Create 26 – a future-focused conference for North Yorkshire’s voluntary and community sector
📆 Thursday 21 May – 📍Pavilions of Harrogate
A new leadership and collaboration conference for the voluntary and community (VCSE) sector across North Yorkshire is to be staged this summer by Community First Yorkshire.
Taking place at a time when many in the sector are facing financial pressures, rising demand and increasing complexity, the conference – Create 26 – will look ahead with optimism and purpose.
Planned with a wide range of sector partners, the conference will build on the creativity, resilience and community spirit already thriving across the county, with a keen focus on the future – one where organisations feel confident, connected and equipped to flourish.
Bringing together people from every part of the sector, whether they manage services, coordinate volunteers, run projects or help make things happen informally, Create 26 will shine a light on what’s working well, explore fresh thinking and strengthen the collective leadership that exists in so many forms across our region.
Keynote speakers include NCVO Chief Executive
With that in mind, Leadership Development and Training Manager, Mike Hickman, says he is delighted to confirm that Kate Lee OBE, Chief Executive of NCVO, will be joining the conference as one of its keynote speakers.
“We’re delighted that Kate has agreed to join us. With proven leadership through crisis and transformation, she is an authority on community leadership and is at the heart of national conversations about so many of the issues facing our sector,” he said. “We want this conference to be bold, energising and sector-defining. Kate will be a key part of that.”
Create your story – narrative and leadership
Also joining us on the day will be renowned storyteller, Sita Brand, from Settle Stories for an energising session on the power of narrative in the VCSE sector. As Sita says:
Small VCSE organisations often inherit deficit narratives – “too rural,” “under-resourced,” “just surviving.” But leadership starts with changing the story.
Through lively table discussions and a live demonstration of real sector transformation, you’ll learn a practical framework for shifting from deficit to asset‑based storytelling. Leave inspired, equipped, and ready to align your personal leadership story with your organisation’s mission.
Lively panel discussions
A great opportunity to get involved in the debate. These panels promise real insights from inspirational panellists.
Create values-based leadership
In a rapidly shifting and often challenging landscape, how do we stay anchored in the values that define us? This panel brings together sector leaders to explore what it really means to hold fast to organisational and personal values in uncertain times. Expect an honest, inspiring conversation about staying true to your mission, sustaining your values under pressure and leading with integrity when it matters most.
With Suhrab Bahman (Chain Lane Community Hub) and Neil Cutler (Trustee, Dementia Forward).
What’s next for leadership in North Yorkshire?
What will leadership look like in the 2030s—and how do we start growing those leaders now? This forward‑looking panel delves into the skills, attributes and mindsets the next generation of VCSE leaders will need to thrive. From succession planning to nurturing emerging talent, the discussion will explore where tomorrow’s leaders will come from and how we ensure they’re ready to shape the future of our sector.
With Max May (North Yorkshire Together) and Becky Lennon (Youth Theatre Director).
Workshops to capture the imagination
The conference boasts a variety of workshops designed to cater for different interests and learning styles. Take your pick!
Morning workshops
Time Travel: Create the future
Rural Arts will lead this creative time-travel workshop designed to help you imagine the future of your organisation – leaping a decade into the future to explore what they are actually doing in the organisation they have helped to create. This session will encourage bold, expansive thinking about leadership, purpose, and possibility.
Creating fearlessness in the face of finance
If finance feels daunting, this workshop – led by finance director and Community First Yorkshire trustee, Richard Jones – will demystify the essentials and show you how to confidently navigate your trustee responsibilities. You’ll find out what to look for, what to question and how to keep your organisation financially secure and focused on impact.
Me, Myself and I
Chris Hailey-Norris, Chief Executive of Up for Yorkshire, will lead this workshop exploring how well you know yourself and how aware you are of how you affect your organisation and others around you. If you want to know more about your leadership style, its impact and if/how it can be changed, this is the workshop for you.
Afternoon workshops
Voices at work: crafting our collective song
Join Rebecca Denniff (Flash Arts) for a collaborative song writing workshop that will explore the themes that shape our working lives and the communities we serve. All you need to bring is a willingness to work together to make something brand new.
Creating kindness as a superpower
Award winning consultant and author, Dawn Stott, (Dawn Stott Associates) will lead this workshop exploring how everyday acts of kindness – listening, empathy, appreciation and respect – can directly influence trust, communication and performance.
Create volunteering in a changing immigration context: what VCSE leaders need to re-think
Led by Valentina Hynes – CEO of SVH Inc. CIC – this workshop will explore how changing immigration policies are reshaping volunteering – and what you can do now to stay flexible, inclusive and effective. Walk away with practical tactics to recruit, train and support volunteers with confidence.
Create 26 in a nutshell
The conference will feature a full day of inspiring, practical and creative content designed to help organisations thrive. Most importantly, it’s an opportunity to come together with others who understand the realities of working in the VCSE sector – and who want to build a strong future, together.
On the line-up:
- keynote addresses from regional and national voices
- interactive workshops tailored to different learning styles and roles
- panel discussions exploring how we work together to respond to local needs
- creative networking and live podcasting, capturing stories and ideas across the day
- future-casting sessions focused on shaping what’s next for the VCSE sector in North Yorkshire.
Event details
📆 Thursday 21 May
📍Pavilions of Harrogate
🕑 9.45am – 4pm
Costs and concessions
Early‑bird booking is now open – grab one of 30 places offering a £20 saving compared to a full-price ticket!
Early-bird ticket – £35
Full price ticket – £55
If your organisation’s income is under £25K, you’re eligible for a concessionary ticket (£35).
Secure your place and be part of shaping the next chapter for North Yorkshire’s VCSE sector.
Conference programme (Can be subject to change)
09.00 Arrival and networking
09.45 Welcome and opening address
10.15 Keynote: Kate Lee, NCVO
11.00 Coffee break
11.15 Breakout sessions
12.00 Panel discussion
12.45 Lunch and networking
VIDEO: ‘Where ideas, people and communities come together.’
VIDEO: ‘Leaders can come in all different guises.’
VIDEO: ‘What if one conversation could shape the next five years?’
VIDEO: ‘I think it’s going to be a really exciting, practical day.’
BLOG: ‘What could the future look like if we dared to imagine it together?’
Leadership and training manager, Mike Hickman, reflects on why we all need a chance to lift our eyes from the day‑to‑day.
April 2, 2026 9:00 am
