Sharing the impact of Youth Work
Every youth worker can tell you how their work has helped shape the lives of ngā rangatahi they work with; who was able to get their driver's license, who developed the confidence that helped them get a part-time job or who would have ended up in the youth justice system with their help. They know the courage and determination it takes each young person to confront their personal challenges.
Too often, this impact goes unseen or isn’t recognised in the way it should be. Our 'Youth Work Impact Project' mahi with Hands for Impact is all about telling the story of Youth Work's collective impact in Aotearoa. Together, we are creating an SROI analysis and ratio that will demonstrate the impact of our sector, the 'social value' we are bringing to communities across the motu, and to support youth organisations to better tell their own story.
This mahi builds on our recent Mahi Tūturu research report on the landscape of Youth Work in Aotearoa, expanding the evidence base for the amazing Youth Work happening in Aotearoa.
Stages of the project
Testing our approach in a Youth Work context
In partnership with two youth organisations we created in-depth SROI forecasts. This allowed us to test our tools, refine our approach, and ground the project in the realities of youth work practice.
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Published Q1 2026
Exploring the sector's experience
A Working Group of frontline and leadership Youth Work practitioners are helping to map key outcomes and explore how change happens.
A broader review network, including funders, government officials and researchers will reflect on the findings to ensure they are aligned with sector experience.
Q1-Q3 2026
Publication our findings and learnings
Publication of our sector wide impact measurements, telling the story of the impact of Youth Work in Aotearoa, and sharing practical recommendations for the sector.
Together with our Mahi Tūturu mahi, this analysis will strengthen the sector's ability to measure, communicate, and grow their social impact.
Expected Q3 2026