YHA History
Richard Schirrman, a German schoolteacher, driven by the desire to enrich the lives of young people living in large industrial cities through enabling them to enjoy the countryside, opened the world’s first Youth Hostel in Germany in 1909. The Youth Hostels Association of Great Britain was formed as a joint initiative between rambling, cycling and youth organisations, to meet burgeoning demand for simple accommodation for walkers and cyclists travelling throughout the UK. Shortly afterwards, it became the YHA (England and Wales) with separate associations for Scotland and Ireland..
The early years provided a firm foundation and during the war members doubled. New initiatives such as activity holidays were introduced in the fifties. The seventies were a period of considerable modernisation when guest could arrive at Youth Hostels by car and inspection schemes commenced.
By the 80s, YHA was facing a rapidly changing world and a network requiring increasing resources. Considerable change took place within the organisation around this time with the establishment of a national framework and a professional management structure as well as the separate regions being rationalised. A major PR campaign was launched in order to raise the profile of the organisation.
The needs of the modern-day traveller were also changing. YHA Ilam Hall in the Peak District was praised following changes in line with these requirements including smaller dormitories, better washing facilities, games room and improved kitchen and dining areas in 1991.
The network of properties has continued to evolve with constant refurbishment programmes and the introduction of purpose-built accommodation. There became a need for more beds in London to cope with the growing number of international travellers, which led to the building of YHA Rotherhithe (now YHA London Thameside), in the Docklands of East London. By the end of the 90s the number of overnight stays had grown to a record high.
The outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in 2001, however, made it a difficult time for all those involved in the tourism industry. The resulting closure of the countryside meant that people were reminded of its importance.
Recent terrorist activities such as 9/11 and the London bombings also made it difficult for large city locations whose trade relies a great deal on international customers.
In 2006 YHA launched a new strategy with the aim of reaching more young people and modernising the overall image. Many young people have already benefited from a number of schemes run by YHA, including the hugely popular Do it 4 Real summer camps and learn 4 real educational visits. The new strategy has provided the charity with the necessary foundations for a bright future.
For more information on YHA’s History contact: hannahcurzon@yha.org.uk
YHA Today
- Welcomes individual travellers, families, school and youth groups, recording more than 2 million overnight stays each year
- Runs a network of 200 Youth Hostels and over 40 camping barns, in stunning rural, coastal and city locations throughout England and Wales
- Has over 230,000 members
- Is supported by 2,000 voluntary workers
- Employs 1,200 staff including 600 seasonal staff
- Has an annual turnover of £38.5 million
- Is one of Britain’s top 50 charities
- Accommodates 750,000 overnight stays by young people under the age of 18 each year, travelling independently, with families or as part of an organised group.
- Helps provide learning opportunities for 8,000 school, college and youth groups to meet the requirements of the National Curriculum and other educational needs.
- Gives thousands of disadvantaged young people each year a trip part-funded by YHA’s Breaks 4 Kids scheme.
- Welcomes visitors from 80 different nations each year, accounting for 500,000 overnight stays.
- Is an active member of Hostelling International (HI) which embraces 60 countries, with 4,000 Youth Hostels and 3.2 million members worldwide. HI is the largest budget accommodation network in the world.
