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This Is The North 2026: People's Powerhouse Convention in Scarborough
VCSE organisations across the East Riding may be interested to know about This Is The North 2026, the annual People's Powerhouse convention taking place in Scarborough on Tuesday 15 September 2026.
The event brings together people from communities, voluntary and community organisations, social enterprises, public services and businesses, alongside people with lived experience, to explore some of the issues affecting communities across the North.
This year's theme is Deep Wells, High Ambitions, focusing on the knowledge, experience and strengths that already exist within communities and how these can contribute to creating a fairer, healthier and more inclusive North.
What will the convention explore?
The People's Powerhouse approach places a strong emphasis on lived experience, local knowledge and community voice, including how people and communities can be more meaningfully involved in decisions which affect them.
The convention will explore five broad ambitions:
- Good lives
- Real opportunity
- Equity
- Agency
- Togetherness
A number of the themes being discussed may be particularly relevant to VCSE organisations working across the East Riding, including neighbourhoods, health and wellbeing, prevention, inequality, youth voice, housing, food security, community involvement and representation.
What's happening on the day?
Rather than following a traditional conference format, This Is The North includes a mixture of workshops, discussions, speakers, community voices, creative activities and opportunities for networking and conversation.
Sessions include discussions around what makes neighbourhoods thrive, health creation and prevention, alongside conversations about trust, accountability, representation and how communities are involved in decision-making.
The wider programme also includes opportunities for more informal networking and activities, followed by an evening programme, The North Celebrates
Support with attending
People's Powerhouse recognises that the cost of attending events can be a barrier, particularly for individuals and smaller community organisations.
Information on the event website states that support with the costs of attending is available for those who might otherwise find the cost of getting to Scarborough a barrier, with no means test.
Further details about this support are available through the event website.
Event details
- This Is The North 2026
- Date: Tuesday 15 September 2026
- Venue: Scarborough Spa, South Bay, Scarborough, YO11 2HD
- Main programme: From 9am, with activities continuing into the evening
There is also a welcome reception on Monday 14 September for those arriving the evening before.
Find out more
VCSE organisations interested in the themes being explored can find further information about the programme, speakers, workshops, accessibility and registration directly from People's Powerhouse.
