The case for youth work: measuring what matters

We have a tough question to answer in the youth sector. How do you measure the impact of youth work? Those working in the youth sector see the almost magical impact that youth work has on young people every day, but how can you put a value on this?

It’s no easy task because youth work’s outcomes are wide-spread, often intangible and long-term, unfolding over years. They can also be deeply personal, varying for each young person, making it difficult to fully capture in numbers. There are also justifiable concerns that overemphasising what you can measure can overlook and undervalue the relational, holistic nature of youth work, which relies on trust, support, and safe spaces.

So it’s maybe not a surprise that we, as a sector, lack a rich, compelling evidence base that proves our value to those who aren’t aware of youth work’s essential nature. But this has contributed to the disconnect between those of us in the sector, and those responsible for funding, particularly in Government, which in turn has enabled the decade of underfunding and closures that we have seen.

Thankfully, there are signs that the evidence base for our vital work is strengthening. Research published recently by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) found that teens affected by youth club closures due to austerity performed 4% worse in exams and faced other social challenges. This is powerful longitudinal data that proves the impact of youth work is undeniable, and it serves as a stark reminder of the importance of investing in youth services.

At OnSide, we are committed to playing our part to grow the youth work evidence base. As one of the largest providers of centre-based youth work in the country, we have both an opportunity and a responsibility to show the difference youth work makes. That’s why we’ve invested in tools to measure our impact.

Our Me App evaluation system, designed in partnership with the Evidence Development and Incubation Team at King’s College London, is embedded into youth work practice at all Youth Zones. It’s a survey with a series of attitudinal questions where young people rate themselves in several areas. The surveys are completed alongside trusted youth workers at different points throughout the year so we can measure impact and develop relationships at the same time.

We also recently conducted a Social Return on Investment study. Staying true to our values we started by listening to young people, as we wanted to measure the outcomes that matter most to them. We surveyed members to understand where youth work makes the biggest difference in their lives. We then worked out the economic value of those outcomes using the WELLBY methodology, the only wellbeing valuation recognised by HM Treasury’s Green Book.

The headline findings were powerful. OnSide Youth Zones help young people feel free to have fun, feel safe, and feel confident in themselves. For every £1 invested in a Youth Zone, there’s over £13 social return on investment. Almost £300m of social value was generated across the OnSide Network in 2023-24.

What I found particularly positive in the report was how the things young people value most in their Youth Zone experience – safe spaces, fun, and confidence-building – match exactly what we set out to achieve. It’s a clear validation that we’re focusing on what matters.

And lastly, looking further ahead, we are in the early stages of a new piece of research with Kings College to investigate the correlation between attending a Youth Zone and educational outcomes. These findings have the potential to be genuinely groundbreaking, for the sector and beyond.

Of course, we know that compelling impact measurement is about more than just numbers. It’s equally important that young people’s individual, unique stories and experiences of youth work and the difference it makes are also captured and amplified – as this storytelling will also help us as a sector make the case for why youth work matters.

Time and again, young people share how their Youth Zone helped them build their confidence. In fact, I’d argue that confidence is one of the most valuable impacts we help create. Without confidence, even the best opportunities can go untaken. Our Social Return on Investment report found that 75% of young people said their self-confidence had improved because of their Youth Zone. Young people like Andrew, a member of Inspire, Chorley Youth Zone, whose improved confidence means the courage to apply to college. For C*, a member of Carlisle Youth Zone, it means becoming more independent and finding a job. We must continue to marry heart and head by both showing youth work’s real-world impact through data and through individual stories.

Working with the Back Youth Alliance and other partners in the sector, we’re building a case for youth work that policymakers and funders can’t ignore. We’re proving what those in the sector have always known: youth work changes lives and creates opportunities. When the IFS conducts similar research in a decade, I’m hopeful the story will be a much more positive one. By rebuilding and reinvesting in youth services today, we can ensure that future generations have the opportunities and support they need to thrive and succeed.

*name has been changed