Assessing the public value of societal resilience to disruption

This report explains the investments made by individuals, communities, Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations, governments, and businesses in societal resilience. It shows that investing in resilience reduces the impacts of disruptions, generating significant economic and social benefits. Notably, the report finds that every £1 invested in societal resilience produces £35.12 in public value when disruptions occur every five years, meaning that relatively small investments (e.g. £5,000) can generate substantial returns (around £176,000) through improved preparedness and community resilience.

The findings are based on an 18-month research project using a Social Return on Investment (SROI) analysis. Researchers collaborated with partners in Cumbria, including organisations such as Cumbria CVS and the Environment Agency. The study involved consultations with 90 stakeholders and identified 74 resilience measures to build a monetized model, which was further refined through expert reviews to validate the £35.12 return estimate.