yha.org.uk Intro 3 Inside these pages we’ll outline the varied and complex An incredible challenges that young people face. We’ll describe and evaluate the unique opportunities we provide to support and year of progress nurture young people to broaden their horizons, enabling It all starts here them to engage more and, crucially, attain more. You’ll read inspiring accounts from the people we’ve supported and Welcome to our Impact Report. Thanks to the dedication and discover the ways that you can actively promote better health, support of our guests, members, donors, volunteers, partners education and recreation for all young people so that no child and staff we can report another fantastic year of progress is left behind or resigned to their circumstances. 03 Health 16 Recreation 34 How to in 2016/17. For the third successive year we have achieved support us a record performance that’s helped us reach hundreds of thousands of young people. This document will explain the great We care deeply about our work and impact; we have an impact YHA makes to young people’s Intro 8 Education 26 Volunteering 42 organisation-wide commitment to our purpose and a strategic lives and how you can help us achieve focus on creating transformational experiences for young people with challenging lives – be that because of financial even more. disadvantage, disability, bereavement, homelessness, being a young carer or any difficulty that limits opportunity. 4 Intro 5 Challenges that young people face today Educ Skill a s, kn t ow io le n dg e , p r o g r e 1 in 4 1 in 5 69,540 s s children are obese when children live in care, i children in England o , n live in poverty they leave primary school 62% are there because of y t i abuse and neglect v i t c Young a m , e h g e t t n i people s l e e - b a f l l l outcomes e e e s W H , 178,000 g 86% rin y children have caring of families with lo it p iv responsibilities at home Ex at n a disabled child go 800,000 cre limiting their nt, o without any activities children are living with a oyme ti enj ea time to play disability or fighting a life Recr and explore threatening illness 865,000 young people aged 1 in 5 16-24 are not in children struggle to learn This is who we are employment, to read, in part because education their parents have 1.46 million literacy issues families struggle to fund Everything we do is in the spirit and service of our or training We believe travel, adventure and Charitable Object: a day out together discovery transforms young lives. To help all, especially young people of To achieve this, we create opportunities limited means, to a greater knowledge, 2.17 million to explore, learn, share and grow in love and care of the countryside, and children miss out on a break from their difficult lives – many more inspirational places. appreciation of the cultural values of towns miss out because the challenges of daily life are too great and cities, particularly by providing Youth Affordable and accessible. We offer Hostels or other accommodation for them in their travels, and thus to promote their 50% a unique range of accommodation of lifetime mental illness health, recreation and education. and activities in rural, coastal and (except dementia) arises by Our focus is on age 14 and 40% of young city locations. people experience at least one improving young mental disorder by age 16 We often meet young people who have never explored beyond their own community. Some have never visited the people’s health, coast and seen the sea. Others are shocked to see animals in fields. For some, it is not the norm to have a bed to sleep in at 45% education and night and three nutritious meals a day. of looked after children aged 5-15 were assessed as having recreation in the Through new experiences at our Youth Hostels, young people a mental health disorder. learn about themselves, each other and the world around This figures rose to 72% for short and long term them. As a result, they grow into happier, healthier and more those in residential care successful adults. Details of all our sources are on our website yha.org.uk/impact 6 Intro 7 Our reach A view from our “Every young person should have the 1.1 young people reached opportunity to get outside, whether YHA is 87 years old this year. This year million ambassador that’s in the mountains or even in their alone we reached a record 1,176,297 local park. Travelling somewhere new Alex Staniforth, YHA Ambassador young people. In that time, over 57 can be challenging but I believe these experiences make young people more million people have stayed with us. young people stayed Alex is a 22 year old adventurer, motivational speaker and author from Cheshire. In 2014 he made his first resilient to everyday challenges back in the Everest attempt and this summer Alex’s “Climb The UK” Our vision for the next three years is to continue to reach out 256k classroom or life in general. YHA offers this challenge takes him to the highest point in every county. and enhance the lives of all young people, with the goal of opportunity to thousands of young people reaching more than one million young people every year every year and I’m very proud to be their by 2020. Overcoming a series of setbacks and obstacles including young people on school childhood epilepsy, Alex is determined to succeed. ambassador as it gives me the chance to He inspires and encourages others to conquer their own This year alone, 256,637 young people stayed with us of which and group residentials promote these opportunities to young ‘Everest in life’. Alex has been a YHA Ambassador 141,520 were on school and youth group trips and 7,200 were 147k since 2015. people directly. on National Citizen Service residential courses. We also welcomed 735 young volunteers and 509 young For me, travel in the outdoors first inspired employees (under the age of 26). As important contributors young volunteers me to aim high – the highest mountain in to our purpose, these young people have made their mark the world in fact – and one simple moment across a variety of programmes and services. 735 became life-changing. Looking around at We know that families on lower incomes and those living in the Lake District mountains was not only poverty struggle to afford travel experiences and educational exhilarating but gave me a confidence residentials for their children. Since it was set up in the 1980s, young employees and self-esteem I’d never really felt in the our bursary scheme, Breaks for Kids, has provided financial support to over 90,000 disadvantaged young people to 509 barriers of a classroom.” ensure that no child is left behind. £40 can help a child achieve many things for the first time; imagine if one of those things is sleeping in a bed. Visit www.yha.org.uk/donate or call 0800 0191 700 to donate and make a real difference Health 10 Young people face many challenges Health 11 The health benefits Sharing strengthens relationships Young people’s 1 in 5 children are obese when they of staying with us “I saw family, it improved my sense of healthy outcomes leave primary school ‘lovedness’ (sic) and wellbeing.” A recent YHA survey showed that 67% of all guests feel that Our range of active residentials introduce participants to new sports, activities and Guest at YHA York, Dec 2016 their wellbeing and enjoyment improved during their stay. outdoor pursuits. These are proven to improve fitness and self-esteem, and help This figure is even higher for guests staying in our countryside establish healthy lifestyles for the future. We believe young people’s health matters. hostels: 85% of guests hostelling in the Lake District National Too many children are growing up with health issues that will negatively impact 330k Park stated an increase in wellbeing and enjoyment. their futures. We are committed to doing what we can to overcome health-related disabled children have never Keeping active and fit challenges and barriers to participation. accessed activities outside of their home Time out de-stresses “Here I can enjoy mountain climbing as The scale of the problem a hobby which has the added benefit of “Monthly walking weekends are my There are 3.9 million children and 2.1 million young adults (16-24 years) living in low reset button – they’re fantastic for my combating stress and also keeping fit income households. Evidence shows that these young people have poorer physical 178k mental health.” and healthy.” and mental health, compared to those from average and high income families. children have caring responsibilities at home Guest at YHA Keswick, Dec 2016 Guest at YHA Windermere, Dec 2016 Participation in sport for children in low income families is more difficult because limiting their time to play their parents are more likely to suffer from ill health. In addition, there tend to be and explore fewer extra-curricular activities offered at school and children lack access to sports At YHA we are passionate about physical health and mental facilities and safe places to play. wellbeing for all our guests. We want everyone, regardless of age, to learn, share and grow with new skills, improve their All young people should have the opportunity to be active in a safe environment.