YHAgroup.org.uk

YHA offers the following benefits to affiliate members:

• Access to Hostel accommodation at members rates for everyone in your group
• A range of discounts and offers from third party companies
• Listing of your group’s contact details on YHA’s website
• Promotion of all Affiliated Groups in YHA’s communications with members
• Special offers on Hostel accommodation and packages
• Opportunities to contribute to YHA’s governance, volunteer work and consultation exercises
• Annual gathering with other Affiliated Groups for training, information sharing, networking and election of governance representatives
• Use of ‘Affiliated to YHA’ logos on your marketing materials (subject to affiliate declaration)
• Optional use of YHA logo (subject to licensing agreement)
• Participation in the annual President’s Awards competition.

Further details on all these benefits are listed below:

Members rate for everyone in your group

If you are not a member of YHA, when you stay in our accommodation you will be asked to pay a Non-Member Supplement. This supplement is currently £3 per night for adults and £1.50 per night for under-18s.

When a group stays with us as Affiliate Members no one in the group will be asked to pay the Non-Member Supplement.

Some groups offer new members an introductory period (e.g. 3 months or 3 trips) where no membership subscription to the group is payable. During this period your potential new members will also not be asked to pay the Non-Member Supplement when they stay overnight with YHA.

Third party discounts

YHA has arranged the following Member Discounts for 2007:

• 20% off Rough Guides, plus free postage and packaging
• 25% off Insight Guides priced £12.99 or more, plus free postage and packaging
• 10% off at Millets, the outdoor store
• 10% off non-sale items at Blacks, the outdoor experts
• 15% off lowest fares with Sea France
• 10% off DFDS Seaways passenger and vehicle flexi-fares
• 10% off travel insurance with Columbus Direct
• Join the National Trust and receive 3 months free membership
• 20% off standard adult admission for up to 5 people to English Heritage sites
• Save up to £10 on visits to The Tussauds Group attractions and theme parks, including Madame Tussauds and Alton Towers
• £4 joining bonus from e kit, the global phonecard
• 10% discount from Vinceremos, suppliers of organic wines on phone or web orders for one or more cases
• Savings on CDs, DVDs and games at CDWOW!
• 20% off membership of the British Orienteering Federation
• Free eye examination at Vision Express and £30 off complete spectacles
• £1 discount from any adult or concessionary fare at CitySightseeing

Terms and conditions apply to these offers. For more information visit www.yha.org.uk or call Customer Services on 0870 770 8868 to receive an up to date Member Discount leaflet.

Group contact details on www.yha.org.uk

YHA will use the Contact Person, email and website information you provide on your Affiliate Membership Form to enter your group’s details onto their website and Membership database.

If during the year, you wish to change the contact information, for example if your committee members change, please contact membership@yha.org.uk or phone 01629 592771, specifying your groups’ full name, membership number and the information you would like to change. Please allow 5 working days for any required website amendments to be actioned.

Please note: the Contact Person will be the only person YHA will correspond with in relation to your membership of YHA (although other people may be responsible for making bookings with us). It is their responsibility to disseminate and share information from us that may be of interest to other members of the group e.g. special offers, advice or invitations to events. YHA prefer to communicate with you electronically, via email, please advise them if you would also like to receive information by post.

Promotion to YHA members

In addition to listing your groups’ contact details on our website YHA will also include adverts and features about Affiliated Groups in their other communications with members to encourage them to contact you and hopefully join your group or club.

If you need to recruit new members, YHA’s promotion of your group could help, but you’re encouraged to think about local campaigns and advertising opportunities as well, as new members to your group may not already be YHA members.

Unfortunately, due to cost, YHA are unable to list all the individual affiliate member contacts details in their printed publications, but they will always list this information fully on their website.

Special offers

There is a section on the YHA website for special offers and you are encouraged to check this regularly to see if there is something of interest to your group. From time to time, YHA will also make special offers or deals exclusively available to Affiliated Groups and you will be informed about this directly when they are available.

Take part in YHA governance and volunteer work

In 2007 members of Affiliated Groups are entitled to elect five representatives to attend and vote at YHA’s AGM on issues such as policy, strategy and trustee elections. This year the route to gain one of these five places was through a conference held in March 2007. New groups affiliating to YHA are encouraged to take part in the governance side of YHA, so please look out for opportunities to get involved.

Affiliated Groups are welcome to take part in volunteering activities for YHA. As individuals you are free to apply for any of the opportunities we offer and as a group it is possible for you to arrange a Hostel work party as part of your group’s activities.

Volunteering for YHA broadly falls into the following categories:

• Governance
• Voluntary Wardening
• Other Hostel-based activities (like work parties)
• Support to National Office
• Professional services
• Youth work (like Do it 4 Real Camp Counsellors)
• Hostel inspections/mystery shoppers

You can find out more about volunteering with YHA on their website (click on the ‘About Us’ section) or by contacting the Volunteering department at National Office on 01629 592562 or email volunteers@yha.org.uk.

If you would like to undertake a work party but don’t know how to arrange it, please contact the Volunteering department or if you know which Hostel you want to help please liaise with the Hostel Manager directly.

Annual affiliated groups gathering

Previously YHA has supported an annual conference for affiliate group members to come together, receive training, network, and share ideas and elect representatives to attend the AGM. In 2007 this meeting was held in March.

In 2008 the annual gathering is being organised by a team of volunteers from different Affiliated Groups; look out for information about the event in the coming months. If you would like to make any suggestions about where the event should be held or what should be on the programme please email affiliatedgroups@yha.org.uk with your ideas and these will be passed on to the organising team.

Use of “Affiliated to YHA” logos

You are encouraged to use the “Affiliated to YHA” logos on your publicity materials, like websites and letterheads, to promote your membership of YHA.

The logo is available in different formats for different uses. The Communications department have issued the following guidelines for using the logos:

• Must not be displayed larger than a maximum of 80mm wide, and never less than 25mm wide
• Must not be re-drawn, altered or distorted
• Can be used in different formats for print and electronically. Any variation of the logo can be used electronically or if you are having your publication printed
• If the logo is to be photocopied, use the black and white logo not the logo with the grey box.
• Can be used on any colour background.

These logos are available electronically for you to use where you wish.

Please remember that your use of these logos is dependent on being a current Affiliated Group Member. YHA reserves the right to withdraw your use of the logo if conduct of the group damages YHA’s reputation.

If you would like to receive the ‘Affiliated to YHA’ logos electronically please email affiliatedgroups@yha.co.uk or phone 01629 592562.

Use of the YHA green logo

If you would like to use the YHA trademarked green triangle logo you can, provided you sign a licensing agreement with YHA first. The license explains that YHA is the owner of the logo and under what circumstances it can be used; for example it cannot be incorporated into another logo.

The license is also available to groups who wish to call themselves a “YHA” group e.g. “Nicetown YHA Outdoor Group” and promote themselves as such.

The license costs £1 and is a one-off payment.

If you would like to review the terms of the license please contact affiliatedgroups@yha.org.uk or ring 01629 592562.

President’s Award Competition

Each year volunteers from different Affiliated Groups organise the President’s Awards competition. Entries are welcome from all Affiliated Groups in the following categories:

• Best Conservation Project
• Best Publicity Strategy
• Best Programme
• Best Fundraising Initiative
• Best Work Undertaken at a Hostel
• Best Newsletter or Magazine
• Best New Member’s Package
• Best Website

The judges select the overall President’s Award winner from the winners of the category awards.

Entries to the competition are invited during the winter months and the winners are announced at the annual gathering.