The Impact of the Award

Across Aotearoa, more than 16,000 rangatahi take part in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award, supported by 350+ schools and organisations and more than 600 volunteers. In 2025 alone, almost 10,000 Awards were started - including around 6.3% of all 14-year-olds beginning their Bronze Award journey. The Duke of Ed is creating lasting impact, giving young people the confidence, resilience and real-world life skills to realise their potential and contribute positively to their communities.

In 2025, a nationwide Participant Satisfaction Survey captured how rangatahi experience the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award. The key highlights below reflect participant perspectives on enjoyment, personal growth and the overall impact of the Award.

95%

of Participants said they tried something new thanks to their duke of ed

84%

of Participants felt more resilient because of their Award journey

81%

of Participants felt the award gave them more confidence and self worth

82%

of Participants said the award improved their physical and mental wellbeing

The Award Outcomes

Research shows that non-formal education frameworks such as the Award play a powerful role in strengthening the social and emotional capabilities young people need to move through life with confidence, resilience and empathy. These include:

Confidence

Self-reliance, self-esteem, self-efficacy, capacity to act in one’s own interest and need, self-belief and ability to shape your own life and the world around you.

Resilience and determination

Self-disciplined, self-management, self-motivated, focused, having a sense of purpose, persistent, self-controlled.

Relationships and leadership

Motivating others, valuing and contributing to team working, negotiating, establishing positive relationships, interpreting others, managing conflict, empathising etc.

Creativity and adaptability

Imagining alternative ways of doing things, applying learning in new contexts, enterprising, innovating, remaining open to new ideas, reading situations correctly and adapting as required.

Planning and problem solving

Navigating resources, organising, setting and achieving goals; decision- making, researching, analysing, critical thinking, questioning and challenging, evaluating risks, reliability.

Managing feelings

Reviewing, self-awareness, self-control, reflecting, self-regulating, self-accepting.

Communication

Explaining, expressing, presenting, listening, questioning, using different ways of communicating.

Personal and social well-being

A person’s state of mind, relationship with the world around them and the fulfilment they get from life: well-being, life satisfaction.

Civic competence

The ability and willingness to engage in active participation, based on an attitude of trust in other people, in all the contexts of social life: school, local community, working place, recreational activities.

Intercultural competence

Ability to operate in different cultural settings (of different ages, skills, religions, languages, etc.) and adaptability to changing circumstances and ability to sense and respond to new contexts.

The Award in Hours

In 2025, Award participants across Aotearoa contributed thousands of hours to building skills, supporting their communities, getting active and challenging themselves through the Award - creating lasting impact for themselves and the communities around them.

125,962

hours of physical recreation

109,603

hours spent learning new skills

96,457

hours of voluntary service

332,022

total hours spent doing the award 

The Award's Social Value

All of these experiences, achievements and hours of contribution culminate in lasting social value for Aotearoa New Zealand. The results are powerful: for every dollar invested in the Award, $8.69 is returned in social value. In FY24/25 alone, Participants generated $45.7 million in social value, with a projected long-term impact of $103.9 million - reflecting thousands of hours spent building skills, giving back to communities and growing through challenge and achievement. 

$22 million
social value of supporting community and charitable causes across aotearoa
$2.8 million
social value of improved physical health and fitness
$6.7 million

social value of improved social cohesion

$13.7 million

social value of improved mental health and emotional wellbeing

Read the full report

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The Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award is an opportunity to challenge yourself, learn new skills, and make a real impact - all while having an unforgettable adventure.
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