YHA Democracy
The policies YHA (England and Wales) Ltd follows are decided by YHA members through the democratic structure shown below:
Area Panels
Co-ordinate the activities of groups of volunteers. The Area Panels are elected at an Annual General Meeting.
Regional Councils
The four Regional Councils are involved in developing policy, encouraging members to participate in YHA activities and monitoring the services provided to members. The Regional Councils are Northern England, Central England, South England and Wales. These are elected at open Annual Regional Council Meetings and are drawn from members nominated at the meeting, together with representatives of Area Panels and Hostelling and Local Groups.
National Council
Is a representative body of members, elected mainly at regional level. National Council members can propose motions for debate, which if passed, can help to determine YHA policy on a whole range of issues.
National Executive Committee (NEC)
The members of the National Executive Committee are elected annually in September at National Council. They appoint the Chief executive and procure the employment of staff. The committee is generally responsible for the furtherance and development of the Association. They have the power to appoint and dissolve Local Groups of members of the association and from 2002 appoint the Chairman of the Hostelling and Local Groups Committee.
National Hostelling and Local Groups Committee (NHLGC)
Is a national committee elected at the annual conference of YHA affiliated Local Group delegates. The object of the committee is to establish, promote and maintain affiliated Hostelling and Local Groups. To encourage YHA membership and YHA hostel usage by those groups and also enable them to become centres of volunteer participation.
Hostelling and Local Groups can elect five Local Group Members to attend National Council at the elections which are held during the National Hostelling and Local Groups Annual Conference.
Local Groups and YHA Regions
Currently there are 4 membership Regions to YHA in Northern, Central, Southern and Wales. Each of these Regions has a council responsible for the organisation of members and support of the professional management in that Region. The council is made up of several volunteer YHA members, many of whom are also Local Group members. These Regional Council members, together with other volunteers from the more informal Area Panels, provide useful resources which Local Groups should not hesitate to tap when planning programmes.
There is provision for Local Group representation on Regional Councils, Local Group members are welcome on Area Panels.
Local Groups have the right to seek assistance from their respective Region and the Region also welcomes Local Groups wishing to become involved in the democratic structure which Area and Regional AGMs provide.