The Charity Conference is back for 2026 and this year marks our 10th anniversary.
The theme this year is Thriving Through Adversity.
We know the charity sector is under real pressure, with increased demand for services, reduced financial support, fewer volunteers and trustees, and new challenges around digital transformation and impact reporting.
We wanted to create a conference that acknowledges the reality you face and brings together speakers who can offer practical guidance to help your charity adapt and thrive.
Last year, the conference was at full capacity, meaning we couldn't accommodate everyone who wanted to attend. This year, we have moved to the Black Country Living Museum, which offers a larger, more accessible space, with plenty of free parking.
The sessions
Governance through uncertainty
Kirsty McEwen and Tora Pickup, Charity & Not-For-Profit team, Higgs LLP
This session will focus on the governance, regulatory and constitutional foundations that charities need to ensure resilience when resources are stretched. Kirsty and Tora will discuss what trustees need to consider when making difficult decisions, how to ensure your governance structures and constitutional arrangements are fit for purpose, and how to effect necessary change whilst complying with charity law and Charity Commission requirements. You'll leave with practical strategies for regulatory compliance and governance best practices that will keep your charity effective and relevant.
How charities can communicate their impact more effectively
Ruth Pipkin, Managing Director, Rewired PR
Ruth's session will explore how charities can communicate their impact more effectively, even when budgets and capacity are tight. Drawing on her experience working with organisations including Children with Cancer, Cure Leukaemia and The Cadbury Foundation, she'll share practical strategies for turning impact reporting into a comms asset, cutting through the noise to reach your audience, and building donor loyalty in challenging times.
PJ Ellis - co-founder of LoveBrum
In this session, PJ shares an honest look at the hidden cost of charity leadership, including burnout, compassion fatigue and the emotional weight of purpose-driven work and offers practical tools for building sustainable resilience, creating honest organisational cultures, and leading with strength without losing yourself in the process.
PJ Ellis is co-founder of LoveBrum, a Birmingham charity that finds, funds and supports volunteer-led projects in the city's hardest-to-reach communities. For over a decade, he has operated at the frontline of civic leadership, raising over £2 million for good causes while running multiple businesses and raising a young family.
He also chairs the Lord Mayor of Birmingham's Charity and founded Mommy's Boy, a community supporting men through grief. As host of the Wit + Grit podcast, PJ explores confidence, resilience and connection as lived leadership disciplines.
Panel discussion
Kirsty McEwen will chair a panel discussion with charity CEOs, trustees and governance specialists. An honest conversation about what keeps charity leaders awake at night, the tough decisions they've made, lessons learned, and where they're finding opportunities despite the pressure.
Places for this event are limited, so early booking is recommended.
