YMCA Strategic Leadership Course: By strengthening leaders we strengthen organisations
Organiser: YMCA Europe
The course is based on the curriculum of YMCA England & Wales
The course is a part of implementation of YMCA Europe Strategy, and YMCA Europe’s Movement Strengthening Strategy in particular.
Who will benefit most:
Key leaders of organisations thinking and operating on a strategic level, having responsibilities and rights of initiating, leading and implementing the strategy and organisational change. They are Senior Staff Team members and Board members, who feel the need to raise the level of competences in systematic organisational development processes; having ambitions to lead the change in organisations and grow as professionals.
The group will consist of 20-25 persons.
Goal: strengthening the YMCA movement in its approach to strategic vision, capacity building and sustainability – improving efficiency and enhancing social impact
- Raising the level of competences of key decision-making and operational leaders of YMCAs in the spheres of strategy, organisational culture, organisational change, sustainability and financial management;
- Preparing leaders for organisational analysis and implementing change process within their organisations;
- Creating an ‘International Network of Experts’ in Organisational Development leading change in their organisations and internationally.
Timeframe: November 2025 – April 2026
Expert involved: Simon Frost.
Short bio: With 25 years of experience in professional development within the youth sector, Simon has been a champion of transformative youth work and leadership development across the UK. His career spans frontline facilitation, strategic programme design, and delivery, grounded in a deep commitment to relational practice and impact-led leadership.
Simon’s long-standing association with the YMCA demonstrates his passion for creating inclusive, reflective environments that empower young people and professionals alike. Recently, he led the Strategic Leadership and Management Programme at YMCA England & Wales, supporting strategic leaders across the four nations to foster resilient, values-driven leadership within their communities.
As an advocate for the youth sector, Simon combines practice and theory with clarity and creativity, drawing on experiential learning and strategic insight to develop innovative pathways for professional development and organisational change.
Format:
The programme comprises 3 units. Each unit is delivered over 2 sessions lasting 4 hours each, online.
Online sessions will include theoretical inputs, mini-groups and joint discussions, individual reflections.
There is a practical assignment after each session.
A possibility of one free individual coaching session (with Olga Lukina) is included.
Time commitment:
24 hours of online sessions.
Near 21 hours for practical tasks.
In total the time commitment for the programme is 45-50 hours spread across six months.
Timetable of the sessions:
Every second Tuesday of the month (November 2025 – April 2026), 14.00 CET online
More detailed timetable can be found here: Strategic Leadership Course Calendar
Language: English
Certification: YMCA Europe Certificates of Participation or Completion, no official grade, no credits
Added Value:
The practical assignments help participants to begin building a professional portfolio of their learning.
Creation of International network of experts in organisational development.
Thematic Blocks:
I. Context and Strategic vision
II. Organisational Change and Culture.
III. Succession and Leadership Development
Expected Learning Outcomes:
Context and Strategic vision:
- To develop your ability to analyse context strategically and to implement the findings into a vision, values, strategic and financial plans. Undertake an analysis of the operating context of your organisation drawing on available data sets in the form of a strategic plan.
- To understand how to create a compelling vision for the strategy. To write a communication plan for the organisational position.
Organisational Culture and Change:
- To understand and identify the most effective organisational structure for the organisation’s aims and activities, including hierarchy, teams, departments, benefits and disadvantages of each.
- To understand what Organisational Culture is, to analyse the current organisational culture and the gap there may be with your desired culture.
- To understand the strengths of System Leadership and its practices. To assess the relevance and practicality of System Leadership in your organisation.
- To understand the Process of Change and tools to lead change successfully. To write a plan to manage a change in your own organisation.
Succession and Leadership Development:
- To understand how to prepare the organisation for future leadership. To analyse organisational needs and prepare a plan for hand over to new leadership.
- To understand how to develop leadership skills in others and to prepare them for leadership. To analyse the senior team’s leadership skills and develop a plan to ensure they are ready to step up to executive leadership.
- To reflect on your personal contribution to the organisation and overall impact within role. Identify how you will manage your departure and next steps.
The full course fee is 1,500 euros per person. Thanks to a YMCA Europe subsidy, you only need to commit to one of the following amounts:
250 euros if you apply by October 1, 2025
270 euros if you apply between October 2 and October 25, 2025
330 euros if you apply after October 26, 2025
Application Form: https://forms.gle/gffqk7sdfuqDDnQR7
If you have any questions, contact the director of the course Olga Lukina: olga[at]ymcaeurope.com
