In February 2026, Gumboot Friday helped 1,754 young people aged 5–25 access free counselling, delivering a total of 2,721 sessions. Every session is free, needs no referral, and is chosen by the young person from a network of registered counsellors on the Gumboot Friday platform.
Breakdown by age group:
• 490 young people aged 5–11 (28%)
• 510 young people aged 12–17 (29%)
• 754 young people aged 18–25 (43%)
These numbers show what early intervention actually looks like: young people getting seen when they need it, not after things reach crisis point, not when “things get bad enough”.
“I look at the February numbers and I see the kids behind them — and a lot of them are still in primary school. The tricky thing is, a child who needs to talk doesn’t always look ‘obviously’ distressed. It can show up as being snappy, going quiet, not sleeping, acting out, or even without any obvious tells at all. What matters is they get the chance to sit down with someone who actually listens — properly — before things pile up,” says I Am Hope founder Mike King.
“Government funding covers the counselling sessions themselves, and donations to I Am Hope are what keep Gumboot Friday running — onboarding counsellors, maintaining the system, running our school programmes, and supporting the wider foundation. To everyone who’s backed this kaupapa, thank you. It means help is there when our young people need it,” King says.
If you’re 25 and under and need someone to talk to, visit www.gumbootfriday.org.nz to connect with a counsellor for Free. No GP referral needed.
To donate, fundraise, or get involved with I Am Hope and Gumboot Friday, head to www.iamhope.org.nz or text HOPE to 469 for a $3 donation.
