Remembering Hayley Granston

We were shocked and saddened to learn of the passing of Hayley Granston, who contributed so much to Create over many years. Hayley died on Tuesday 21 July 2026, following a cancer diagnosis just weeks earlier.

Hayley gave so generously of her time, experience and energy to support Create’s mission. She joined our Development Council in 2020, where she assisted with our fundraising and contributed to our income generation strategy. In 2024, she moved across to our Communications Council. Here she brought her skills and expertise to the continuing development of our communications and marketing strategy, helping us grow our audience and income.

Hayley’s ideas, connections and hands-on support contributed to the success of many key Create projects, including Create Week – an annual celebration of creativity – our Create Conversations webinars, and several PR and fundraising campaigns. All of these underpin our frontline work, bringing the power of creativity to the most isolated and vulnerable children and adults across the UK.

Hayley was also an advocate for our mission in her personal life and often spoke passionately of what her involvement with Create meant to her.

Hayley brought her positive and bright personality, her keen intellect and deep expertise, her humour and her boundless enthusiasm to every meeting, task and interaction. She had an effervescent energy and was a delight to be around. I will feel endlessly grateful that we were able to draw on her incredible warmth and wisdom for so many years.

I had the privilege of attending her funeral on Sunday and was struck by the number of people attending, testament to the numerous lives she touched and the wonderfully positive legacy she leaves. I was also moved by the outpouring of love and appreciation from those who had come from across the world to mourn her passing and honour her memory.

We are deeply touched and honoured that Create was chosen by Hayley’s family as the charity to receive donations in Hayley’s honour. “It was a no brainer,” her sister Elaine told me, “Hayley talked about you so much – she loved the charity and the impact you make.” We have already received many generous gifts supporting our mission in her memory. In death, as well as in life, Hayley continues to be an inspiration.

Hayley will be greatly missed by the team at Create, our Communications Council and by me. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with her family, friends and loved ones.

Nicky Goulder MBE
Founding Chief Executive, Create