2 0 1 9 / 2 0 A N N U A L
R E P O R T
National Centre for Resilience
I am delighted to share the 2019/20 National
Centre for Resilience Annual report with you.
2019 was a very productive year for the NCR as
we continued to build on our achievements from
last year.
We have made significant inroads into realising
our mission and strategic objectives. Continuing
to build evidence that we can bridge the gap
between academia, policy and practice in the
field of natural hazard resilience. Establishing
useful and productive cross sector collaborations
to find practical solutions to real life challenges.
Amongst our successes from this year, we have
funded and ensured delivery of quality applied
and research projects, built on and delivered
against our communications strategy and held
productive knowledge exchange events to
disseminate our research and inform our future
work.
I hope you will find this year’s report interesting
and thought provoking. If you would like to find
out more, please contact the team who will be
delighted to provide you with more detail on
how to get involved.
Pat Boyle
NCR Steering Group Chair
A word from our Chair
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Prof Carol Hill
Head of School of Interdiciplinary Studies
University of Glasgow
In 2019 I was delighted to work with the NCR team to facilitate a series of stakeholder
engagement workshops exploring the challenges faced when working to recover from a
significant disruptive event. A wealth of data was gathered that has been analysed; projects
have been worked up and research commissioned. As a result a work plan was developed to
take the Centre through to at least 2021. Then Covid 19 came. But it hasn’t been all change. In
fact never has understanding recovery been more important. Demonstrating adaptability and
flexibility the NCR is looking at how it can play a role in supporting the national effort to recover
from this current crisis. In doing so it will draw upon all the hard work from the last 12 months,
in particular, the useful and productive cross sector collaborations’ referred to by the Chair in
her welcome above.
As policy makers it is important that we ensure that
evidence is at the heart of our work. The NCR seeks
to link policy with practice and research and does
so by creating networks to allow these collaborations
to take place. I would encourage you all to engage
with the conversation.
Suzanne Wilkie
Resilience Division
Scottish Government
I have been involved with the NCR since its inception in 2014 and launch in 2016 and it has been
wonderful to see it forge its identity and grow in knowledge, influence and stature. The past year
has been particularly fruitful and has seen the NCR deliver increasingly valuable outputs as the ties
between academia, policy and practice continue to grow and to strengthen, through workshops
and presentations promoting knowledge exchange and learning across these sectors.
As this learning is taken forward, I am excited by the cross-sectoral, cross-organisational
partnerships I have seen developing and the projects they will deliver with the NCR, addressing
not only Scotland’s resilience to natural hazards, but also the
new questions posed as the country responds to and recovers
from COVID-19.
This reflects the interdisciplinarity which is at the heart of
what this School does.
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" W E A I M T O C R E A T E A N D I N T E G R A T EK N O W L E D G E O F N A T U R A L H A Z A R DI M P A C T S B Y P R O V I D I N G A C C E S S T OA N E T W O R K T H A T C O N N E C T SR E S E A R C H E R S , P O L I C Y M A K E R S A N DP R A C T I T I O N E R S S O T H E Y C A N L E A R NF R O M E A C H O T H E R T O I M P R O V ER E S I L I E N C E R E S P O N S E I NS C O T L A N D . "
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Launched in 2016, the NCR is a cross
sector partnership spanning Scottish
universities, government and practice. It
is committed to improving country
wide resilience to natural hazards.
Its Steering Group ensures close
working ties with academic institutions,
government and resilience professionals
from regional and local authorities,
third sector and wider resilience
communities.
The NCR is an academic research hub,
using evidence to inform policy and
practice. It bridges the gap
between academia, policy and practice
by promoting cross sector partnerships,
encouraging each to learn from the
other to improve resilience when
planning for, responding to and
recovering from natural hazard events.
