Future North West: VSNW Conference and AGM 2026

'Future North West' will be held at the Imperial Hotel, Blackpool on 19th November 2026.

Future North West 2026 will bring together leaders from the voluntary, community, faith and social enterprise (VCFSE) sector, public services and partner organisations from across the region. Through keynote speeches, practical workshops and networking, the conference will explore how we can strengthen collaboration, work more effectively across places and collectively improve outcomes for communities across the North West.

Keynote

Kate Lee OBE, Chief Executive Officer of the National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO)

Breakout Sessions

From Trusting Communities to Empowering Citizens: The Future of Community Power
Panel: by Mike Coole, Vice Chair of Pride in Place, Tracy Hopkins, CEO of Citizens Advice Blackpool, and Liz Windsor-Welsh, CEO of Action Together

Great North: Strengthening VCFSE and Strategic Authority Collaboration
Panel: Jennifer Rouse, Strategic Lead of GMCA, and Gary Cliffe, CEO of Cheshire West Voluntary Action (CWVA)

From Community Insight to Research: Opportunities for the VCFSE Sector
Panel: Seonaid Beddows, Regional Community Engagement and Inclusion Manager of North West Regional Research Delivery Network (RRDN), Francesca McIntosh, Senior Research Engagement Coordinator of VSNW, and Garth Hodgkinson, CEO of Community CVS

Speed Networking

-

Refreshments and lunch will be provided. The event is free to attend, and is aimed at VCFSE leaders that are members, associates or partners of VSNW. If you're not yet a member, now is a great time to join us as a member and connect with peers across the region.

Thank you, we look forward to welcoming you to our conference and AGM.

Due to popular demand, this event is currently fully booked. You can still register to join our waiting list and receive the latest updates. We’ll be in touch if a place becomes available. Thank you for your interest and support!