All members are invited to participate in the forums. These events are your opportunity to find out more detail about YHA in Wales and to give us your views and thoughts for the future. The first of these is at YHA Broadhaven on Saturday 8th November 2008 and the second will be at the Welsh Assembly on Saturday 20th June 2009.

You can find out more about volunteering for YHA here and more about the Welsh programme here.

EGM 21 February 2008 – to be held in Birmingham

It was agreed at the AGM in September 2008 that in order to carry forward the Resolution regarding the changes to the Governance/Board structure and interaction at Regional level, that a special EGM be held on 21 February.

Since the AGM, the venue for the EGM has now been confirmed as: The Council House, Birmingham.

Governance renewal - update

The YHA Board has agreed to press ahead with the governance renewal programme. The outcome of governance renewal will be to give YHA a smaller Board, of 15 Trustees as opposed to the current 26, and a more active member involvement programme. The current plan was discussed at the AGM in September 2008 and agreement was granted for an EGM to be held on 21 February 2009 to vote on the new arrangements.

The proposed changes will be the biggest alteration to YHA’s governance for 25 years. They will bring YHA’s Board structure into line with other modern charities. At the same time, they will provide for a reinvigorated volunteer sector. There will be specific provision for involving young people in YHA’s work.

YHA Chief Executive resignation

Roger Clarke has tendered his resignation from the post of Chief Executive of YHA (England & Wales) with effect from the 31st March 2008.

At its meeting on the 17th November 2007 the Board of Trustees accepted Roger‘s resignation and expressed gratitude to Roger for his commitment and achievements on behalf of YHA during the eight years he has been Chief Executive.

“The Board noted in particular that Roger has raised the public profile of YHA, has been a major force in YHA’s work in Europe and internationally, and has made a big contribution to creating a YHA true to its charitable mission and able to meet the challenges of the 21st Century,” said YHA Chairman, Chris Darmon.

“The board extended its best wishes to Roger for the future, including in his role as a member of the board of Natural England.”

“In the past two years YHA’s strategy has been renewed,” said Roger Clarke. “With the overall direction of the change programme now clear, this is the right time for a new CEO to carry forward the work.”

The Board reaffirmed its intention to press ahead with the implementation of the strategy and change programme agreed last year.

Trustees expressed their appreciation of the continuing support and commitment of staff throughout the organisation at a time of change.

Steps will be taken immediately to recruit a new CEO.

“I know that all staff will work with Roger and the Board over the coming months to continue our good work and plan for the future,” Chris Darmon said.

Chris Darmon, Chairman
Roger Clarke, Chief Executive

Governance Review - Steps towards reform

YHA’s Board of Trustees has been discussing changing the way in which YHA is run. The views of members and others will continue to be important to this. You can read and keep up to date with the latest developments here.

On 8 September YHA’s Annual General Meeting debated exciting steps towards renewal and reform.

An independent review was undertaken by Dr Andrew Purkis in 2006 on behalf of the board. Extensive consultation with all sections of the YHA community took place along with research of best practice elsewhere in the charity sector which resulted in the motion to the AGM.

The meeting voted in favour of the motion whilst insisting that further consultation be undertaken at each step.

The Board of Trustees and Senior Management Team will ensure clear understanding and agreement on changes. They will work closely with members and the broader YHA community in the coming months with the aim of a final resolution for next year’s AGM.

Further developments will be communicated over coming months, however should you have any comments you would like to make, or require further information or documentation about the Governance Review process, contact:

Regional Council AGMs - COMING SOON!

Make sure you don’t miss your opportunity to find out more about what’s happening in YHA by attending Regional Council Annual General Meetings:

20th October - Central Region - YHA Lee Valley at at 1.30pm

20th October - Northern Region – Friends Meeting House, Newcastle at 1.00pm

10th November - Wales - YHA Conwy at 1.00pm

10th November - Southern Region - YHA Bristol at1.00pm

Click here for the full list of meetings for this year and for contact details for the Regional Chairmen.

Chris Darmon - New YHA Chairman

YHA should be the natural provider of outdoor education for all young people, says new YHA Chairman Chris Darmon. He wants to see YHA expand through working with others in the public, private and voluntary sectors.

Chris, elected at YHA’s Annual General Meeting, has had a lifelong involvement with YHA. He first stayed with YHA in 1963, worked as a seasonal assistant with YHA before becoming involved with YHA regional committees in the seventies.

Chris still uses YHA accommodation frequently and loves the sense of adventure, fun and comradeship which is special to YHA.

“From YHA I have learned that society is made up all people from all walks of life. Meeting people from all over the world I have learned the importance of partnership,” said Chris. “To get things done you have to work together.”

Chris is founder and chairman of Geosupplies Ltd, a leading supplier of geological equipment primarily to the professional and business market. He has a degree in Geology, is a part time lecturer at Sheffield University and in his spare time organises and leads geological holidays in the UK, Iceland and Poland.

He first stayed with YHA as a twelve year old on a YHA Eagle Adventure holiday – an early forerunner of today’s summer camps programme. He went on to become a holiday leader and set up the Nationwide Geology Club, a charity which continues to support the education of young people in geology.

After university in Hull and Keele he went on to teach at a comprehensive school in Sheffield and in 1976 became a member of the body which then ran Youth Hostels in the Peak District. He went on to become a member of YHA’s National Executive Council and YHA’s vice chairman, a post he has held for the last ten years.

Chris paid tribute to the outgoing Chairman, Chris Boulton, who he said had the difficult task of guiding YHA out of the aftermath of the Food and Mouth outbreak in 2001. “Chris Boulton handled an immensely difficult task bravely.

“YHA is now well placed on a sound financial footing having seen a big expansion of the Enterprise scheme whereby other operators such as landlords, local authorities and independent owners provide accommodation for YHA members and guests,” said Chris. He is ambitious for YHA’s growth and success.