Hidden Hardship: Everyday Experiences, Coping Strategies, and Barriers to Wellbeing in Rural Britain, 2023

Denning, Stephanie (2026). Hidden Hardship: Everyday Experiences, Coping Strategies, and Barriers to Wellbeing in Rural Britain, 2023. [Data Collection]. Colchester, Essex: UK Data Service. 10.5255/UKDA-SN-858654

Rural poverty is a problem in the UK - 17% of rural households in England are experiencing relative poverty after housing costs - yet it is often hidden by tourism and wealthier neighbours. Urban areas have been the dominant focus in social science research on UK poverty, however, responses to urban poverty are not directly translatable to rural contexts. Specific attention therefore needs to be given to people’s experiences of rural poverty.

This research used a participatory methodology to understand people’s experiences of hidden hardship in the rural North Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. It aimed to investigated people’s hardship journeys, coping strategies and navigation of barriers to improved wellbeing.

The research took place in a rural town and a rural village in the North Cotswolds. At the request of some of the research participants, the town and village are not named in this report. The chosen town and village are largely representative of towns and villages in the North Cotswolds. All fieldwork was carried out January 2023 to August 2023. The research was formed of two stages:

1) Time spent at community groups and gatherings with interviews undertaken with people experiencing and/or responding to hardship. This interview data is available to archive.

2) Go-along interviews and diaries written by people experiencing hardship.

By gaining understanding of people’s everyday lived experiences of rural hardship, this research informed public understanding of rural hardship through a travelling exhibition, and informed voluntary sector and governmental responses to rural hardship through tailored resources including a policy report. More details on the project impact and outputs can be found on the project website at https://hiddenhardship.coventry.ac.uk/

Data description (abstract)

Rural poverty is a problem in the UK - 17% of rural households in England are experiencing relative poverty after housing costs - yet it is often hidden by tourism and wealthier neighbours. Urban areas have been the dominant focus in social science research on UK poverty, however, responses to urban poverty are not directly translatable to rural contexts. Specific attention therefore needs to be given to people’s experiences of rural poverty.

This research used a participatory methodology to understand people’s experiences of hidden hardship in the rural North Cotswolds, Gloucestershire. It aimed to investigated people’s hardship journeys, coping strategies and navigation of barriers to improved wellbeing.

The research took place in a rural town and a rural village in the North Cotswolds. At the request of some of the research participants, the town and village are not named in this report. The chosen town and village are largely representative of towns and villages in the North Cotswolds. All fieldwork was carried out January 2023 to August 2023. The research was formed of two stages:

1) Time spent at community groups and gatherings with interviews undertaken with people experiencing and/or responding to hardship. This interview data is available to archive.

2) Go-along interviews and diaries written by people experiencing hardship.

By gaining understanding of people’s everyday lived experiences of rural hardship, this research informed public understanding of rural hardship through a travelling exhibition, and informed voluntary sector and governmental responses to rural hardship through tailored resources including a policy report. More details on the project impact and outputs can be found on the project website at https://hiddenhardship.coventry.ac.uk/

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