As Youthtown moves into 2026, our Youth Employability Programme (YEP) is entering an exciting next phase - shaped by continued reflection, learning, and the voices of our delivery partners and rangatahi.

Over the past year, we intentionally created space to pause and reflect on how YEP is experienced on the ground. This process reinforced what we already know to be true: strong employability outcomes are built through trusted relationships, quality facilitation, and programmes that can adapt to the realities young people are navigating. It also highlighted opportunities to better support our partners by strengthening consistency, communication, and shared learning across the network.

In 2026, our focus is firmly on putting this learning into action.

A significant development for the year ahead is the introduction of a Youth Employability Community of Practice. These quarterly sessions will provide a regular forum for YEP partners to connect, share insights, and learn from one another. The Community of Practice will focus on programme updates, emerging trends in the job market, what is working well across different contexts, and creating space for honest kōrero and feedback to help shape the future of YEP.

Another key area of development is how partners access and engage with training. From early 2026, YEP facilitator training will be supported by a dedicated webpage that clearly outlines scheduled training opportunities across the year. This change is designed to reduce administrative load, improve visibility, and make it easier for partners to plan and build capability within their teams.

We are also progressing with a refresh of the YEP student workbook. As the final piece in our suite of core YEP resources to be updated, this work will build on the recent refresh of the Facilitator Guide and User Guide. The revised workbook will be more engaging, accessible, and aligned with the current employability landscape, while maintaining a strong focus on rangatahi voice, reflection, and practical skill-building. Together, these updates will support greater consistency and quality across different delivery settings.

At its core, YEP continues to be about collaboration. We see 2026 as a year of strengthening the collective by supporting the people delivering the programme, responding to the evolving needs of rangatahi, and ensuring Youth Employability remains relevant, practical, and grounded in real-world pathways.

We are grateful for the commitment and expertise of our delivery partners and look forward to working closely together in the year ahead as we continue to support young people to build confidence, capability, and meaningful pathways into their futures.

To find out more about our Youth Employability Programme or to book training, visit our website.

Article added: Friday 23 January 2026