ABOUT US
Tired of knocking on doors for funding, and facing constant rejection, youth workers James and Mitch created Upstream, a model that replaces handouts with a value-driven supply chain, allowing everyday business to generate consistent, sustainable funding for their community, from common expenses they are already spending money on.
The goal from launch in 2018 was simple:
Bringing charities and businesses together in a sustainable, value-adding partnership to create lasting funding and keep essential work with young people across Aotearoa thriving.
By partnering with businesses in a new way, everyday sales generate Upstream Contributions that support our Charity Partners and help children and young people across Aotearoa to thrive. Its a smarter, more sustainable way to fund impact.
Turning Everyday Business into Lasting Good
Our Vision
We aim to create a sustainable income stream that innovatively contributes towards improving the well-being of children and young people in New Zealand.
What we strive for
Triple Win Transactions
When a transaction occurs, Supporters make an impact through everyday purchases, Suppliers grow with purpose, and Charities gain sustainable funding so young people can access the support they need.
Everyone Connected
At the heart of everything we do is connection. Uniting people, businesses, and charities through trust, creating meaningful, lasting social impact.
Collaboration
When we work together, our collective strength multiplies. Upstream exists to enable businesses and charities to collaborate in ways that achieve far greater impact than any one organisation could on its own.
Purpose beyond Profit
We believe success is measured by more than the bottom line. Upstream enables business to grow with purpose and create real change for young people.
Meet the team
Our strength lies not just in what we do, but in the people who do it - a team united by purpose and integrity, who believe business can be a powerful force for good and work tirelessly to turn that belief into real-world impact.
Natasha brings over 14 years’ experience across both the public and private sectors to her role at Upstream, providing executive support and coordinating projects across the organisation. She is currently on maternity leave, with plans to return in 2026.
Ashleigh looks after the financial heart of Upstream, overseeing accounts with care, precision, and integrity. She is also responsible for collecting the Upstream Contributions that power the impact for our charity partners and the young people they support.
James Harris
Mitch Shaw
Managing Director & Co-founder
Board member & Co-founder
James co-founded Upstream with Mitch in 2018 after 11 years on the front line as a youth worker. Now leading a team supporting young people across Christchurch, he brings lived experience of the challenges facing youth services and a strong understanding of the powerful impact Upstream creates for both youth workers and the young people they serve.
Mitch leads the development and execution of Upstream, bringing with him a strong foundation in youth work and lived experience of the funding barriers many charities face, he set out to create a new community that enables charities and businesses to collaborate in a smarter, more sustainable way.
Accounts Manager
Natasha Livingstone
Executive Assistant & Project Coordinator
Ashleigh Pamflett
Charlie Spenceley
Matthew Minish
Senior Software Engineer
Member Support & Onboarding
Charlie is often the first point of contact for new Upstream members, supporting them through onboarding and beyond. With a friendly, people-first approach, he helps build strong relationships and smooth pathways into the Upstream community.
Matthew designs and develops the technology behind Upstream, creating the systems that enable real-world impact through everyday business. His work ensures our platform runs smoothly, securely, and at scale.
Our
Charity Partners
The hands and feet of our Upstream community, these are the Organisations that your contributions impact directly.
Holiday camps, Child & Youth counselling subsidies and youth work throughout Christchurch.
CDN trust & HFTC counselling fund
Running Youth based activities in Mid Canterbury through collaboration with other programs and services.
Mid Canterbury Youth Charitable Trust
Hornby based community trust providing local support, affordable counselling and Mana Ake care.
Te Whare Awhero (Hope House)
The national branch of Conductive Education. Support children, young people and adults with disabilities.
New Zealand Conductive Education
Youth Alive
Youth and community development agency based in East Christchurch.
Work-skills, health and social service programmes for individuals, families and community groups.
Wai Ora
Inspiring hope, ambition and the prospect of a bright future among at-risk young people and youth.
Epic Sports Project
Equipping parents and educators to have conversations around online use and pornography with young people.
Tāima Kōrero | Time 2 Talk
Kāwai Rangatahi
Youth Work support in the greater Linwood area and collaboration with other local agencies.
Conductive Education supports preschool aged children living with difficulties to access early intervention services.
Conductive Education Canterbury Trust
24/7 Youth Trust
Youth workers from local churches in local schools.
Where We Fund
New Zealand has some of the worst youth mental health statistics globally. Upstream exists to help turn this around by targeting funding into the areas that matter most. Below are the impact areas your contributions directly flow into.
Youth Work
Youth Workers journey alongside young people in schools and the community, offering guidance and support so they feel seen, valued, and empowered through life’s greatest highs and lows.
Other Support Services
Children with disabilities, Whānau support and mentoring are just some of the other spaces your impact goes straight too. We’re proud to partner with Charities that support our tamariki through a range of services.
Counselling Subsidies
For many families, the cost of ongoing counselling creates a barrier for young people/children needing these services. Upstream funds subsidised counselling sessions so our young people can get the support they need.
Be part of the impact.
Join Upstream today, as a Supporter or Supplier