Community-led research reveals the impact of inaccessible services, lost community assets, and social isolation on rural communities in County Durham
Hidden inequalities in rural areas are deeply impacting residents of all ages, according to new community research. Both young people and older adults are disproportionately affected, struggling with isolation, fewer opportunities, and unfair life disadvantages.
Four community research teams, funded by the Rural Durham Community Research Network (RDCRN), gathered local experiences to explore key rural challenges on topics including the value of shared spaces, youth transport barriers, the role of community heritage, and how volunteer companionship helps reduce isolation.
The value of shared spaces
Weardale Together, supported by Weardale WordFest volunteers, delivered research exploring the role of shared community spaces in supporting connection, wellbeing, resilience, and creative opportunity across Weardale.
The research highlights the importance of investing in both community venues and the activities they support, ensuring that community life in Weardale remains inclusive, vibrant and sustainable for future generations.
Young people and transport
Young people conducted research in Teesdale, supported by TCR Hub, to explore how limited or unreliable transport affects their opportunities and wellbeing.
Their research shows that transport plays a central role in shaping young people's opportunities and quality of life.
By placing young people at the centre of the research process, the project has created a stronger understanding of rural transport challenges and highlighted the importance of including young people's voices in future transport planning.
The role of heritage
Jack Drum Arts conducted research investigating how shared heritage reveals what makes rural County Durham communities distinctive, and how a community’s history can build a sense of identity, pride, and belonging, especially for young people.
Their research demonstrates that participatory, intergenerational and accessible approaches can strengthen community identity, encourage belonging and help communities carry heritage forward together.
Volunteer companionship and social isolation
UTASS, working in partnership with Teesdale Day Clubs, conducted research exploring how volunteer-led companionship can reduce isolation and improve wellbeing in rural Teesdale.
The research was delivered by local volunteers with lived experience, and the evidence demonstrates that volunteer companionship can make a significant positive difference to the lives of both individuals and volunteers.
Why this matters
Collectively, this evidence highlights the complex, often hidden disparities experienced by rural Durham residents.
Supported by academic mentoring, tailored training, and workshops, community research projects have built lasting skills and capacity directly within their communities, engaging both volunteers and young people. By placing research tools in local hands, they have successfully prioritised the issues and lived experiences that matter most to them.
By leveraging local expertise and the trusted role of community groups, these projects have built an important evidence base. Traditional consultations often overlook rural communities due to existing barriers.
Furthermore, while regional statistics are powerful, they miss rural nuances. When decisions regarding funding, services, and policy lack this understanding, resources can be allocated unfairly.
We’ve already seen dialogue between communities and regional Government. For example, The North East Strategic Mayoral Authority’s early connection with the TCR Hub’s research conducted by young people into rural transport barriers created an opportunity to understand young people’s experiences and the motivators behind the research. Now that the research findings are available, maintaining that relationship is important to ensure the experiences of young people in rural communities inform future transport developments.
Combining this new wealth of community-led insight with existing data will empower decision-makers to build a more inclusive future for both rural and urban areas.
“Through our work we know rural communities face inequalities that are sometimes overlooked. These community research projects have enabled communities to gather insight through lived experience on topics relevant to some of their most pressing challenges. – Paul Cowie, CEO, Rural Design Centre
This new evidence serves as a reminder that rural communities are diverse and unique, and that the barriers one person experiences are often experienced by many in a community. Building capacity in rural settings so communities can lead their own research helps us generate a deeper understanding of these barriers, and the findings will help us make informed decisions, leading to a more equitable future for all populations.” – Kate Burrows, Executive Director, Durham Community Action & Paul Cowie, CEO, Rural Design Centre
As the community research teams share their findings, RDCRN invites wider public and policy sector partners to connect and explore the findings.
This emerging evidence provides County Durham with a more equitable foundation for shaping vital public health, infrastructure, and service plans.
Read more about the research findings and access the full reports here
If you want to learn more about the network, please contact Jemma Austin: jemma.austin@durhamcommunityaction.org.uk