Comments on: Rescue Plan for Coldingham

By: Ged Hearn (Chair CSCC) - Coldingham buy out group)

Ged Hearn (Chair CSCC) - Coldingham buy out group) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:40:21 +0000

We are very busy in the middle of this community buy-out. Things are looking Ok - we have had great support from the Scottish Government and Scottish Borders Council and have an excellent local team.

All support is very welcome and we are about to kick into serious fund raising (big funding bodies - but all welcome). To succeed in this, publicity will be key. Any bright ideas or offers of support will be very welcome.

Ged Hearn

By: Kirsty

Kirsty — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:47:35 +0000

It’s true - Loch Lochy hostel has reopened under independent ownership as the Great Glen Hostel (www.greatglenhostel.co.uk) and it’s looking pretty good!

By: charlie babbage

charlie babbage — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:42:53 +0000

I have just heard a rumour that the former SYHA hostel at loch Lochy which closed at the end of 2007 has been bought and is being opened as an independent hostel - Great Glen Backpackers.

Perhaps another example of a good hostel rising out of the ashes of SYHA indiffirence and incompetence!

By: charlie babbage

charlie babbage — Sun, 20 Apr 2008 20:46:56 +0000

interesting commnet, however i’m not sure of any charity today with no professional fundraising experience. I understand you need the know all to unlock lots of funding opportunties and there is a real skill/techinique in box ticking applications these days.
I find it a disgrace SYHA will shut hostels before even attempting to find funding through existing channels.

By: Neil

Neil — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 17:57:03 +0000

It strange you say this about SYHA i.e. not having a fundraiser because a lot of people around think having one is one of the problems with YHA (south of the border) i.e they add to the weight of the head office and detract from the hostel network.

Dammed if you do and dammed if you don’t seems to be the position.

By: charlie babbage

charlie babbage — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 21:17:20 +0000

I really hope the community can make a go of this, it seems that SYHA is incapable of running hostels these days. The potential for Coldingham to be a success is there. It seems SYHA can’t be bothered to even try, after all they don’t even have a full time professional fundraiser. How many charities with a turnover of over £6 million have no fundraising team? incompetence or just pure neglect. Its no surprise that every 3 or 4 years they have to sell off more assets to keep afloat. They closed Falkland hostel in Fife and now that is a thriving independent hostel - good luck to the Coldingham community!

By: Lesley Lovell

Lesley Lovell — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:23:52 +0000

What a shame that Coldingham Sands is closed!

We had a super family break there last June, a place where even our older children felt so comfortable and uninhibited that they were making dens and playing imaginative play.

The youth hostel was a credit to YHA -scrupulously clean.

We will definitely be back when it re opens.

I wish everyone involved in its future plans all the best.