Building Community Resilience Together
Climate emergencies are becoming more frequent and more severe. Flooding, power outages, public health crises, extreme heat and cold, and the quieter but equally damaging effects of social isolation can all test a community's ability to cope and recover.
This page brings together practical knowledge, tools and resources to help communities and community led organisations prepare for these challenges, respond when they happen, and recover in ways that leave neighbourhoods stronger than before.
Get involvedWhat is community resilience?
Community resilience is the ability of people in a place to come together and find a way through difficult times.
For rural and island communities, this matters more than most people realise. When something goes wrong, help can be a long way away. Roads flood. Power goes out for days. Emergency services take longer to arrive. And for older residents living alone, that wait can be frightening and dangerous.
Storm Eowyn was a recent reminder of this. Communities across Scotland faced days without power, blocked roads, and little outside support. In many places, it was neighbours helping neighbours that made the real difference.
That is what community resilience is really about. Not big plans or official procedures, but people knowing each other, looking out for each other, and being ready to act together when things get hard.
This page is here to help your community do exactly that.
Most resilience work falls into four phases — explore each one below.
Where do I start?
Building resilience does not have to be complicated. Here are four simple steps to get your community started.
Talk to your neighbours
Start a conversation. Find out who lives near you, who might need extra help in an emergency, and who has useful skills or resources like a generator, a vehicle or first aid training. You do not need a formal meeting. A chat over the fence is a perfectly good start.
Think about your local risks
What are the most likely emergencies in your area? Flooding, severe snow, power cuts and road closures are common in rural Scotland. Think about what has happened before and what could happen again. The more you know about your local risks, the more useful your plan will be. The Community Climate Adaptation Route Map is a good place to start if you are not sure where to begin.
Make a simple plan
You do not need a lengthy document. A simple one or two page plan that covers who to contact, where people can go for help, and what to do in the most likely emergencies is enough to get you started. Download our Emergency Plan Template below to help you put one together.
Share it and keep it alive
A plan that nobody knows about will not help anyone. Share it with your neighbours and local organisations. Review it once a year and update it as things change. The best plans grow with your community.
Ready to take the next step? Download our Emergency Plan Template to get started.
See templatesThe four phases of community resilience
Select a phase to find out more about what it means for your community.
Resilience is a continuous cycle. Communities grow stronger with each experience.
Types of Community Resilience
Select a topic to explore the key risks and what your community can do about them.
Key risks
What you can do
Emergency Plan Templates
An emergency community resilience plan helps a community prepare for, respond to, and recover from unexpected events like floods, power cuts, or severe weather.
It improves coordination, reduces confusion during emergencies, and ensures help reaches vulnerable people quickly. By strengthening communication and local support networks, it helps communities recover faster and become safer and more resilient overall.
Your local authority also has a Resilience Team that can offer guidance and support as you develop your plan. It is worth getting in touch with them early in the process.
Below is a template and some examples of an emergency plan that you can tailor for your own community.
Community Resilience in Action
Watch how rural communities have come together to build resilience and support each other through difficult times.
Community Resilience Hub — Glendaruel Village Hall
Storm Eowyn — Glenbarr Story
Communities in Action
How other communities have done it
These documents come directly from rural communities who have taken practical steps to build their resilience. From surveys and action lists to reports and projects, they show what is possible and can help inspire and inform your own community's approach.
Case Studies
Real stories from communities and individuals showing how resilience, advocacy and practical support can make a lasting difference.
Storm Eowyn Case Study
Highlights the impact of severe storms on island communities, including flooding, power outages and damage to homes. Underscores the challenges faced by vulnerable residents and concerns around emergency support.
Glendaruel Case Study
Introduces a vulnerable individual living remotely with serious health and mobility issues and no family support. Highlights how support from others plays a crucial role in ensuring their basic needs are met.
Support Organisations
Find organisations that can help your community build resilience, from national bodies to local networks.
Get Involved
This page grows with the communities that use it. If your community has an emergency plan, a case study, or a story to share, we would love to hear from you.
Whether you have a question, want to share your experience, or would like to contribute a resource that could help others, get in touch. Every contribution helps build a stronger, more connected network of resilient communities across rural Scotland.
Get in touch