A meeting built for action
The Stockholm agenda was designed to accelerate delivery. The team came together to:
- advance and update the SAMS Action Plan;
- finalise key Movement Strengthening tools and prepare for global rollout;
- strengthen how partners coordinate support across the Movement;
- begin shaping a compelling case to resource this work sustainably;
- prepare for SAMS presence at World Council;
- and learn directly from YWCA-YMCA Sweden and local YMCA practice.
What are the key outcomes?
1) The SAMS Action Plan moves forward, with shared ownership
A key outcome of Stockholm was an updated and agreed Action Plan for 2026, along with confirmed sub-working groups to drive specific actions forward.
2) A major milestone: the Health Assessment and Organisational Development Plan prepare for rollout
One of the most exciting breakthroughs in Stockholm was the agreed deployment plan for two key tools that will help National Movements strengthen organisational health in a consistent and supportive way:
- the joint Health Assessment (HA)
- the joint Organisational Development Plan (ODP)
These 2 tools were piloted throughout 2025 with 23 National YMCAs across all regions, through the Area Alliances. Based on the feedback received, final versions were created, and the process was improved to match the needs and expectations of member Movements.
The team confirmed a clear path to launch:
- a final digital workflow supported by a PowerBI dashboard process enabled by a staff member from YMCA England & Wales;
- an official launch Movement-wide by the end of Q1 2026, through World YMCA and the Area Alliances;
- one webinar per region in Q1-Q2 2026;
- implementation continuing until approximately Q4 2026, followed by a revision and iteration cycle later in 2026;
- and a progress report planned at the end of the 2026 cycle;
Just as importantly, Stockholm opened up an honest and practical discussion: what happens after the Health Assessment and ODP? The team began mapping different support pathways depending on need, recognising that some YMCAs may need urgent crisis support, others structured organisational development, and others peer-based learning and mentoring.
This approach closely aligns with the strategy’s principles: local leadership, cultural and context sensitivity, evidence-based improvement, mutual learning, and transparency, so that the process remains supportive, not bureaucratic.
3) Stronger coordination between partners
Movement Strengthening is already happening across the YMCA ecosystem. In Stockholm, the focus was on making that support more connected, more visible, and more strategic, so efforts reinforce one another and reach further.
Together, participants agreed to strengthen how the Movement coordinates and shares information about support activities, and to further develop common ways of working that make collaboration clearer, smoother, and more effective across regions. They also explored new approaches to deepen peer-to-peer exchange and mentoring, helping YMCAs learn from one another and stay supported throughout their development journeys.
An enhanced Partnership Coordination Mechanism will be piloted throughout 2026.
4) A shared commitment to resource Movement Strengthening sustainably
Stockholm also marked the start of a focused push to build a stronger resourcing base for SAMS work. A key takeaway from the discussion was that resourcing this work is a collective effort, not the responsibility of any single YMCA or region. A first draft of the resourcing needs was also created.
A working group was formed to develop the “case for support” through 2026, bringing together listening exercises, a strong narrative about why this work matters, and practical mechanisms for mobilising resources.
The team also surfaced important lessons for impact and efficiency, such as how co-funding unlocks major government grants for global Movement Strengthening, and how strategic reallocation of existing funds can significantly increase reach.
5) SAMS at World Council: building a culture of continuous improvement
With World Council ahead, Stockholm also helped shape how SAMS can contribute to a Movement-wide shift.
The SAMS Global Team agreed that a central aim for World Council engagement is promoting a culture of continuous organisational development across all YMCAs, with a small working group convened to develop the official proposal.
This is the strategy’s “north star” in action: a YMCA Movement where learning, reflection, and improvement are normal, where every YMCA, regardless of size, is both a learner and a contributor.
Hosted in Sweden, the meeting also made space for learning and inspiration. YWCA-YMCA Sweden shared its work, and participants also heard from the local YMCA KFUM Central, grounding global conversations in real community practice.