The NCR utilises existing knowledge and
commissions new projects to answer
real life issues faced by resilience
practitioners and communities. Using its
networks, it creates links for researchers
to help them adapt their project
outputs into tailored briefings and tools
for end users and then maximises the
potential use and impacts of this
work by disseminating research outputs
beyond the immediate
project stakeholder group and into the
wider resilience audience.
The National Centrefor Resilience
AN I N TRODUCT ION
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STRATEG IC D IRECT ION
In 2019 we published a revised strategic framework to
support our mission.
We set out six key goals to deliver within the first year of
our two year programme addressing challenges caused
by the effect of natural hazards on people within the
recovery phase.
These goals were designed to ensure strong
organisational focus and direction promoting cross
sector working and a strong interdisciplinary approach to
ensure that our outputs make a positive impact on the
recovery phase.
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In 2019 we expanded our Steering Group, welcoming the Regional Resilience
Partnerships (RRP) to ensure that our governance is led by a broad representation
of resilience experts across academia, policy and practice in Scotland.
By ensuring that the NCR is led by a strong core of cross sector resilience experts we
can work closely with our partners to increase the relevance and reach of our work,
thereby strengthening the key pillars that underpin the organisation.
You can find a full list of Steering group members and organisations on page 17.
ORGAN I SAT IONAL
GOVERNANCE
Research PracticePolicy6
Expanded
digital
platforms
7 Research papers
3 Case studies
5 executive
summariesEffective
dissemination
Resilience course
database
Cross sector
knowledge
exchange
events
WHAT WE D ID TH I S YEAR
DeliveredResearch projects
Developed
Published
Applied projects
Facilitated Events
Facilitated
cross sector
partnerships
Funding
calls
Supported
academic
project
proposals
Partnership
Expansion
Summary Reports
Network
expansion
Identified
practitioner
challenges
Newsletter
reach
increase
Focused
theme
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R e c o v e r y i st h e k e y t h e m ef o r o u rp r o g r a m m e o fw o r k f o r 2 0 1 9 -2 0 2 1
In 2019 we made one call for fundingapplications. The quality of this year’sapplications was very high and wereceived a large number of excellentproposals. We saw a broad cross section of researchand applied projects split across themesthat support our aim to address recoverychallenges and which clearly promotedcross sector collaboration. The projects selected for 2019 deliverywere reviewed by our fundingassessment panel on their individualmerits and scored against our strategicobjectives. Not all project applications could befunded. However, we would like to thankall of the project teams for applying andwould encourage them to submit furtherapplications in future funding calls.
20 1 9 /20 PROJECT
DEL IVERY
Research PracticePolicy
88 88
Community FloodingTHE CONSERVATION VOLUNTEERS
Flooding Good Practice FrameworkSCOTTISH FLOOD FORUM
When does response end and recovery begin?UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
Building a movement:Community development & resilience in response to extreme eventsUNIVERSITY OF STIRLING
The role of local business in community resilience to natural hazardsUNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW
Hot spots of Scottish community resilienceSCOTLAND'S RURAL COLLEGE
Developing a digital floodevacuation modelROBERT GORDON UNIVERSITY
DEL IVERED PROJECTS
We funded the following applied and research projects
in 2019/20:
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Flooding good practice frameworkScottish Flood Forum
We commissioned the SFF to deliver a series of pick up and go resources
that provide information for professionals who support flood risk
communities. This project worked collaboratively across sectors to deliver
easily accessible online tools that help to improve preventative and reactive
skills.
https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_723515_smxx.pdf
https://scottishfloodforum.org/resources/local-authority-assistance/
Community Flooding The Conservation Volunteers
This project delivered new training, empowering community volunteers and
schools to monitor, record and alert local councils to flooding hot spots.
