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Women’s History Month 2026
Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future
March marks Women’s History Month — a time to celebrate the achievements, resilience and impact of women past and present. This year’s theme, “Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future,” feels especially powerful here in the East Riding.
Across our VCSE sector, women are not just contributing to change — they are driving it.
From grassroots organisations responding to local need, to the volunteers holding communities together behind the scenes, to CEOs leading large, complex charities, women across East Riding are shaping a more sustainable, compassionate and resilient future every single day.
Leading at Every Level
Sustainability in our sector is about more than environmental action. It’s about:
- Building organisations that can weather funding challenges
- Developing inclusive leadership pipelines
- Strengthening community voice and co-production
- Supporting the wellbeing of staff and volunteers
- Creating long-term impact rather than short-term fixes
Women across the VCSE landscape are leading this work
This is often quietly, often collaboratively, and always with deep commitment to their communities.
We see it in:
- The founder who started with a lived experience and built a trusted grassroots support group.
- The community hub manager ensuring no one is left without advice, warmth or connection.
- The trustee safeguarding governance and sustainability behind the scenes.
- The CEO steering a large charity through growth, transformation and partnership working.
- The volunteer who keeps the wheels turning week in, week out.
Each of these roles is leadership. Each is shaping the future of our sector.
Showcasing East Riding’s Women Leaders
Throughout March, the Community Development Team will be catching up with many of these inspiring women from across East Riding.
We’ll be sharing:
- Short spotlight features
- Leadership reflections
- Stories of challenge and resilience
- Insight into what “sustainable change” really looks like in practice
Our aim is simple: to recognise, celebrate and amplify the women who make our sector stronger.
Help Us Shine a Light
Do you know a strong female leader in the VCSE sector?
Perhaps she is:
- Running a small but mighty grassroots organisation
- Leading a vital community service
- Volunteering tirelessly behind the scenes
- Supporting governance as a trustee
- Championing collaboration across partnerships
- Or shaping strategic change at CEO or senior level
We want to hear about her.
A Sector Shaped by Women
The VCSE sector has always been powered by women — often balancing professional leadership with caring responsibilities, volunteering commitments, and community activism.
“Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future” is not just a theme. It reflects what we see across East Riding every day.
To all the women leading from the front, from the middle, and from behind the scenes — thank you. Your work strengthens communities, supports the most vulnerable, and builds a future that is more equitable, resilient and sustainable for everyone.
