude. “Our findings point to stark regional disparities, with northern, rural, and coastal communities facing the greatest challenges.” Addressing these issues will require both local action and national strategies to help these areas thrive.