Volunteer-led Natural Flood Management (NFM) in Calderdale, West Yorkshire: Community perceptions, perceived effectiveness and social co-benefits

Researchers conducted an exploratory cross-sectional survey of residents and people working in Calderdale, West Yorkshire (n = 51) to examine views on effectiveness and the personal and community co-benefits of Natural Flood Management (NFM) interventions. This purposive, self-selected sample provides insight into individuals engaged with or aware of flood management activities, rather than representing the wider Calderdale population. Participants indicated high overall acceptance of NFM and identified environmental, personal and community benefits, despite ongoing uncertainty about the extent of local flood risk reduction.

Volunteers also described improvements in mental health and a stronger connection to place. Consistent with the exploratory design and self-selected sample, flood risk reduction is interpreted independently of hydrological evidence and no claims of wider population generalisation are made. The discussion therefore emphasises implications for community-led NFM practice, including communication of co-benefits, sustaining volunteer engagement and conditions shaping transferability to other flood-risk contexts. Our findings suggest that, among respondents, volunteer-led NFM may contribute to community resilience and social learning, even where measurable hydrological reductions in flood risk are not evident.