Training provided skills to proactively clear debris to prevent future flooding
and build preventative measures to guard against, plan for and recover from
flooding emergencies. It promoted strong cross sector relationships and
collaborative working between communities, schools and councils and
proved that a scaled up approach could to be rolled out nationally.
https://www.gla.ac.uk/media/Media_723516_smxx.pdf
Developing a Digital Flood Evacuation Model for ClimateChange and Wellbeing. Mabon, L. and Jiang, Y. (2019)
This project developed a 3D virtual reality model to simulate the flooding of
an urban space in real time. Showing how a built-up area is likely to flood
can help emergency services, local governments and community leaders to
consider how a flood might unfold in their local area, helping them to be
better prepared for future contingencies in the event of extreme weather.
It used lived experiences from the effects of Storm Frank on the Ballater
community as a basis to work collaboratively to develop a prototype model
for future development and practitioner collaboration.
http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/206588/1/206588.pdf
20 1 9 /20 PROJECT PUBL I CAT IONS
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20 1 9 /20 PROJECT PUBL I CAT IONS
Hot Spots of Community Resilience in Scotland. Meador, E. (2019)
This project produced an open access database for resilience experts and
practitioners to help them clearly understand the level of resilience related
facilities that are available in rural communities across Scotland. It
highlights areas of strong and weaker levels of resilience by identifying
individual community infrastructures that are currently available and in
place.
http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/206589/1/206589.pdf
The Role of Local Business in Community Resilience toNatural Hazards. Clelland, D. (2019)
This report looks at the level of business engagement within community-
level activities that specifically plan for and respond to the impacts of
extreme weather and other emergencies.
http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/191629/1/191629.pdf
Building a Movement: Community Development andCommunity Resilience in Response to Extreme Events. Engstrom, S., Docherty, P. J. and Robertson, T. (2019)
This project explored ways local and international communities are
impacted by and react to extreme events. It captured good practice
models in community resilience to inform and link Scotland to
international developments and good practice objectives by identifying
existing policy, practice, legal and conceptual systems/frameworks that
engage and work with communities to promote resilience to natural
hazards.
http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/206109/1/206109.pdf
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20 1 9 /20 PROJECT PUBL I CAT IONS
When Does Response End and Recovery Begin? Exploringpreparation and planning to support community’sresilient recovery.Baxter, H. (2020)
This project looks to provide academic insight, recommendations,
mechanisms and illustrative tools to help emergency responders and
resilience practitioners to identify appropriate approaches to
incorporate into their natural hazard emergency response planning and
preparation in order to maintain community social capital in the
immediate aftermath of natural hazard events and support the Scottish
climate change adaptation programme.
http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/216387/1/216387.pdf
Climate Change, Climate Justice & Mental HealthKnowledge Exchange. Ingle, H. and Jafry, T. (2019)
This event looked to start the conversation on the effect of climate
change on mental health in Scotland and internationally.
http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/184477/1/184477.pdf
Creating the Conditions for Community Resilience:Aberdeen, Scotland—An Example of the Role ofCommunity Planning GroupsBaxter H (2019)
https://rdcu.be/bzZRV
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In 2019/20 we took an evidence based approach and selected one key theme forinvestigation and project delivery. We embarked on a knowledge exchange approachthat sought to create strong and productive cross sector collaborations andpartnerships between policy, practice and academia. We collaborated with partners andorganisations to promote our work and engage our core audiences exploring keythemes that informed our outputs and future planning. Utilising our growing network, we promoted the translation and integration of scientificevidence and best practice to address real life issues. We did this through disseminationof case studies and executive summaries and hosting events that provided space foracademics to present their outputs to policy makers and practitioners. We continue tolearn and understand the challenges that are faced, the best practice that is used andthe research that is in existence with the aim to build an overview of the resiliencelandscape in Scotland. We asked practitioners to explore their experiences in recovery and identify challengesand requirements, this helped shape our programme. We then engaged academics tohelp identify practical solutions to resolve the identified practitioner challenges andneeds. We delivered against a communications strategy designed to maximise our work andoutputs. We extended our organisational reach to relevant audiences through our digitalplatforms and network, using clear and consistent messaging and marketing. As we move into the second year of our recovery programme we are building on thework that we have achieved this year.
