VCSE Big Meet 2026 Brings Together Local Sector Leaders

Annual event gathers voluntary sector representatives in Bradford

The VCSE Big Meet 2026 was held on Thursday 23 April at the Great Victoria Hotel in Bradford. The event was organised by Community Action Bradford & District and aimed to provide a platform for people involved in the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector to connect, share insights, and discuss key issues affecting the sector locally.

A total of 96 attendees participated, including Chairs, Trustees, leaders, and other professionals from various voluntary organisations. The event featured five speakers representing over 13 voluntary sector organisations, who shared their experiences and expertise during the sessions.

Speakers and panel members

• Debra Allcock Tyler – Chief Executive at Directory of Social Change; Trustee of In-Kind Direct; co-Chair of the Soldiering On Awards; involved in public sector governance roles
• Carol Peltier – Co-Founder and Chair of the Black Health Forum; Chair of the Women’s Health Network; first female Chair of the Race Equality Network
• James Brown – CEO of Active Bradford; Trustee of PSC Support
• Kaneez Khan – Faith and Communities Coordinator at Wellsprings Together; Founder of Primrose Consultancy
• Javed Khan – CEO of Bradford District Community Empowerment Network (CNet); Centre Manager at West Bowling Community Advice and Training Centre

Presentation slides from James Brown and Carol Peltier were made available for attendees to review after the event.

Feedback and future plans

Feedback collected during and after the event indicated a positive reception overall. Attendees were invited to complete a survey to provide further comments, including suggestions for improvements.

Based on the feedback, the organisers plan several changes for next year’s event:

• Reassessing the venue choice to improve ventilation and manage noise levels from catering staff
• Clarifying food service timings and providing a dedicated space for early arrivals to eat together
• Managing waitlist tickets offline via email and direct contact with eligible organisations to reduce confusion
• Allowing more time for keynote speakers to avoid overruns
• Moving the event from April to later in the year, around September

The change in timing is partly to accommodate the return of the Bradford Big Advice Day in late June, which will feature a marketplace of voluntary sector support organisations, funders, businesses, and workshops.

Acknowledgements

Thanks were extended to the speakers, attendees, the Great Victoria Hotel for hosting the event, and the chef for providing an inclusive menu. The event also received support from sponsors including:

• AideCRM – Contact via terry@pipemediadesign.co.uk
• Access Insurance – Phone: 0333 344 7420
• Bradford Community Payroll and Accounts – Email: payroll@bradfordcpa.co.uk; Phone: 01274 787 800

Organisers noted that smaller organisations with an annual income under £100,000 may be eligible for three months of free payroll and onboarding services with Bradford Community Payroll and Accounts using the code EasyStart.