Source: Gumboot Friday
In July 2026, Gumboot Friday delivered 3,500 free counselling sessions nationwide, supporting 2,205 young people aged 5–25.
Sessions are free, no referral is required, and young people choose who they want to talk to from Gumboot Friday’s network of registered counsellors.
Breakdown by age group:
- 594 young people aged 5–11 (27%)
- 655 young people aged 12–17 (30%)
- 956 young people aged 18–25 (43%)
July’s figures show Gumboot Friday continuing to do what it was built to do: connect young people with someone safe to talk to, without cost or referral getting in the way.
Since 2019, Gumboot Friday has funded 164,835 free counselling sessions for young New Zealanders as at 20 July 2026.
“July is another month where thousands of conversations happened because this service exists. That’s the bit people need to remember. Behind every session is a young person who got to sit down with someone before things got too big or overwhelming,” says I Am Hope founder Mike King.
“Gumboot Friday works because it gets help in front of kids without making them jump through hoops first. No referral, no cost, and they choose the counsellor they want to talk to. It removes all the barriers to reaching out when a young person is ready to ask for help.”
King says the July figures are another reminder of the good being done, and why New Zealanders’ support remains so important.
“From July last year to June this year, 37,630 counselling sessions were delivered. Since 2019, more than 164,000 free sessions have been funded for our ranagatahi. That is a lot of young people being heard, and we couldn’t do it without businesses and the community who keep backing us,” King says.
Government support helps pay for counselling sessions, but running Gumboot Friday takes more than session funding alone. Donations help support the platform young people use to book counsellors, the team who keeps it running, counsellor support, compliance, awareness, school
programmes, community outreach, and the prevention work that helps young people know support is there before things reach crisis point.
Every donation, fundraiser, shared post and gumboot sold helps keep Gumboot Friday moving and helps young people connect with free counselling when they need it.
If you or someone you know is 25 or under and needs someone to talk to, visit www.gumbootfriday.com to book a free counsellor today — no referral needed.
To donate, fundraise, or get involved with I Am Hope, head to www.iamhope.org.nz or text HOPE to 469 for a $3 donation.