Youth hostel dormitory

The Youth Hostels Association (YHA) is a registered charity in the United Kingdom operating as an association of youth hostels in England and Wales. The YHA is a member of Hostelling International, an international federation of hostel associations. Download high resolution version (620x820, 88 KB)Inside the dormitory of a youth hostel, Rome, Italy. ... Download high resolution version (620x820, 88 KB)Inside the dormitory of a youth hostel, Rome, Italy. ... This article is about charitable organizations. ... For the 2005 horror film,see Hostel (film). ... Hostelling Intl, Washington D.C. Hostelling International, formerly known as International Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF), is the federation of more than 90 national youth hostel associations in more than 80 countries who run over 4,500 youth hostels and youth hotels around the world. ...

The YHA, as part of the HI hostel network and with the support of UNESCO, enables young people of differing nationalities, cultures and social background to meet informally, share experiences, learn about themselves, each other and their surroundings. UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) is a specialized agency of the United Nations established in 1945. ...

Youth hostels provide accommodation where guests can rent a bed (sometimes a bunk bed) in a dormitory and share a common bathroom, kitchen, and lounge. Rooms can be mixed or single-sex, although private rooms are increasingly common in all types of hostel. All hostels are generally cheaper for both the supplier and the occupant and many hostels employ their long-term residents as desk clerks in exchange for free accommodation.

An effort should be made to distinguish between establishments that provide longer term accommodation (often to specific classes of clientèle such as nurses, students, drug addicts, arrested persons subsequently bailed to await trial and homeless people where the hostels are sometimes run by Housing Associations and charities) and those offering short term accommodation to travellers or backpackers. Drug addiction, or dependency is the compulsive use of drugs, to the point where the user has no effective choice but to continue use. ... A homeless man pushes a cart down the street. ...

Within the 'traveller' category another distinction can be drawn between those particularly encouraging outdoor activities and cultural exchange for the young, who are often members of Hostelling International (HI) a nonprofit organisation, and commercial backpackers' hostels (or Backpackers for short), particularly in Australia and New Zealand.

Sleeping dormitory

Main article: Dormitory

The dormitories in hostels typically consist of a number of beds, often bunk beds, and little else. Such rooms provide little or no privacy for the residents, and very limited storage for personal items in or near the beds. A typical American college dorm room Another typical not-so-clean college dorm room Watterson Towers, Illinois State University Potomac Hall, second-largest dormitory at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. ...

Environmental conservation

YHA is dedicated to playing an active role in environmental conservation and is leading the way in mainstream tourism with its commitment to best practice management. Eco-hostels have been developed where travellers can experience environmentally self-sustainable living. The conservation movement seeks to protect plant and animal species as well as the habitats they live in from harmful human influences. ... Tourist redirects here. ... Look up eco- in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Irish Travellers are a nomadic or itinerant people of Irish origin living in Ireland, Great Britain and the United States. ... Forests on San Juan Island in Washington. ...

The conservation movement

Main article: Environmental conservation

The conservation movement is a political and social movement that seeks to protect natural resources including plant and animal species as well as their habitat for the future. The conservation movement seeks to protect plant and animal species as well as the habitats they live in from harmful human influences. ...

The early conservation movement included fisheries and wildlife management, water, soil conservation and sustainable forestry. The contemporary conservation movement has broaden from the early movement's emphasis on use of sustainable yield of natual resources and preservation of wilderness areas to include preservation of biodiversity. The conservation movement is part of the broader and more far-reaching environmental movement. A fishery (plural: fisheries) is an organized effort by humans to catch fish or other aquatic species, an activity known as fishing. ... Wildlife management is the process of keeping certain wildlife populations at desirable levels determined by wildlife managers. ... Sustainable forestry is a forest management concept. ... For other uses, see Wilderness (disambiguation). ... Rainforests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth Biodiversity is the variation of taxonomic life forms within a given ecosystem, biome or for the entire Earth. ... The environmental movement (a term that sometimes includes the conservation and green movements) is a diverse scientific, social, and political movement. ...

Customer service

YHA aims to provide an atmosphere that encourages interest in the surrounding cultural and natural environment, and recognises that these are two elements that are essential to meaningful travel. The future wellbeing of all people depends on the actions of today, and because of this, YHA strives to be a responsible quality accommodation provider. This article is about the natural environment. ...

Facilities

Facilities have become more varied and less spartan in terms of comfort and amenities. In England and Wales, as part of the "Eat the View" scheme and an initiative by the Food and Beverages Manager, many hostels now offer local dishes as part of their menu, with organic food supplied by local farms and producers. Gone also are the Nestle coffee and chocolate bars, in favour of fair trade products. The YHA is aiming to open up its membership to people from all walks of life — despite the organisation's name, membership has always been open to people of all ages. Youth Hostels in England and Wales also provide a base for field trips. Organic vegetables at a farmers market in Argentina. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... A field trip is typically a journey by a group of people performing research on a topic to a place away from their normal environment. ...

