Publicity
Publicity is vital; some YHA members may seek you out but you have to sell yourselves to both members and the general public. You may have appointed a Publicity Officer but this is an activity in which all Group members can and should share.
There are various ways in which you can do this - by advertising in ‘Triangle’, by getting news of your Group into YHA News which is circulated to all hostels, by the use of regional or other newsletters, by notices in hostels and by direct mail using address labels.
These self-adhesive labels with members’ names and addresses are obtainable, for Adult and/or Under 18 members, from the Local Groups Officer at YHA National Office, Matlock. You should specify your requirements by postal district - the first group of the post code. These labels are provided by the Membership section and delivery depends on the pressure of enrolment work.
Here you must concentrate on letting people feel the presence of YHA in their area. There are various well-tried outlets for publicity material which include libraries, schools and colleges, leisure centres and youth clubs, Citizens Advice Bureaux and Tourist Information Centres, sports, cycle and equipment shops, Council notice boards, newsagents and even some supermarkets.
In producing material for this purpose you have access to the ’shell’ posters and cards provided by the NHLGC, or you can design your own incorporating the YHA logo (as long as you abide by certain restrictions). Not only is publicity vital but it is equally vital to keep it up-to-date.
Out-of-date information is bad publicity whether in your home area or on hostel notice boards. Moreover, it is important to ensure that your notices do not become tatty, if necessary renew them regularly.
Local newspapers are as varied as Local Groups but many will accept readers’ letters which can promote your Group.
Some papers have a Youth or Diary page. Try to persuade them to publish details of your activities regularly. Try to establish a personal contact and find out if you should send material to the Editor or the News Editor. Any reports you send in will have a better chance if they concern people and are of local interest.
Many local radio stations, both BBC and Commercial, have a spot for advertising local events and their News Editor or News Desk should be included in any press release.
Create your local group website on which to publish your on going programme.