Community First Yorkshire has thanked everyone who helped make Create 26 a success, following a day of energy, ideas and connection at Pavilions of Harrogate.

The future-focused leadership and collaboration conference brought together people from across North Yorkshire’s voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to explore the challenges, opportunities and possibilities facing communities across the county.

A new highlights video, which accompanies this article, captures the atmosphere of the day, from the opening welcome to the conversations, workshops, panels and reflections that followed.

The film opens with Mike Hickman, Leadership Development and Training Manager at Community First Yorkshire, welcoming delegates to “the start of a fantastic day”. It also captures the sense of anticipation in the room, with colleagues looking forward to the networking, conversations and ideas that would unfold throughout the conference.

A major highlight of the morning was the keynote from Kate Lee OBE, Chief Executive of NCVO, who challenged delegates to think about leadership, change and the future of the sector. Reflecting on the morning, Jane Colthup, Chief Executive of Community First Yorkshire, described Create 26 as “absolutely exceptional” and said Kate had “set the room on fire”.

The conference programme also included a wide range of practical and creative sessions. Delegates took part in workshops on future thinking, finance, self-awareness, song writing, kindness and volunteering in a changing immigration context. The afternoon also featured Sita Brand, CEO of Settle Stories, and a futurecast panel exploring what leadership in North Yorkshire might look like next.

Community First Yorkshire would like to thank all keynote speakers, workshop hosts, panellists, marketplace contributors, sponsors and delegates who helped shape the day.

Special thanks go to Kate Lee OBE and Sita Brand, whose contributions brought national insight, storytelling and challenge into the room. The event brochure described Kate’s keynote as exploring the pace of change facing charities, including shifting political landscapes, public trust and evolving funding models. Sita’s session focused on the power of story, with the message that “leadership starts with changing the story”.

The day also featured panel discussions on values-based leadership and the future of leadership in North Yorkshire. Contributors included Dena Dalton, Suhrab Bahman, Neil Cutler, Leon Fijalkowski, Amy Stott, Patrick Hoyle, Becky Lennon, David Sharp, Cherie Federico and Lara Oyedele.

Alongside the formal programme, Create 26 gave delegates the chance to connect with organisations and projects from across the sector. The highlights film features conversations about digital inclusion, AI, Village Green, impact, data storytelling, Plinth and safeguarding, showing the breadth of knowledge and support available across the VCSE landscape.

The video also captures the creative energy of the day, including reflections on the power of singing together and the impact of shared words, described as “transformational”. One attendee summed up the experience as “inspiring, motivating and empowering”.

Create 26 was designed to give people across North Yorkshire’s VCSE sector space to step back from day-to-day pressures, share ideas, build connections and look ahead with confidence.

Thank you to everyone who joined us, contributed, asked questions, shared experiences and helped create such a positive and purposeful day.

Watch the highlights video to see Create 26 in action.