Community groups, organisations, and employers respond to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic: A story of resilience and continued vulnerability


Abba, Katharine ORCID: 0000-0001-9894-8577, Ring, Adele, Lloyd, Peter, de Cuevas, Rachel Anderson, Hassan, Shaima ORCID: 0000-0001-7840-3342, Goodall, Mark ORCID: 0000-0002-4880-998X, Clarke, Pam, Hanna, Kerry ORCID: 0000-0001-7357-7749, Ahmed, Saiqa, Allen, Gerry et al (show 7 more authors) (2025) Community groups, organisations, and employers respond to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic: A story of resilience and continued vulnerability BMC PUBLIC HEALTH, 25 (1). 890-. ISSN 1471-2458, 1471-2458

[thumbnail of Abba et al - a story of resilience and continued vulnerability.pdf] Text
Abba et al - a story of resilience and continued vulnerability.pdf - Open Access published version
Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted societal systems, prompting community groups, voluntary organizations and employers to adapt rapidly to emerging needs. Here we present findings of a study conducted in the North West of England, exploring how groups and organisations adapted and responded to local needs at this time. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with ‘key informants’ within local community voluntary, charity, faith or social enterprise (VCFSE) sector groups and organisations (n = 19) and large/ medium employers within any sector (n = 6). Interview transcripts were analysed thematically by a team of academic researchers and ‘Public Advisers’ with knowledge of local communities. Findings: Our findings reveal that community-based VCFSE groups and organisations played a critical role in addressing immediate needs such as food insecurity, isolation, and health vulnerabilities. This response was motivated by a strong sense of responsibility for the wellbeing of the clients and communities they served, and was enabled by their strong community networks, local knowledge, and ability to increase system capacity through collaboration. However, in a context of increased wellbeing needs later in the pandemic, many struggled to restart their core business, constrained by depleted resources and difficulties in interpreting and applying government ‘Covid-secure’ legislation and guidance. Conclusion: The study underscores the importance of local resilience, highlighting the VCFSE sector’s central role in addressing inequalities exacerbated by crises. It calls for substantial long-term investment to sustain this vital infrastructure, which is critical not only for recovery but also for preparedness for future societal shocks.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Covid-19, Resilience, Adaptation, Collaboration, Third sector, Voluntary sector, Volunteers, VCFSE sector
Divisions: Faculty of Health & Life Sciences
Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 10 Mar 2025 09:44
Last Modified: 16 Jun 2026 16:48
DOI: 10.1186/s12889-025-22104-9
Related Websites:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3190725
Disclaimer: The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate.
Altmetric
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)