20 1 9 /20 KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
AND COMMUN ICAT IONS
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BU I LD ING KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
Research and practice collaborationscreated
Cross sector research output dissemination
Research presentations
Case study dissemination
Research network expansion
Knowledge gap identification
Academic symposium: Skimming theCream – Developing potential to builddairy farmers’ resilience in Malawi andScotlandin partnership with University of Glasgow School of
Veterinary Medicine and Lilongwe University of
Agriculture & Natural Resource
Resilience in Farming – Scotland and Malawi -Royal Agricultural Showin partnership with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and
Lilongwe University of Agriculture & Natural Resource
Improving Recovery NationalResilience Responder and Practitionerworkshops in partnership with Scottish Government and
Scottish Flood Forum
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Annual report releasedStrategic objective framework publishedOnline content developmentSocial media campaignsNCR relaunch eventsIncrease of newsletter reach Media engagement press releases/interviews Networking at conferences
20 1 9 /20 COMMUN ICAT IONS
H IGHL IGHTS
O U T P U T SO N L I N E
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A I L S A M A C K A Y
C E N T R E M A N A G E R
K A Y L E I G H P A R K E R
P R O J E C T A N D C O M M U N I C A T I O N S
O F F I C E R
MEET THE TEAM
P R O F C A R O L H I L L
U N I V E R S I T Y O F G L A S G O W
S U Z A N N E W I L K I E
S C O T T I S H G O V E R N M E N T
P R O F F A B R I C E R E N A U D
R E S E A R C H D I R E C T O R
D R H E L E N B A X T E R
R E S E A R C H A S S O C I A T E
P A T B O Y L E
S T E E R I N G G R O U P C H A I R
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Pat Boyle Independent Chair
Carol Hill Head of School of Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Glasgow
Charlie Coull Head of Resilience, Scottish Government
Suzanne Wilkie Head of ScoRDS, Scottish Government
Fabrice RenaudProfessor in Environmental Risk/Community Resilience, University of Glasgow
Ian LiskHead of Environmental Hazards and Partnerships, Met Office/Natural Hazards Partnership
Kirsty MacRaeDirector, Scottish Flood Forum
Clive MurraySenior Resilience Coordinator, North of Scotland RRP (Scottish Government)
Ross BairdSenior Resilience Coordinator, East of Scotland RRP (Scottish Government)
Keith ColvilleCorporate Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Officer, North of Scotland RRP (Perth
and Kinross Council)
Martin OgilvieLocal Authority EU-Exit Contingency Planning Co-ordinator, West of Scotland RRP (Dumfries and
Galloway Council)
Ailsa MackayCentre Manager, National Centre for Resilience
David BeardsSenior Policy Officer, Scottish Funding Council
Anne-Marte BergsengKnowledge Exchange, Communications and Adaptation Research Manager, ClimateXChange
Diane McKainStrategic Relationships Manager, Met Office
Mark WellsCorporate Support Manager, SEPA
Helen ReevesScience Director of Engineering Geology and Infrastructure, British Geological Survey
NCR STEER ING GROUP
Bridging the gap between research, policy & practice
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@ResilienceScot
glasgow.ac.uk/ncr
CONTACT US
NAT IONAL CENTRE FOR RES I L I ENCE
MAXWELL HOUSE
THE CR ICHTON UN IVERS I TY CAMPUS
DUMFR I ES
DG 1 4UQ
THE NAT IONAL CENTRE FOR RES I L I ENCE I S FUNDED BY
THE SCOTT I SH GOVERNMENT AND I S HOSTED BY THE
UN IVERS I TY OF GLASGOW
REPORT PREPARED BY A I L SA MACKAY
THE UN IVERS I TY OF GLASGOW CHAR I TY NUMBER SC00440 1
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