Hostels in England and Wales

In England and Wales, there are many very small hostels. You can usually drink alcohol on the premises, but some have their own bar and frown on customers bringing in their own. Many hostels are in local beauty spots. The catering, if available, differs very much too, though the organisation is striving to sell only good quality meals made with locally sourced ingredients. Most, but not all hostels have a self catering kitchen. Many of the large dormitories have been split into smaller, cosier bedrooms, including rooms reserved for couples or family groups.

Local support network

YHA has traditionally been supported by a network of local groups dedicated to supporting the network by patronising the hostels and providing voluntary labour. As the membership of these has aged and diminished, conflict between these "conservative" elements and the modernising centre has increased and is ongoing. Conservatism is a term used to describe political philosophies that favor tradition and gradual change, where tradition refers to religious, cultural, or nationally defined beliefs and customs. ...

Governance

YHA is governed via three Regional Councils in England and one in Wales, although this is subject to review at the time of writing. Each Regional Council elects a group of members to represent the needs and views of YHA members and users. These Regional Councils also elect the majority of the National AGM delegates. They also elect regional Trustees. A programme of meetings are held around the country throughout the year. Regional Councils are able to put Motions to the National AGM as required. They have a significant say in the election of National Trustees, National Officers and the National Chairman.

Foot and mouth crisis

The YHA's finances were affected quite badly by the 2001 foot and mouth crisis and the organisation continues to service seven figure debts. Notice telling people to keep off the North York Moors. ...

Major Disposals Programme

In 2005 the YHA embarked on a programme to sell a considerable number - over 40 - of its hostels, including those at: Alston, Badby, Baldersdale, Blackboys, Blaencaron, Byrness, Crowcombe, Dentdale, Earby, Elmscott, Greenhead, Hampstead, Hastings, Keld, Kemsing, Kirkby, Lincoln, Malvern, Meerbrook, Tyncornel, Winchester, Acomb, Bakewell, Bradenham, Brighton, Capel-y-Ffin, Castle, Chester, Dolgoch, Dover, Ivinghoe, Langsett, Lynton, Matlock, Quantocks, Sandown and Stainforth. Statistics Population: 1,128 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: NY716462 Administration District: Eden Shire county: Cumbria Region: North West England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Cumbria Historic county: Cumberland Services Police force: Cumbria Constabulary Ambulance service: North West Post office and telephone Post town: ALSTON... Badby is a village in the Daventry district of the county of Northamptonshire in England. ... Blackboys is a village located inland from the South Downs, and near the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex. ... Located in Northuberland, Byrness is the last village in England before the A68 climbs the Cheviot Hills to cross Carter Bar into Scotland. ... , Crowcombe is a village and parish under the Quantock Hills in Somerset, England, 5. ... The valley of Dentdale takes its name from the village of Dent. ... Earby is a town in the North-West of England, near Barnoldswick and about five miles north of Colne. ... Greenhead is a small village in Northumberland, northern England. ... For other places with the same name, see Hampstead (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Hastings (disambiguation). ... Keld seen from the Pennine Way as it leaves Swaledale. ... Kemsing is a village in north-west Kent, on the North Downs Way. ... Arms of the former Kirkby Urban District Council Kirkby (pronounced - the second k is silent) is a new town in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, Merseyside, England. ... Lincoln (pronounced //) is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England. ... Malvern is a town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England . ... Winchester is a historic city in southern England, with a population of around 40,000 within a 3 mile radius of its centre. ... Acomb is a village in Northumberland, in England. ... Bakewell is a small market town in Derbyshire, England, deriving its name from Badecas Well. According to the UK 2001 census the civil parish of Bakewell had a population of 3,979. ... Bradenham is a village in Buckinghamshire, England. ... For other places with the same name, see Brighton (disambiguation). ... The electoral ward of Castle, City and County of Swansea, South Wales consists of some or all of the following areas: Swansea City Centre, Brynmelin, Dyfatty, Marina, Parts of Mount Pleasant and Sandfields in the parliamentary constituency of Swansea West. ... For the larger local government district, see Chester (district). ... , Dover is a major channel port in the English county of Kent. ... Ivinghoe is a village in Buckinghamshire, England, close to the border with Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire. ... Langsett is a village near Penistone in South Yorkshire, UK. It lies near the southern edge of South Yorkshire and on the edge of the Peak District National Park. ... Location within the British Isles Lynton is a small town in Devon, England. ... , Matlock is the county town of Derbyshire, England, United Kingdom. ... The Quantock Hills are a range of hills near Bridgwater in Somerset in the south-west of England. ... Sandown is a seaside resort town and civil parish[1] on the south-east coast of the Isle of Wight, England, neighbouring the town of Shanklin to the south. ...

Unsurprisingly, this has not been universally popular with more traditional members.

Further reading

• Coburn, Oliver. Youth Hostel Story. London: National Council of Social Service, 1950

See also

• Hostel
• Scottish Youth Hostels Association

Wastwater Youth Hostel in the English Lake District

For the 2005 horror film,see Hostel (film). ... The Scottish Youth Hostels Association (SYHA), founded in 1931, is part of Hostelling International and provides over 70 youth hostels in Scotland. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Wastwater_Youth_Hostel. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Wastwater_Youth_Hostel. ...

External links

• Hostelling International Official Site

• YHA (England & Wales) Official Site

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