YHAgroup.org.uk

Community Spirit Camps are one of YHA’s less well known operations. Running in over 20 youth hostels around England, they offer children from deprived backgrounds the chance to experience the countryside and learn new skills. A new video on the YHA YouTube channel shows the scheme in action:

It looks like a really worthwhile project, and perfectly in line with YHA’s charitable objectives. Of course, as with all government-funded activities, the future of this one may be uncertain. However, with its David Cameron-esque “big society” ethos, it’s better placed than many to survive.

Let’s hope so anyway.

Last month I reported that the discount offered to hostel users of limited means had been reinstated. I was quite pleased with myself – a couple of members reported the issue to me, I brought it up at Regional Council, the matter was brought up at the Board of Trustees, and the management agreed to reverse the decision. Hey, the system works! Or so I thought…

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Back in April I reported that the discount available to students, OAPs and other people of limited means had been quietly abolished by YHA management.

Partly as a result of my prompting, the matter was raised at a meeting of the YHA Board of Trustees. Apparently, Marketing supremo Alan Hopley said that the discount was “too small to be worth bothering about”. It was pointed out to him that people on low incomes might depend on such small sums!

At any rate, the end result is that the discount is to be reinstated. If anybody reading this site who is entitled to such a discount is unable to get it, please get in touch (or comment below) and I’ll make sure the BoT hears about it.

As we all know, the YHA’s charitable objective begins “To help all, especially young people of limited means…”. An extensive reorganisation of the Association’s governance is under way to bring it more into line with these beneficiaries, but what are they doing to help them where it counts – in the wallet?

Back in the olden days it was simple: if you were a student, unemployed, disabled or a pensioner you paid the under 18′s rate for your overnights as set out in the handbook. Now it’s a lot more complicated.

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