Reports Database:
Telling the Story of Youth Work through Social Return on Investment – A Forecast SROI Analysis of Rānui 135 Community Youth Support Organisation (Aotearoa New Zealand)

Background & Context
Youth Work is a key driver of youth development in Aotearoa New Zealand. Ara Taiohi defines Youth Work as “the development of mana-enhancing relationships between a youth worker and a young person, where young people actively participate, discover their power, and choose to engage for as long as agreed”. The practice is centred on supporting holistic, positive development so young people (aged 12 to 24) can contribute to themselves, their whānau (family), their community, and the wider world.

Evidence shows that Youth Work plays a significant role in the well-being and development of young people (Mahi Tūturu, 2025), yet the youth development sector remains undervalued and underfunded (Harrington, 2025). Many organisations operate under short-term contracts, facing growing pressure to deliver outcomes while providing funders and partners with evidence of their impact.

In response, there has been a shift in the non-profit sector toward more systematic ways of accounting for social value. Social Return on Investment (SROI) provides a tool for non-profit organisations to effectively demonstrate their value and identify where resources can be allocated to further optimise their impact.

This SROI report was commissioned by Ara Taiohi, the peak body for youth development in Aotearoa New Zealand, as part of a pilot project designed to better understand the impact of Youth Work delivered through community organisations and to establish a methodological foundation for a sector-wide social value project. Two organisations were selected to reflect the diversity of youth development contexts: Rānui 135, an urban organisation based in West Auckland, and Tararua Community Youth Services (TCYS), a rural organisation based in Dannevirke. While this report focuses on Rānui 135, together, their stories of change provide a meaningful lens on the unique value youth work creates across different community settings.

Report Methodology
SROI is a principle-based methodology for measuring and accounting for the broader concept of social value. It seeks to understand, measure, and value the outcomes experienced by people and organisations as a result of an activity. SROI combines qualitative, quantitative, and financial information to tell a credible story of change that reflects what stakeholders themselves say is important.

Through the use of financial proxies, outcomes that do not have a market price can be given a monetary value. This does not mean putting a price tag on people or their experiences, but instead expressing the relative importance of outcomes in a way that can be compared with the resources invested. The result is an SROI ratio, which shows how much social value is created for every dollar invested.

The methodology used in this report aligns with the Principles of Social Value, as outlined by Social Value International. These principles draw on established approaches from social accounting, cost-benefit analysis, financial accounting, social research and evaluation practice. They provide the foundation for making more informed decisions about value, ultimately aiming to increase equality, improve well-being, and enhance environmental sustainability.

Report Structure
This report is organised into 10 main sections (excluding the Introduction). These sections align with the six stages of the SROI methodology. Each section of this report – from 3. Project Scope to 10. Calculating the SROI – begin with a short description of the stage, adapted from the SROI Guide, followed by the Hands for Impact approach. Our approach is grounded in whakawhanaungatanga (building relationships), transparency, and accessibility.

In recognition of the cultural context of this mahi (work), the report also incorporates te reo Māori and Pasifika words. A complete glossary of terms is provided in Appendix A.