This year has been incredibly busy for our members, activists, and reps across both regions—and for the regional team too. It’s been a privilege to meet so many of you in your workplaces, and at national and regional events, though I was sorry to miss Congress this year due to ill health.

 

Celebrating Our 2025 Achievements

• Member support: We’ve supported members and opened over 1,637 cases across the two regions.
• Branch engagement: Our branches hosted 39 meetings and learning events, strengthening local networks.
• Independent health and social care: The regional network delivered 29 lunch-and-learn sessions, development events and a leadership challenge.
• Broader outreach: We ran 50 additional events covering pay, professional development, and support for global majority members, and students.

 

Recognising excellence

York nurse Anne Penny and Durham nursing support worker Kevin Morley received the RCN Award of Merit, the College’s highest honour for voluntary service. Whilst Joan Pons Laplana, RCN Yorkshire & the Humber Board member, was named ‘Ally of the Year’ at the 2025 BAME Awards.

 

Growing together

Membership continues to grow across a diverse nursing profession in both the NHS and independent health and social care. This was reflected in a record number of first-time Congress attendees from our regions travelling to Liverpool for the event in May.

 

Driving safe staffing

Nursing is the largest safety-critical profession in health care. Getting the right number of skilled staff is a matter of life and death. In May, we relaunched our Nursing Workforce Standards, reinforcing our commitment to safe staffing; access to continuing professional development and healthy and safe working environments.

Looking ahead, 2026 will see the creation of an England-wide Safe Staffing Member Group, providing strategic oversight and expert input into this vital work.

 

Celebrating diversity

In October, we welcomed RCN President Bejoy Sebastian and Dame Elizabeth Anionwu to Leeds for our Black History Month event, Standing Firm in Power and Pride. The event honoured the contributions of Black and ethnic minority communities while addressing rising reports of racism in the NHS. Bejoy delivered an inspiring speech, and Dame Elizabeth reflected on her pioneering career as the UK’s first Sickle Cell Nurse.

The Northern region event Overcoming discrimination brought together a range of inspirational speakers with our Northern Global Majority Network members for their celebration of Black History Month. It was great to meet so many enthusiastic and engaged members, who helped to make this special event one to remember.

 

Farewell and thanks

We say goodbye to Rachel Hollis, who steps down as Chair and the Yorkshire and the Humber member of the Professional Nursing Committee at the end of the year. Rachel’s exceptional contribution includes the development of the RCN Nursing Workforce Standards, a lasting legacy that empowers nurses to advocate for better workplace standards.

 

Our Focus for 2026

Securing fair pay for our members remains at the very top of our agenda, alongside safe staffing. That’s why we have stepped away from the Pay Review Body process and are demanding direct negotiations with the Government. We believe structural reform is essential to deliver the lasting change you deserve.

2026 will be another busy and important year for all of us. Before we get there, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year on behalf of the entire team at RCN Northern and Yorkshire & Humber. I hope you’re able to take a well-earned break and spend time with friends and family. And finally, an enormous thank you for everything you do.