Salford CVS are pleased to announce that our annual Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) Conference is returning on Thursday 29th October 2026 and will be held in person at Salford Community Stadium.
Last year our annual conference was: Live Well - What would it take for everyone in Salford to be able to Live Well where key speakers raised awareness of the Live Well programme and explored the impact on the VCSE sector in Salford.
At this year’s conference, we are celebrating Salford's Centenary year – more specifically:
A century of voluntary and citizen action in Salford.
Join Salford CVS and colleagues from across our sector as we look at how the history of Salford has shaped the city we know and love today. We will also be celebrating the 100 years and looking at how the VCSE sector will shape the next 100 years.
This conference is free of charge and is aimed at voluntary organisations, community groups, charities and social enterprises who operate in Salford for the benefit of Salford residents.
Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, will be speaking at the event and reflecting on the role of the VCSE sector in Salford over the last 100 years. Paul Dennett is the directly elected City Mayor of Salford and Deputy Mayor of Greater Manchester, recognised for his commitment to social justice, housing, equality, and inclusive economic growth. First elected as Salford’s City Mayor in 2016 and subsequently re-elected in 2021 and 2024, he has championed policies focused on tackling poverty, increasing affordable housing, promoting the real Living Wage, and improving opportunities for local communities.
We are delighted that artist Chelsea Davies has also confirmed and will open the event. We wanted the morning to open with someone whose work shows what Salford's community spirit looks like now. Chelsea is Salford born and bred, and it’s evident in everything she paints. As the first Artist in Residence at Salford Shopping Centre, and through her exhibitions at Langworthy Cornerstone, she's put the city's own history and people (L.S. Lowry, Shelagh Delaney, Salford Lads Club, the old Shopping City sign) back in front of the people who pass them every day. Her 2024 charity calendar, in partnership with the Ceremonial Mayor's office, raised money for St Ann's Hospice, START and the Agnes Hopkins Community Centre.
As well as the above keynote speakers, we will have local poet Kieren King. We'll also hear from famous Salfordians including Dr John Cooper Clarke, Mike Sweeney and Christopher Eccleston, as well as honorary Salfordian Maxine Peake, on what Salford means to them, through a series of short films.
Also appearing is songstress, choir director and vocal coach Zena Taylor, who will be providing excellent entertainment.
Event details:
- Free for VCSE organisations working in Salford for the benefit of local people (spaces are limited to two representatives per group/organisation)
- Refreshments, including a vegetarian / vegan buffet lunch, will be provided
- Wheelchair-accessible venue (please indicate any specific access requirements when booking)
- BSL interpreters will be with us throughout the day
- Hearing loops provided (please indicate if you require one on the booking form)
- We aim for this conference to be inclusive to everyone – so if you have difficulties in traveling to Salford Community Stadium, please contact office@salfordcvs.co.uk
See our page of Useful Travel Information
Workshops:
Morning Workshops
Dirty Old Town - As Salford marks 100 years, who gets to tell its story and what should its cultural future look like?
Class and Cobbles - Positive movements to overcome class struggles. We will look at Salford's social history and class struggles and how Salford's VCSE organisations helped to positively influence change.
From Docks to Dock 10 - From docks, warehouses, and industry, to the physical transformation to Salford Quays.
Horrible Histories - Exploring the more controversial sides of Salford's past
Afternoon Workshops
More in Common - As the force of division in society grows stronger, with social media magnifying the loudest and most extreme voices, how can we counteract this with what we have in common rather than what divides us.
Grey Power - How will older people’s needs change... and will Salford be age proof?
Driving Change: the VCSE in the driving seat – How do we make sure the VCSE sector is the driving force in Salford’s future, so communities have the power, recognition and resources to lead change?
Community Power: How can community voice help shape our future? - Turning local knowledge into real influence and change for Salford's next 100 years
Pitch in 100 seconds
Those who have attended a Salford CVS AGM will be familiar with our "Pitch in 60 seconds" opportunity. This year we are moving this from our AGM to our Annual Conference for a Centenary special – "Pitch in 100 seconds!"
We will be giving VCSE organisations the chance to pitch for £1,000. Organisation names will be drawn from a hat, and 10 organisations will pitch to the room.
The pitch will be on “what difference could your organisation make in Salford during this Centenary year with £1,000”.
There will be a vote, and the organisation with the highest vote will win £1,000.
This is open to any VCSE organisation based in or delivering in Salford (you do not need to members of Salford CVS to pitch).
The pitch will take place at approximately 3.50pm and you must be booked on to attend the conference for the full day in order to take part.
The rules:
1. You are a VCSE organisation based in or delivering in Salford
2. You attend ALL of the conference from 9.30am – 4.30pm
3. You take no more than 100 seconds to clearly pitch how your organisation will make a difference in Salford with £1,000
4. The money is to be spent on charitable activities which clearly benefit the people of Salford
5. No presentation slides or props are to be used
6. There will only be one winner chosen from the highest number of votes. You cannot vote for your own group.
To sign up to pitch, please select ‘yes’ to the Pitch in 100 seconds question in the booking form. Those who have opted to pitch will be contacted prior to the conference.
Booking:
The information you provide to us will only be used to communicate with you about the event you are booking onto. This will include sending confirmations, joining instructions and post-event feedback and information.
Our conference is for voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations that work in Salford.
Maximum of two attendees per organisation. Places are free for VCSE organisations
Please click 'register now' to book your place.
1 Stadium Way
Eccles
Salford, M30 7EY
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