Resilient Catchment Communities - Westcountry Rivers Trust

The Westcountry Rivers Trust, alongside partner organisations the University of Plymouth and Duchy College, delivered the Resilient Catchment Communities project across Cornwall. This project aimed to deliver six natural flood management demonstration sites in partnership with landowners.

The Social Research Unit evaluated this project through interviews with the hosting demonstration sites and delivery partners, and a performance review of the outcomes data.

Outputs:
- A total of 86 new volunteering opportunities have been supported, which is slightly below the project’s 2030 target of 100.
- Eight landowners have been supported by the Westcountry Rivers Trust with
natural capital advice, which exceeds the project’s total target of six.
- A total of five enterprises have received non-financial support, which was slightly below the targeted six.
- The project is estimated to have helped to better protect 108 properties from
flooding or coastal erosion, which far exceeds its target of 40.
- A total of 87 individuals have been supported in gaining a qualification or
completing a course, which is slightly below the target of 100.

Outcomes:
- Increased number of properties better protected from flooding and coastal erosion - this is a future target, which is expected to be achieved by 2030. This outcome will be evidence through Westcountry Rivers Trust recorded outcomes based on data from the project management system linked to a GIS layer of downstream risk.
- Number of people in education or training following support - this is another future target to be delivered by 2030. It will be measured through reporting the level of Citizen Science Investigations engagement and interest in the river, which will include base line volunteers that extend beyond the project.