Press Release
Charity appeals to people to part with a pound and make a difference
to local school children this Christmas
Images show school children enjoying residential trips with YHA and TV star Larry Lamb, who is supporting YHA's No Child Left Behind fundraising campaign
The images above can all be downloaded as individual Jpegshere-https://we.tl/t-K8M0r2IV69
A leading youth charity is appealing to people to part with a pound to make a difference to the lives of local young people who need it the most.
Proceeds from YHA's Christmas Raffle, which has a first prize of £3000, will go towardsensuring that no child misses out on the transformative power of a residential school trip.
With the cost of living rising, more and more families and schools being forced to cancel school trips away. Many children, particularly those from low-income families, are having to miss out on thechance of their first night away from homewith school friends.
All money raised will go towards YHA's No Child Left Behind campaign which is being supported by Eastenders and Gavin and Stacey TV star Larry Lamb.
Larry's first outdoor experience was on a youth hostelling holiday in the late 1950s. Seven decades later, after reading about YHA's No Child Left Behind appeal, he was moved to make a donation and has now become an ambassador for the campaign.
He said: "I have very fond memories as a boy of staying in youth hostels and being in places the like of which I had never set foot in before, and this has stayed with me all these years. It's soimportant that all young people experience the wonderful environments in and around youth hostels.
"The No Child Left Behind campaign will enable YHA to continue to do the work they do to look after young people in the face of the cost-of-living crisis and I would urge people to donate."
Through donations to the No Child Left Behind fund, YHA wants to enable a minimum of 10,000 young people to have a residential school trip. The fund will provide bursaries to schools to help support pupils whose families are unable to afford the cost of a residential school trip to a hostel in England and Wales.
YHA's Christmas raffle tickets cost just £1.00 each and, as well as the first prize is £3,000, there are also a number of runner-up cash and voucher prizes available.
The raffle closes at midnight on 22nd December with all winners receiving their cash and prizes in time for Christmas.
Previous raffles by YHA (England & Wales) have successfully fundraised to provide life-changing adventures and crucial breaks for 1,800 vulnerable young people and NHS and frontline workers and their families.
To help ensure a local young person doesn't miss out on a residential school trip with their class, purchase tickets for the YHA Christmas Raffle athttps://getinvolved.yha.org.uk/fundraising/raffle/
Ends.
About YHA (England & Wales)
YHA (England & Wales) is a leading youth charity with a 93-year history of making travel and adventure accessible to all, especially young people. Operating more than100 locationsthroughout 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.
Established in 1930, YHA's charitable objective remains as relevant in 2022 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.'
YHA's charitable purpose is at the forefront of its 10-year strategy-Adventure. For the first time and a lifetime. Our 10-year strategy for connecting people and places.Access for All is at the heart of the strategy which will see YHA reaching more people and growing its impact, with a particular focus on those who could benefit the most. It will also establish YHA as a leading national charity and social enterprise. The strategycan be viewed and downloaded atyha.org.uk/about-yha/yha-strategy-2020 #
ThroughYHA'splaces, programmes and activities,itcreatesopportunities for everybody to connect to nature, the outdoors, culture and heritage. Welcoming solo travellers, families, groups and schools toitsamazing properties in exceptional locations,YHAdeliversmemorable, meaningful experiences that have a measurable impact.YHA's impact is documented annually in an Impact Review - https://www.yha.org.uk/about-yha/impact
YHA is leading the 15-strong Access Unlimited coalition which includes the 10 National Parks, Girlguiding, Scouts, Field Studies Council, and The Outward Bound Trust. Together, the not-for-profit organisations took collective action and delivered the innovative 16-month Defra-fundedGeneration Green[https://www.yha.org.uk/generationgreen] project. The project connected more than 115,000young people to nature, created and saved jobs, and built an aspirant workforce for a green recovery. Download and read the Generation Green Celebration and Impact Report athttps://www.yha.org.uk/generationgreen
Many of YHA's sites are in stunning heritage properties: including a medieval castle (YHA St Briavels Castle); an Elizabethan manor house (YHA Wilderhope Manor); a Victorian mock gothic mansion (YHA Castleton Losehill Hall) and a medieval friary (YHA Beverley Friary).
YHA prides itself on providing affordable, contemporary accommodation and a life-enriching, social experience which differs from a hotel stay.
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 is a leading provider of residential school trips, withmore than 80Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC)accredited sites — more than any other provider. Committed to quality outdoor education, YHA champions the national #BrilliantResidentials campaign.
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
Follow YHA on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
For press enquiries or interview requests with Larry Lamb, please contact:
Anna Melton
In the Works PR
07837 108559 / 01246 386480
anna@intheworkspr.co.uk