Coalport Workshop Report
Representatives from groups across the country spent a warm, sunny November day closeted at Coalport Youth Hostel discussing the future of Affiliated Groups within the YHA.
The original agenda for the morning was abandoned in favour of a focussed brainstorming session led by professional facilitator Richard John. The relationship between YHA and its affiliated groups was thoroughly explored and dissected and many ideas were generated as to how this relationship could be improved. The YHA contingent, led by HR chief Sarah White, have promised to consider all of them and produce an action plan by the end of this week.
The afternoon was given over to presentations by Paul Nicholson representing Perkins-Slade insurance, Alan Hopley the Head of YHA Marketing, Crewenna Dymond on the new licensing agreements and by YHA Treasurer Alan Bourne on the subject of the Governance Review. Dr Andrew Purkis, who is leading the review and had expressed an interest in attending the meeting, was unable to attend due to pressure of work.
The day ended with a question and answer session in which some of the thornier issues facing groups were discussed.
A lot of information was exchanged during the day, and there’s a lot more to follow, but these were some of the highlights:
- All groups are required to have some form of insurance in order to affiliate. This need not be the policy negotiated with Perkins Slade, but it should offer equivalent cover.
- Groups which use the YHA name will have to licence that usage with the YHA for the nominal sum of £1, this licence also covers the use of the YHA logo. This is in response to legal advice which requires YHA to protect its intellectual property. This was not popular with groups, who believe their names to be their property. Expect further controversy on this issue.
- Affiliated groups are expected to have the same booking conditions as other groups (school groups, youth groups etc.) when the new Orion booking system goes live. Representations were made about the difficulties this would present to many groups, but without apparent effect. This is another one to watch.
- A redesigned YHA website will go live in January 2007 and will contain more information about local groups, including a page of information about every group. A new handbook will be issued at around the same time.
- There will be an Affiliated Groups’ Conference, probably in March next year.
If you were at the meeting, use the comments facility below to let us know what you thought of it. You can also use the discussion forum to talk about the issues raised.
Related Pages
Powered by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.
The way I understood it Chris, ALL Affilated Groups whether they use YHA in their names or not are expected to pay the £1 ‘licence’ so that they can say that they are affiliated to YHA in their literature and use a new ‘Affiliate to YHA’ logo. It is more of an ‘Affilation Fee’ than a licence to use YHA if you wish.
Dave Self, Leicester Local YHA Group
The overview of the day’s events issued by YHA (which I’ll post on this site as soon as I can get an electronic copy) clarifies the licencing issue.
If your group uses YHA in its name, or uses the green YHA logo, it will have to have a £1 licence. If they don’t, they won’t.
All groups will sign a Declaration (wording unknown, as yet) on the affiliate membership form which will entitle them to use the new “Affiliated to YHA” logo regardless of whether they have a licence for the other one.
I don’t see how having to abide by the same booking conditions as other groups creates any more difficulties for local groups than any one else.