YHA Festival of Walking will be back for 2023
After the success of The Festival of Walking 2022 it’s back for another year. As part of the festival the YHA is offering grants and discounts (and a free cuppa) to community groups who organise walks that start, stop, or stay at a YHA hostel during the festival period: September 3rd to October 19th 2023
About the YHA
YHA Is a social enterprise charity established in 1930 as part of a movement to improve access to the outdoors. Today they are a network of 150 youth hostels spanning the countryside, cities, and coasts of England & Wales. Nearly a million people stay with YHA each year and they play an important role in helping people of all ages get more active, explore new places and experience nature, heritage, and culture.
Aim of the Festival of Walking
The primary aim of the Festival of Walking is to get more people involved in walking and raise awareness that YHA’s are welcoming spaces, with great facilities, in amazing locations, that are open to everyone to use as a base for walking.
YHA is delighted to have partnered up with BMC, The Ramblers, Ordnance Survey and Cotswold Outdoors – who share their aim of supporting more people into the habit of walking for health and recreation.
What is the opportunity for community groups?
YHA is offering grants and discounts (and a free cuppa) to community groups who organise walks that start, stop, or stay at a YHA hostel during the festival period: September 3rd to October 19th 2023
There are grants available exclusively to YHA Outdoor Citizens members (find out more and join the free community here) to support the costs of running a day walk (up to £500) or a residential (up to £1500) for your community groups.
Grants are to support community walks that stop, start, or stay at one of the participating hostels and ideally will be used to engage more people from your communities in walking.
If you have already had funding through Outdoor Citizens, you are still eligible to apply for Festival of Walking grants.
60+ YHA hostels will be part of the festival.
Each hostel has pre-curated walks ranging from easy, moderate, and more challenging.
By arrangement, most hostels will be able to provide a free cuppa and cake for your participants.
In addition to the grants the 60+ festival hostels will be offering 20% off hostel stays during the Festival of Walking period.
How to Apply:
Email outdoorcitizens@yha.org.uk to find out more. Including your group information and details of where you would like to organise your walk in the email. Applications will officially open 1st April. Although enquiries are welcome before then so they can help you with hostel availability and any questions in advance of your application.
