In this blog, keynote speaker Kate Lee OBE, Chief Executive of NCVO, sets out why coming together matters more than ever as the VCSE sector faces profound change. Her reflections ahead of Create 26 explore how openness, collaboration and innovation can help charities thrive. She writes:

“I’m really looking forward to joining Create 26 this summer, at a time when so many in our sector are navigating financial pressures, rising demand and increasing complexity, coming together at events like this is so important.

“As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, one of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing our sector is the need to be open-minded and agile.

A changing landscape for charities

“The pace of change is not slowing down. Political landscapes shift quickly, public trust cannot be taken for granted and funding models are evolving. Yet the expectations placed on charities are growing.

“To thrive in this environment, we need to be willing to adapt. That means questioning assumptions, trying new approaches and being honest about what is and isn’t working.

“It also means collaborating more; across the sector, with communities, and with partners outside our traditional spaces. No single organisation can meet today’s challenges alone.

AI: another profound shift

“During my keynote at Create 26, I’ll be discussing more of these challenges and opportunities including another profound shift: the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence.

“AI is already changing the way we work, and in the coming year its impact on charities will only accelerate.

“Our ambition is to ensure charities are not passive recipients of technological change, but active shapers of it. That means building confidence, skills, and shared principles around how AI is used.

Coming together, charities are a force for good

“When charities come together, we are a force for good that is impossible to ignore. Which is why I’m so excited to be a part of Create 26 to listen, share, and be inspired by the ideas and people that make North Yorkshire’s VCSE community so extraordinary.”

More about Create 26

Leadership and collaboration conference – Create 26 – is a flagship event bringing together North Yorkshire’s VCSE community to connect, learn and shape the future of the sector at a time of rapid change. It offers a space for collaboration, inspiration and honest conversation about navigating pressure, embracing innovation and strengthening our collective impact.

Event details

📆 Thursday 21 May

📍Pavilions of Harrogate

🕑 9.45am – 4pm

Secure your place and be part of shaping the next chapter for North Yorkshire’s VCSE sector.