Impact
The reach of our work, the changes we seek to create and the evidence we use to understand whether we are making progress.
Our track record
Every organisation has a history. Ours is defined less by growth alone than by the gradual development of new ways of working, stronger partnerships and a clearer understanding of how we can contribute to opportunities for young people.
- 2014. BACKSLASH was founded in Valencia. A youth association established in Valencia with the ambition of expanding opportunities for young people through non-formal education and participation.
- 2014–2025. Developing our own approach. Applied research, co-creation, testing, training and knowledge transfer gradually became the common thread connecting every project we deliver.
- Since 2020. Bringing non-formal education into new settings. Our methodologies expanded beyond youth work into schools, higher education, vocational education and training, and other learning environments.
- Ongoing. Strengthening local roots. Long-term collaboration with municipalities, the Provincial Council of Valencia, educational institutions, youth organisations and social organisations has kept our work connected to local realities while opening wider opportunities.
- Ongoing. Growing European and international collaboration. Active participation in European and international networks has expanded opportunities for collaboration, mutual learning and shared action across countries and sectors.
- 2025. Partnering with Overseas Countries and Territories. New partnerships in Greenland, Saint Martin and New Caledonia opened a line of work focused on territories that remain under-represented in European projects.
- 2025. Contributing to international dialogue. Our participation in the Second United Nations World Summit for Social Development, the 62nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, and the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development have strengthened our ability to connect local experience with global conversations on youth, human rights and sustainable development.
- 2026–2030. One strategy, one direction. Our Strategic Plan brings together four strategic areas, eleven thematic priorities and a shared framework for learning, collaboration and impact.
What makes our work distinctive
- We connect local realities with national, European and international opportunities.
- We design methodologies that can be adapted across different contexts rather than used only once.
- We combine direct work with young people with collaboration alongside professionals, organisations and public authorities.
- We approach emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence, digitalisation, polarisation and emotional wellbeing from a critical, human-centred perspective.
- We work confidently across diverse cultural, territorial and institutional contexts.
- We see evaluation, learning and continuous improvement as essential parts of quality, not administrative requirements.
Our impact in 2025
The figures below describe what BACKSLASH achieved during 2025. They show the scale of our work over that year, but they are only one part of the picture. Understanding impact also means asking what changed, for whom, and what we learned that can improve what comes next. Our forthcoming Impact Stories publication will bring those experiences and perspectives to life. Stay tuned!
- 2,846
- participants in training courses and events
- 604
- hours of training and participatory spaces
- 31
- organisations and public authorities engaged
- 20
- countries and territories represented
- 102
- educational materials and digital tools produced
- 113
- exchanges with stakeholders and decision-makers
- more than 903,063
- people reached through awareness-raising actions
Figures from the BACKSLASH Annual Activities Report 2025.
What the numbers do not say
A count of activities is not the same as a change in someone’s life. We use participation figures to understand reach, but we assess change through initial and final assessments, follow-up after a project ends, testimonials, case studies and the practical improvements that emerge from what we learn.
How we measure
Evaluation is part of how we work, not something added at the end of a project. Our Strategic Plan for 2026–2030 commits us to measuring outcomes consistently, learning from evidence and using that knowledge to improve future interventions.
- Baseline and final measurement in at least 60% of relevant interventions.
- Follow-up between three and six months after completion for at least 80% of strategically selected interventions.
- At least 150 testimonials collected and 30 case studies produced during the strategic period.
- A documented improvement decision resulting from at least 70% of evaluations.
- At least 25 publications or communication products presenting impact through evidence and data.
Progress towards these commitments is reported in our Annual Activities Report.
Stories of change
Behind every indicator are people, organisations and communities whose experiences give meaning to the data. We publish stories of change only when they are supported by evidence and shared with informed consent. Watch this space. Our Impact Stories book is coming soon!
Annual reports
Impact goes beyond numbers, but evidence matters. Our annual reports bring together the activities, results and evidence behind our work.
