HEY Confident Futures celebrates five incredible years of nurturing connected, collaborative, generous leaders across Hull & East Yorkshire
Last week, something special happened at Hull Truck Theatre. Leaders from across Hull and East Yorkshire came together to celebrate five years of HEY Confident Futures, a network rooted in connection, collaboration, and the belief that generous leadership can transform communities.
What started as a simple idea has grown into a thriving community of over 560 members, each committed to building a stronger, kinder region. The day was filled with joy, reflection, and a powerful sense of shared purpose.
A moment to reflect
As Paula, our Programme Manager, said so beautifully…
“Today is all about celebrating how far we’ve come together to create a shared vision of a connected, collaborative, nurturing network of generous leaders — not in some kind of performative or tokenistic way, but by creating real, deep connections between leaders, built on trust, shared values, and passion and purpose.”
That ethos was felt in every conversation and every story shared.
Stories that show leadership in action
Dianne Hamilton from Goodwin Development Trust spoke about her journey into co-leadership, and how that approach has transformed the way she leads, showing that shared responsibility can be powerful and freeing. Jenna Little from Cornerhouse gave us a glimpse into their upcoming Youth Summit, highlighting the importance of creating space for young voices in leadership conversations.
Severine Kipili of Bora Shabaa captured the network perfectly when she said
“Together, we’re not just imagining a better Hull. We’re building it.”
Natalie Spiking from Age UK Hull & East Yorkshire touched hearts when she spoke about Bee Lady Day, a moving project that honours Hull’s beloved Jean Bishop, affectionately known as “The Bee Lady.” Natalie reminded us that sometimes the smallest actions can have the biggest impact, and that kindness, community and legacy are powerful drivers of change.
And our final speaker, Alison Stannard, CEO at Sight Support, closed the day with a deeply personal reflection on the impact of the Senior Leaders Community. She spoke about how the network had offered her a sense of safety and solidarity; knowing you have the support of other leaders beside you makes a real difference.
A network that supports real change
Adding to the theme of connection and shared growth, David Gent, CEO of Active Humber, spoke about what being part of HEY Confident Futures has meant for him and his team.
“As a long-time member of HEY Confident Futures, I’ve seen how this network supports not just me, but our whole team at Active Humber. Several colleagues have taken part in the training and coaching, and it’s become part of how we grow and support each other as leaders.
What makes HEYCF truly special is the authentic community it’s built. It brings people together from across the VCSE sector, no matter their role. Everyone shows up with openness and honesty, and from that come powerful ideas and real actions that make a difference not just in their organisations, but across the region.
The celebration event showed how this network lives its values: connected, collaborative, generous leadership with no hierarchy, just people doing great work and supporting each other. I was inspired by the big strategic impact and the unexpected partnerships, like the RSPCA teaming up with Hull Minster. That’s the power of HEYCF, it creates space where meaningful connections thrive.”
And of course, it wouldn’t be a HEY Confident Futures celebration without a bit of fun. The big quiz brought plenty of laughs and a spark of competition, with John Gilbert taking the well-earned crown as our quiz champion!
As we reflect on the journey so far, we want to say a heartfelt thank you to our funders. The National Lottery has supported us since 2020, helping the network grow and thrive. And a special thanks to the Rank Foundation, who backed us at the very beginning and helped bring this vision to life.
So what’s next?
As we look ahead to the next five years, we do so with optimism, energy, and a deep belief in what this network can continue to achieve. If you’re not already part of HEY Confident Futures, now is the perfect time to join us. There’s space here for every kind of leader, whether you’re just beginning your journey or have been walking it for years. You can sign up here.
Here’s to the next five years.