Every four years, the global YMCA movement comes together for one of its most significant gatherings, the YMCA World Council. Bringing together colleagues, leaders and delegates from across more than 100 countries, it is a space to share learning, explore challenges, and shape the future of the movement.
In July 2026, YMCA Fairthorne Group will be part of that global conversation, with a delegation travelling to Toronto to represent the organisation and bring insight back to our teams.
Among them is Jo Pike, Volunteer Manager, whose role spans local, corporate and international volunteering.
“I support all volunteering activities across the organisation,” Jo explains. “That includes individuals giving their time to support our services, corporate volunteers helping improve our spaces, and staff who volunteer at events like YCF. I also support our international volunteering programme, bringing volunteers from across the world to Fairthorne Manor.”
A Global Perspective
For Jo, applying to attend World Council felt like a natural extension of the work she already does.
“I love working with our international partners,” she says. “I’d really like to grow this area of our programme – bringing in volunteers from other countries and sharing our cultures in both directions”.
A Meaningful Opportunity
Having been part of YMCA Fairthorne Group for eight years, Jo understands just how significant this opportunity is.
“I was really pleased when I found out I’d been selected,” she shares. “I know places on these trips are limited, and I’m very aware that the experiences and learning from the event will be really important to bring back and share with others.”
For Jo, the opportunity to represent Fairthorne on a global stage carries both pride and purpose.
“It’s a great opportunity to represent at that level,” she says. “Being able to share what we do here with people from other countries is truly exciting. And I hope others will be able to take a little bit of Fairthorne back home with them too.”
Learning Through Experience
What Jo is most looking forward to is seeing YMCA work in action beyond Fairthorne.
“I’m really excited about the excursions and seeing the work of the Toronto YMCA in their local settings,” she explains. “Having worked with previous World Council delegates to implement ideas from past events, I’m looking forward to seeing what we can bring back and adapt.”
Her interest in learning also extends into how volunteering operates globally.
“I’d love to understand more about how volunteering works in other countries – and even across the UK,” she says. “There are so many different approaches, and being able to explore those together will be really valuable.”
She’s also looking forward to hearing from keynote speakers, including Chris Hadfield.
“I’ve watched interviews with him from when he commanded the International Space Station back in 2013,” Jo says. “It will be fascinating to see what lessons we can learn about leadership and resilience from his experience.”
Bringing Ideas Back
Jo is particularly excited about one element of the programme – the Tomorrow Party.
“I’ll be hosting and guiding one of the rooms of international delegates,” she explains. “It’s all about imagining the future and then delivering on it. It looks incredibly inspiring, and I’m really looking forward to bringing some of that thinking and those skills back to our own YMCA.”
A Broader View
For Jo, one of the biggest impacts of the experience will be exposure to new ways of thinking.
“I’m hoping that meeting such a diverse range of people, with different approaches and mindsets, will be as inspiring as I expect it to be,” she says. “It’s a real opportunity to bring back new ideas and ways of working.”
A Message to Colleagues
Even ahead of the event, Jo is already feeling the energy building.
“We’ve just started some of the pre-event training, and you can already feel the excitement growing,” she shares. “Being involved in something like this really opens your eyes to what’s happening elsewhere – the challenges others face, and how similar we often are.”
For Jo, that connection is what makes the experience so valuable.
“Any effort we can make to widen our knowledge and approaches can only be a good thing for our own local communities.”
This is just the beginning of the journey.
Over the coming months, we’ll continue to share insights from colleagues attending the YMCA World Council – and, following the event, the learning and experiences they bring back to YMCA Fairthorne Group.
Because while our work happens locally, it is part of a global movement – and the impact of that connection is something we all share.
