Press Release
YHA and Independent Hostels Guide join forces to lead the plea for government to support hostelling community through winter
The future of youth hostelling lies in the hands of local MPs.
YHA (England & Wales) has joined voices with colleagues from across the independent hostels sector to lead the plea for MPs to add their signature to atabled motion in Parliament. The motion asks the government for help to survive winter amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Liz Saville-Roberts MP and Group Leader of Plaid Cymru in the House of Commonshas tabled a motion in Parliament which any MP can add their signature of support to.
The motion asks the Government to underpin health measures with economic support and urgently put packages of support in place for the hostel sector.
Hundreds of hostels and bunkhouses throughout the UK have been forced to close during the pandemic having a catastrophic effect on income and jobs in the sector particularly in rural parts of the UK.
YHA, which operates 153 youth hostels in England and Wales, has suffered a £30 million (75%) drop in income since March, making it the worst ever year in the charity's 90-year history.
Despite hopes of a vaccine by the end of the year, many hostels and bunkhouses will be unable to recover financially during the winter months in order to sustain them until spring.
Hostels and bunkhouses now need support from the Government to get them though the winter and to ensure that this unique form accommodation will be around to provide low cost accommodation for healthy outdoor holidays and school residential trips in 2021. While furlough and other government support has been welcome hostelling - based as it is on sharing and on communities coming together - faces some very specific threats.
The Early Days Motion states that ‘hostels are often used by people who intend to take part in outdoor activities and that ensuring that people can still access healthy outdoor holidays at accessible prices will be important after the Covid-19 outbreak.'
YHA believes that hostelling, as it did at the end of World War 2, will play akey role in the recovery of society - helping people reconnect with each other, the outdoors, nature, culture and heritage.
Anita Kerwin-Nye, Director of Strategy and Engagement at YHA (England & Wales) explained: "Hostelling is a movement based on sharing. Sharing spaces, sharing ideas and sharing joy of nature, outdoors and heritage. Affordable travel is needed now more than ever."
To date theEarly Days Motion 1100 Support for Hostels, which was tabled on 4 November, has received support from 20 MPs to date, including:
- Liz Saville-Roberts - Plaid Cymru
- Hywel Williams - Plaid Cymru
- Patrick Grady - Scottish National Party
- Ben Lake - Plaid Cymru
- John McDonnell - Labour
- Lloyd Russell-Moyle - Labour
- Diane Abbott - Labour
- Tim Farron - Liberal Democrat
- Jamie Stone - Liberal Democrat
- Jonathan Edwards - Independent
- Marion Fellows - Scottish National Party
- Brendan O'Hara - Scottish National Party
- John Nicolson - Scottish National Party
- Chris Stephens - Scottish National Party
- Steve Wishart - Scottish National Party
- Jim Shannon, Democratic Unionist Party
- Wendy Chamberlain - Liberal Democrat
- Alyn Smith - Scottish National Party
- Richard Thompson - Scottish National Party
- Caroline Lucas - Green Party
To support the survival of youth hostels and bunk houses in a post-COVD world, email your local MP and ask them to support theEarly Days Motion 1100 Support for Hostels.
Ends.
Notes to editors
Independent Hostels UK (IHUK)
Independent Hostels UK (IHUK) is UK's network of independently owned bunkhouses and hostels. With over 400 members it is the largest hostel network in the United Kingdom.
Independent Hostels UK was established in 2004, with government funding, from the network of accommodation featured in the Independent Hostel Guide.
IHUK works closely with other hostel networks worldwide including Independent Holiday Hostels of Ireland, Swiss Backpackers, Scottish Independent Hostels, the German Backpacker Network, Backpackers Hostels of Canada and BBH New Zealand.
About YHA (England & Wales)
YHA (England & Wales) is a leading youth charity with 90-year history of making travel and adventure accessible to all, especially young people.
Established in 1930, YHA's charitable object remains as relevant in 2020 as it was in 1930 - ‘To help all, especially young people of limited means, to a greater knowledge, love and care of the countryside, and appreciation of the cultural values of towns and cities, particularly by providing youth hostels or other simple accommodation for them in their travels, and thus to promote their health, recreation and education.'
As part of YHA's 90thanniversary celebrations the charity has launched the Project90 fundraising appeal. Details of Project90 can be found atgetinvolved.yha.org.uk/fundraising/appeals/project90/
YHA's charitable purpose is at the forefront of its new 10-year strategy, which will be launched on 30 April 2020. Ahead of the launch, a summary of the YHA strategy-Adventure. For the first time and a lifetime. Our 10 year strategy for connecting people and places. -can be viewed and downloaded atyha.org.uk/about-yha/yha-strategy-2020
Operating more than 150 locations throughout England and Wales, YHA offers a unique range of affordable accommodation including youth hostels, camping and cabins in rural, coastal and city locations.
Through its social enterprise model, revenue from YHA's hostel accommodation is directed towards its social purpose.
YHA prides itself on providing affordable, contemporary accommodation and a life-enriching, social experience which differs from a hotel stay.
Since 2010 more than £40million has been invested in YHA's existing network of accommodation as well as the acquisition of new hostels. YHA's most recent hostel acquisitions include YHA Newcastle Central (November 2019) and YHA Liverpool Central (November 2019).
Through access to travel, heritage, culture, outdoors and nature, YHA aims to improve outcomes related to health, wellbeing and life chances for young people and families, particularly those with challenging lives.
YHA's partnerships are extensive and involve organisations and charities working at virtually every potential touchpoint in young people's lives from schools and colleges, Movement to Work, The Duke of Edinburgh Award, Family Holiday Association and School Journey Association, amongst many others.
YHA is a leading provider of residential school trips, withmore than 80 Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) accredited sites — more than any other provider. Committed to quality outdoor education, YHA champions the national #BrilliantResidentials campaign.
YHAdelivers measurable impact, nurturing young people's personal and social development through education, upskilling and work readiness schemes.
In 2019 - 2020
- 1,024,966people stayed with YHA and405,950guests were aged under 26 - an increase of 5% on the previous year
- Over150,000young people accessed an affordable residential learning experience through their school or group
- Over6,500 young people and families with challenging livesreceived free or supported breaks
- Over1,000 young people volunteeredwith YHA
In the current coronavirus crisis, YHA is repurposing a number of hostels to support the national fight against the disease. For example, YHA Bath, Manchester, Oxford, Bristol, Brighton and Cardiff have all been licensed to local councils temporarily to support the most vulnerable.
To see the difference that YHA makes to the lives of young people and their families, visit YHA'sYouTubechannel.
Further information about YHA can be found atyha.org.uk
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For press enquiries, please contact:
Anna Melton
In the Works PR
07837 108559 / 01246 386480
anna@intheworkspr.co.uk