YHAgroup.org.uk

The latest edition of YHA’s email newsletter hit inboxes today:

Dear Supporter

2006 Review

Everyone at YHA would like to take this opportunity to wish you a very happy Christmas and prosperous New Year at the end of an extremely busy 2006. Read about our highlights here. [Too late - the page has disappeared]

Spending plans

Extensive expansion plans have been announced, which will see up to £50million invested in YHA properties in England and Wales over the next three years. More

Web launch

YHA is ready to launch its brand new website. [The originally linked page has disappeared too, but this one probably tells you more]

Governance Review

Stage one of YHA’s drive to hear more views from members and supporters on how the organisation could be run better in the future has been completed. More

Volunteering

The launch of the new website will enable YHA to advertise all of its volunteering opportunities individually, by Hostel or task. More

If you you would like to receive this newsletter yourself, you can register here

[EDIT: The original links in this entry have, where possible, been updated to point to the appropriate pages on the new website]

It appears there’s been a mix-up sending out the entry forms for this year’s President’s Awards. The deadline for entries has been and gone, and some groups haven’t received the paperwork yet.

If you’re one of those groups, here’s a copy of the entry form to print out, fill in and send to Paul Madge. In view of the confusion, the original deadline has been extended to the end of December. Any group with any problem or query concerning this should contact Paul.

Prominent on the front page of the YHA web site at the moment is a link to their Ennerdale and Black Sail Appeal, a £250,000 project to upgrade these two hostels in the light of future changes to the Ennerdale valley.

The Wild Ennerdale plan that is coming into play as Forestry Commission plantations are cleared calls for the valley to be returned to nature, with native broad leaf woodland replacing conifers. The forest track that currently allows supplies to be driven to Black Sail hostel will disappear, and the hostel will need to become more self-sufficient. Improvements will include solar and wind powered generators, and composting toilets. Supplies may be brought in by pony!

The campaign was given a boost this morning when Sir Chris Bonnington was interviewed about it on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme. A report later appeared on the BBC News web site.

A day’s walk away at Derwentwater YH they are also doing their bit for the environment. According to this BBC report they’ve just installed a turbine that will generate 40% of their electricity. Perhaps wisely, the system relies on rain, rather than on sunshine or wind, being powered by a beck which runs through the hostel grounds. As well as saving the planet, the scheme will save YHA £4000 a year in electricity bills.

If you wish, you can donate to the Black Sail appeal online.