These are the themes of our annual conference this year and it is going to be a great one - Salford CVS VCSE Conference 2026 - A century of voluntary and citizen action in Salford. We have exciting new developments in the plan for the conference.
Keynote speakers confirmed!
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.
Salford’s finest
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.
What difference could you make in this centenary year with £1,000?
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.
What does Salford and 100 years of community action mean to you? How can we build on it?
We want to hear from you and what your experience of living, working and volunteering in the Salford is? How we can best take forward the positive community action the city was built on. Come to the conference for interactive workshops and ways to get your voice heard and take Salford into the next 100 years.