SEK NEWS | NOVEMBER 2026
Social Value in Action 2026: Fresh Ideas, Big Conversations and New Connections!
A room full of people, conversations buzzing and plenty of fresh thinking! Social Value in Action 2026 brought together inspiring speakers, practical ideas and people passionate about making a difference. And what a day it was!
On Thursday 5 November, Social Enterprise Kent welcomed delegates from across the VCSE, public, health and business sectors to our annual conference at Aylesham Community Trust.
From the moment doors opened, there was a real sense of excitement. Familiar faces catching up, new introductions being made and conversations beginning long before the first speaker took to the stage.
With a brilliant line-up of speakers and plenty of opportunities to learn, share experiences and connect, the day certainly lived up to its name!
Putting people at the heart of social value
Following a welcome from our CEO Rebecca Smith, Jacob McMahon from Social Enterprise UK opened the programme with a national perspective on social value.
Looking beyond policies and frameworks, Jacob encouraged social enterprises to play a more active role in shaping how social value is delivered locally, working alongside commissioners, local authorities and public services.
“The value of engaging with people is really what’s going to drive this forward.”
Jacob McMahon | Social Enterprise UK
Adam Lent from The King’s Fund then challenged us to rethink what progress really means.
Introducing his concept of civic growth, Adam explored how stronger relationships, community involvement and a sense of belonging can contribute to healthier, happier places, offering a different perspective on traditional economic growth.
“We can expand and deepen our social and human connections over time.”
Adam Lent | The King’s Fund
Together, their contributions set the tone for a day focused on the importance of people, places and the relationships that bring them together.
Social investment: Let’s talk about it!
Funding is rarely far from the minds of charities and social enterprises, but how much do we really know about social investment?
Melanie Mills from Better Society Capital brought energy, humour and practical advice to a subject that can sometimes feel daunting.
Through real examples and an entertaining true-or-false quiz, Melanie challenged common misconceptions about borrowing, funding and who can benefit from social investment.
One particularly reassuring takeaway was that exploring financial options doesn’t always begin with a complicated application.
“It is much more relationship-based.”
Melanie Mills | Better Society Capital
Collaboration: From good intentions to real action
The discussion continued with our Social Value in Conversation panel, chaired by SEK’s Director of Social Value, Gina English, alongside Jacob McMahon, Adam Lent, Melanie Mills and Melanie Rogers.
The panel explored some of the challenges organisations face, from stretched resources and funding pressures to delivering social value commitments without adequate support.
Melanie Rogers encouraged a more coordinated approach, bringing businesses, local authorities and community organisations together to make better use of their collective resources.
When Gina asked the panellists what one thing they would change, Melanie’s response was clear:
“I would make it more collaborative.”
Melanie Rogers | Melanie Rogers Social Value
It was an honest discussion that highlighted both the pressures facing the sector and the opportunities to achieve more by working together.
Good food, great conversations and fresh ideas
After a lovely lunch and a chance to make new connections, the afternoon shifted towards creative storytelling and innovation.
Lucy Ferguson MBE from Mediorite encouraged delegates to look at their work through the eyes of their audience.
Who are we trying to reach? What do we want them to understand? And whose experiences could bring our stories to life?
A QUESTION TO TAKE AWAY
What could you show? What could you tell?
Inspired by Lucy Ferguson’s creative storytelling workshop.
Through an interactive workshop, Lucy shared practical ideas for capturing meaningful content, encouraging organisations to think ahead and recognise the stories already unfolding around them.
Next, Ceci Sutcliffe from Plinth demonstrated how AI could make everyday tasks easier for charities and community organisations, from funding applications to managing information and demonstrating impact.
She also introduced Blink, a new tool designed to make Charity Commission information more accessible by bringing together data from over one million publicly available PDFs.
While the possibilities were exciting, Ceci emphasised the importance of keeping
“The human in the loop.”
A principle highlighted by Ceci Sutcliffe | Plinth
ensuring technology supports informed decisions rather than replacing human judgement.
Both sessions offered fresh approaches to communicating impact and making better use of the tools and information available.
Opening doors and listening to communities
Opening doors and listening to communitiesHelen Robertson from the National Trust brought a different perspective to the afternoon, exploring how heritage, volunteering and local partnerships can create opportunities and make spaces more inclusive.
Drawing on her work with museums, the National Trust and Broadstairs Town Shed, Helen highlighted why organisations need to involve communities in shaping the places and services around them.
“It’s not necessarily about what we want. It’s what do the community want?”
Helen Robertson | National Trust
Her message was a timely reminder that meaningful engagement begins with listening and understanding people’s needs.
Our CEO Rebecca Smith also shared updates on the progress and future ambitions of the Social Impact Gateway, alongside opportunities through the Social Impact Lab, Enhanced Business Support, funded training and AI skills development.
Bringing the conference to a close, Jacob McMahon returned to a theme that had run throughout the day: making time for collaboration.
“Collaboration is not just something that you can do in your spare time.”
Jacob McMahon | Social Enterprise UK
His closing message encouraged organisations to start small, protect time for partnerships and focus on what they can achieve together.
A day worth talking about!
What made Social Value in Action 2026 so special wasn’t just the fantastic speakers or the ideas shared on stage. It was the atmosphere, the enthusiasm and the conversations happening everywhere you looked.
From lively discussions during the sessions to introductions over coffee and lunch, it was wonderful to see so many people exchanging experiences, discovering common interests and making connections.
A huge thank you to everyone who joined us, our speakers and panellists, and the team behind the scenes who helped make the day such a success!
It was a pleasure to bring everyone together at Aylesham Community Trust, which provided a welcoming setting for the day.
We hope everyone left with fresh ideas, useful connections and renewed enthusiasm for the work they do.
And we’re already looking forward to the next opportunity to bring people together. Who knows what new ideas and partnerships it might spark?