Challenge
Flooding posed a growing risk to thousands of homes and businesses in the Upper Severn Valley, spanning both England and Wales. The River Severn Partnership – including the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and multiple local authorities – needed a cohesive communications strategy to support a complex, cross-border water management programme.
The challenge was further compounded by the scheme’s vast 2,500-km2 footprint and the requirement for bilingual delivery.
Approach
Copper led all communications and engagement for the ten-year flood resilience scheme, delivering:
- strategic stakeholder and landowner engagement
- community consultation and political strategy
- branding, content creation and bilingual collateral
- development and management of digital platforms
- inclusive engagement approaches to reflect the cultural and linguistic landscape of the region.
Value delivered
- Built local trust and momentum for one of the UK’s most ambitious flood resilience projects
- Enhanced public understanding of the project’s long-term environmental, social and economic benefits
- Supported improved flood risk management for more than 3000 homes and more than 1,000 businesses
- Enabled community co-design and stewardship through sustained engagement
- Helped secure long-term resilience, biodiversity gains and economic protection for cross-border communities