- USD $250,000 investment announced for climate resilience projects in Edgeley and Higher Folds through local, regional and global collaboration.
- Funded by the Resilient Community Impact Funds (RCIFunds) – an investment mechanism designed to accelerate equitable resilience solutions and outcomes in climate-affected communities.
- Backed by the Z Zurich Foundation, Zurich UK, and R-Cities, the Resilience for Communities (R4C) program puts community leadership at the heart of climate action.
Communities Take Charge with $250,000 Investment to Tackle Flooding and Extreme Heat
Across the United Kingdom, communities are taking the lead in building climate resilience and this summer two innovative, community-led projects are underway in Greater Manchester. In Edgeley in Stockport and Higher Folds in Wigan, community members have co-designed projects that reduce the impacts of extreme heat and flooding, while also addressing underlying social and economic challenges.
These new projects represent a combined investment of USD $250,000 through R-Cities’ Resilient Community Impact Funds, created to support local solutions that can have a broad regional impact and potentially attract additional investment from private, public and philanthropic sources.
Developed in partnership between the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and neighbourhood-based organizations in both boroughs, the projects have been designed to respond to local needs as expressed by neighbourhood residents.
In Higher Folds the project has been developed with HFWorks and Groundwork Cheshire, Lancashire & Merseyside with input from Wigan Council, the Environment Agency and United Utilities.
In Edgeley, Stockport Council, local organizations Civic and Social and An Action Commons CIC as well as the Stockport Mayoral Development Council and Stockport8 LLP have provided input and support to the project’s design and development.
“These projects are the result of two years of work in which people in Edgeley and Higher Folds have shared their thoughts about the risks climate poses and what they want to do to prepare for their future. These communities have worked with local organisations to build trusted and inclusive relationships that are enabling investment in solutions designed from the ground-up to make a practical different to how these neighbourhoods will experience our changing weather — Kathy Oldham, Chief Resilience Officer, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
The Projects at a Glance
The Edgeley project will support the transformation a former school building (Park View) into a community-run climate resilience hub and reimagine Hollywood Park and Park View Garden through urban greening, community activation, and heritage restoration.
“Edgeley residents know the support they need to thrive – and how that can spark wider change for the neighbourhood. We’re building a demonstrator hub where creative activism meets practical placemaking, a physical space to grow skills, ideas and connections and a symbolic shift in who gets to shape our shared future. Working alongside partners and developers, we will build a regenerative, community led centre for place-based innovation, shifting power to those who live here now and setting the course for long-term, restorative transformation.
— Pauline Johnston, An Actions Common CIC
What If? Will evolve as a model for climate-ready, community-led urban planning in the area finding ways to support cooling spaces, food and energy security, and a new generation of local custodianship. Follow the journey here.
In Higher Folds, the project will focus on youth employment, green space improvements, and the implementation of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to tackle flooding. The program, led by HF Works CIC with technical guidance from Groundwork CLM, includes weekly nature volunteering, energy efficiency upgrades for vulnerable households, community capacity building to sustain climate work into the future, and creative storytelling led by the Turnpike Gallery.
“We’re not just improving the environment – we’re building futures. This is about unlocking potential, creating pride, and making sure the people of Higher Folds are leading the change.”
— Liz Twigge, HF Works CIC
Why This Matters Now
The projects respond to the findings of the Greater Manchester Community Resilience Assessment (2024), which highlighted how climate hazards, such as flash flooding in Higher Folds and extreme heat, can impact communities already struggling with economic and social woes.
In Edgeley, social capital and trust in public institutions are low, with fewer than 50% of survey respondents expressing trust in local authorities or believing they receive equitable support compared to neighbouring areas.
In Higher Folds, less than half of households can absorb a sudden expense or loss of income equivalent to one week’s expenses. Over 35% of residents reported going to bed hungry in the last month, indicating significant levels of food insecurity. The community also faces severe flooding risks, with modelled flood depths reaching up to 750mm in some areas during surface water events alongside low trust in public institutions. These projects aim to move beyond emergency response, investing instead in long-term resilience, addressing root causes such as economic marginalisation, governance gaps, and infrastructure inequities, while drawing on the existing assets, knowledge, and energy within both neighbourhoods
“The capacity for resilience already exists in communities. Our responsibility is to help shift systems – so that power, funding, and recognition flow more easily to those already building solutions on the ground.”
— Karl Astbury, Resilient Cities Network
A New Model of Partnership
The projects are part of the Resilience for Communities (R4C) program—under Z Zurich’s Foundation’s global Urban Climate Resilience Program initiative and alongside local partners. In Greater Manchester, the program is being delivered by the Resilient Cities Network (R-Cities_, in collaboration with GMCA Wigan Council, Stockport Council, Groundwork CLM, An Action Commons CIC, and HF Works CIC.
“This is a new kind of partnership – where community groups, local governments and the private sector such as Zurich in the UK all have a seat at the table. It’s exactly the kind of cooperation we need to deliver climate action that’s fair, fast, and effective.”
— David Nash, Z Zurich Foundation
The R4C program is a three-year joint initiative between the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Resilient Cities Network, the Z Zurich Foundation and Zurich Insurance (UK). Since 2023, R4C has invested in community-designed resilience projects across three continents, prioritizing communities most vulnerable to climate change.
About Resilient Cities Network
Resilient Cities Network is the world’s leading urban resilience network. It brings together global knowledge, practice, partnerships, and funding to empower its members to build safe and equitable cities for all. Its unique city-led approach ensures cities drive the agenda to benefit the communities they serve. At work in nearly 100 cities worldwide, the Resilient Cities Network supports on-the-ground projects and solutions to build climate resilient, circular and equitable cities while also facilitating connections and information-sharing between communities and local leaders.
About Zurich United Kingdom
Zurich has 150 years of experience managing risk and supporting resilience for customers around the world. Reflecting its purpose to create a brighter future for everyone in the communities it operates in, Zurich aspires to be one of the most responsible and impactful businesses in the world.
About Z Zurich Foundation
Resilience 4 Communities is part of the Urban Climate Resilience Program (UCRP), a global initiative led by the Z Zurich Foundation to support vulnerable urban communities impacted by climate change.
