YHAgroup.org.uk

Whatever happened to Youth Hostels? asks an article in monday’s Times. One of their reporters has visited the new London Central hostel and found, instead of the drafty dormitories and cold showers that she appears to have expected, something more suitable for the 21st century:

While YHA hasn’t abandoned it’s principles of dorm bedrooms, bunk beds, a kitchen, and long tables for communal dining; it’s the internet cafe and bar that’s now the hub of the hostel, not the stove and the kitchen sink.

Bright furniture, bold artwork, big screens playing music videos and a vast back-lit map of the Underground decorate the walls of the open-plan reception and cafe.

I’m sure there are readers of this site who will blanch at the thought of music videos blasting away full time, but this is supposed to be a youth organisation, and I don’t think it’s inappropriate in this type of hostel. I wouldn’t expect to see such things in a countryside hostel (not great for our carbon footprint, is it?) .

It’s only a short article, but more postive press for the Association can’t be bad. Anybody here stayed at London Central?

The 2008 AGM of the YHA Southern Regional Council will take place at an as-yet undecided venue in London. All members of YHA are entitled to attend, be sure to bring your membership card along if you want to vote.The meeting will start at 1:30pm.

The 2008 AGM of the YHA Wales Council will take place at CHAPTER, Market Road, CARDIFF, CF5 1QE (see map below). All members of YHA are entitled to attend, be sure to bring your membership card along if you want to vote.The meeting will start at 1pm.

The 2008 AGM of the YHA Central Regional Council will take place at the Friends’ Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, MANCHESTER, M2 5NS (see map below). All members of YHA are entitled to attend, be sure to bring your membership card along if you want to vote.

The meeting will start at 1:30pm.

The 2008 AGM of the YHA Northern Regional Council will take place at an as yet undecided venue in York. All members of YHA are entitled to attend, be sure to bring your membership card along if you want to vote.

The meeting will start at 1pm.

Twelve groups took part in the 2007 President’s Awards and the judges were pleased to see a high standard of entries again.

The President’s Awards were introduced in 1985 to recognise the work that local groups do for the YHA and 2007 was the twenty-third year of the awards.

Three-quarters of the eight categories have been won by a different group from last year, and as usual each of the categories will be presented before moving on to the overall results.

Continue reading…

Very much “to be confirmed” at this stage, but keep your diary free!

Saffron Walden YH is the oldest inhabited building in the picturesque Essex town, but also (apparently) its most haunted one. Just what form this haunting might take is unclear, but hostellers have been offered the chance to find out.

According to a story in the Saffron Walden Reporter, an outfit called London Paranormal will be investigating spooky goings on at the hostel, and inviting members of the public to join them - provided they can materialise a fee of £59 each!

The 2008 Local Groups’ conference will take place at Bradwell Village Memorial Hall, which is situated opposite Milton Keynes Youth Hostel, Vicarage Road, MILTON KEYNES, MK13 9AG (see map below).

All affiliated groups are entitled to send up to two delegates - those wishing to do so should complete and send in a booking form to arrive by 8th February 2008. A provisional agenda and some covering notes contain more information about the meeting.

The meeting will start at 9:45am.

STOP PRESS: Alternative booking arrangements are currently being made following John Annett’s hospitalisation. Groups should wait for further instructions before reserving their place.