The Value of What We Can’t Measure
Written by Young H&F’s CEO Gareth Dixon, this blog post reflects on a week of visits to youth-focused events and programmes that highlighted the importance of creativity, confidence and self-expression.
Last week was full of visits to spaces filled with creativity, joy and possibility. I attended two events that captured the joy of young people finding and expressing their voice, whilst my colleague, Eren, visited Lawyers for Learners - an oracy charity - with our Young Grant Makers, who had chosen to fund their work and see it in action.
The first event I attended at The Hurlingham Club was a collaboration between two Young H&F voluntary sector members, Sands End Adventure Playground (SEAPIA) and Write London CIC. Children aged 7–11 had spent several weeks in a writing club, and on the night stood up to share stories they had created - work that has since been published as Sands End Adventures in Creativity.
For these children, taking part was something special, because they had created something of their own, shared it publicly, and seen it brought into the world as something physical. The impact of moments like this is hard to measure in the here and now, but the confidence, creativity and sense of ownership they build extend far beyond childhood
The Speakers Trust celebration event took place at the House of Lords
The second event was quite different in setting, but similar in spirit. After judging the Hammersmith & Fulham regional final of the Jack Petchey Speak Out Challenge, I was invited by Speakers Trust to the House of Lords to celebrate the year’s achievements and look ahead.
Judging the regional final back in November gave me a deeper appreciation of the programme's impact. From the comfort of the judges’ table, just outside of the spotlight, I could quite clearly see the young people building confidence as they spoke what made them frustrated or hopeful - things that truly mattered to them. Participants transformed from hesitant students into bold young speakers, making the most of the moment, creating lasting memories, and opening doors to opportunities they had never imagined.
At the House of Lords last week, those young people spoke confidently as they reflected on how they had not anticipated such opportunities when they first took part through their schools - from joining European youth conferences to meeting Barack Obama’s speechwriters. It was plain to see that for them, this programme was more than a way to develop public speaking skills, it opened doors to opportunities that had once felt out of reach or had been entirely unknown to them.
Together, these different moments left me reflecting on the same question: how much value do we place on the experiences that help young people discover their creativity, confidence and voice?
Lawyers for Learners Workshop
During both events, the same thought ran through my mind. We shouldn't mistake an outcome that's difficult to measure immediately for one that's unimportant.
Confidence, imagination, and a sense of what's possible don't fit neatly into performance measures, but that doesn't make them any less real or worth investing in – and our Young Grant Makers recognised that too when they decided to fund the Lawyers for Learners programme.
There is also an issue of inequality here too. When these opportunities depend on what a school can offer or what a family can afford, some young people have far more chances than others to discover just what they are capable of. At a time when many state schools are being forced to reduce enrichment activities - not through lack of ambition, but because of financial constraints and performance pressures that prioritise attendance and attainment, it feels more important than to shout about how all young people need access to these opportunities.
These types of programmes are not romantic “nice to haves.” Quite the opposite - they are an essential part of how young people develop confidence, communication, imagination and ambition. These are qualities that stay with them long after the story is written, the speech is given, or the argument is made - the real impact often unfolds much later on in a person's journey.
None of the events or projects Young H&F visited last week offered a simple number that could capture everything happening in the room - but all showed young people testing their abilities, being heard, and beginning to see themselves differently. That feels worth investing in, not as an optional extra, but as part of helping every young person discover what they can do.
Much of my own work happens behind a laptop or in meetings, so events like this are a useful reminder of why I didn't pursue a professional football career. As well as having the education, life skills, support network and personalities to thrive, opportunities like these are vitally important and motivate me to continue supporting the many great organisations stepping up to fill the critical gaps in children’s and young people’s development.