Press Release
Local groups supporting young people invited to apply for youth hostel holiday funding
Local organisations and charities which supportyoung people and groups of families facing challenges,are being invited to apply for funding for an unforgettable two-night activity break in a youth hostel in 2025.
The long-standing Breaks Programme, which is operated by the 94-year-old charity YHA (England & Wales), is now open for applications.
In addition to part or fully-funded accommodation, full board catering is also provided as part of the two-night stay.The YHA Breaks Programme can also support with transport costs. Applications are open until Tuesday 10 December.
Each year the YHA Breaks Programme makes it possible for around a thousand young people living challenging lives to enjoy a small holiday in an amazing location and try out resilience-building activities like ghyll scrambling, canoeing and rock climbing.
YHA is actively inviting applications to the Breaks Programme from groups ofyoung carers, young people in the care system or care leavers, refugee and migrant groups, young people with health conditions and young people and families from deprived areas.
James Blake, Chief Executive YHA (England & Wales) explained: "Our youth hostel network provides us with fabulous accommodation in beautiful locations, through which we can help young people connect with nature and the outdoors, giving them a break away. For many of them, it is their first night away from home, their first time in nature, or their first time in a protected landscape."
YHA has more than 130 youth hostels in England and Wales, including National Parks, National Landscapes, coastal areas and towns and cities. Accommodation includes historic buildings like YHA St Briavel's Castle in Gloucestershire, stunning YHA Pen-y-Pass in Snowdonia, the iconic YHA Boggle Hole on the North Yorkshire coast, and YHA The Sill at Hadrian's Wall in beautiful Northumberland.
James added: "WhenYHA was established nearly 95 years ago, its charitable mission was to give young people an opportunity to spend time in fresh air and open countryside. Our Breaks Programme is the modern continuation of this mission. I hope local groups will apply to the fund and help us help even more young people."
Charities, community groups and home education network groups based in England and Wales can apply for support to fund a break to a YHA hostel. Applications are invited for groups of young people (26 years and under) or groups of families.
To ensure the support gets to those with greatest need, YHA's Breaks team works with the group leader of the trip to place a booking, ensuring that a residential break is suitable for the needs of the group.
To apply for YHA Breaks funding, or to find out more about the Breaks programme, visithttps://www.yha.org.uk/support-programmes/yha-breaks-programme
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About YHA (England & Wales)
YHA (England & Wales) is a leading youth charity with a 94-year history of making travel and adventure accessible to all, especially young people. Operating multiplelocations 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.
Established in 1930, YHA's charitable objective remains as relevant in 2024 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. The2022/23 Annual Reportcan be downloaded herehttps://www.yha.org.uk/about-yha/impact
YHA is leading the 16-strong Access Unlimited coalition which includes the 10 National Parks, Girlguiding, Scouts, Field Studies Council, The Outward Bound Trust and National Landscapes. 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
The COVID-19 pandemic hit YHA hard. The charity lost over 80% of income in 2020/21. YHA documented its response to Covid in a 64-page publication -COVID Stories. Told from the perspective of YHA's senior leadership team, hostel managers, volunteers and partners, COVID Stories covers the period March 2020 to February 2021 and documents the charity's survival and the role YHA played role through its partnerships to support society in the crisis as well as helping rebuild it post pandemic. Download a copy herehttps://livemore.yha.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/covid-stories.pdf
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, with moreLearning Outside the Classroom (LOtC)accredited sites 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
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For press enquiries, please contact:
Anna Melton
In the Works PR
07837 108559 / 01246 386480
anna@intheworkspr.co.uk