Members of the Welsh Senedd have pledged their support for YHA’s new strategy for Wales.
Launched on 29 November 2022 at the Senedd in Cardiff, the new strategy represents a renewed and re-prioritised focus on Wales for YHA.
The new strategy will position us as a partner in the wider wellbeing of young people and communities throughout Wales alongside its offering of affordable accommodation in historic and beautiful buildings in stunning Welsh landscapes.
Huw Irranca-Davies, MS for Ogmore, who launched our new Welsh strategy, welcomed it saying: “What I love about YHA’s youth hostels is that as well as being in some of the most stunning parts of Wales and the UK, they are also at the heart of the wellbeing of our communities and young people – including young-at-heart oldies like me.”
The strategy has been developed over six months in consultation with more than 300 individuals and organisations, including Deaf Hub Wales, Ramblers Cymru, All Wales Forum and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
Nisbah Hussain from the Muslim youth empowerment charity Equalinks, welcomed our new strategy for Wales, saying: “YHA in Wales in a fantastic opportunity. I think Wales is sometimes overlooked when we are planning adventures, but it offers so much to everybody; there’s something that hits everybody’s needs and requirements.”
James Blake, Chief Executive of YHA, said: “Our new strategy for Wales is not a voice in an echo chamber; we have listened to the individuals and organisations that have taken the time to contribute, and these voices have helped shape the priorities for YHA in Wales which will be delivered over the next three years.
“With the energy and cost of living crisis, times are challenging, and we cannot deliver our ambitious strategy alone, that is why working with partners is at the heart of our approach. We believe that by working with partners who share our ambitions, we can make a real difference to the lives of children and young people across Wales.”
In order to reach more young people and their families in Wales, we will tailor its schools and residential offer to support the implementation of the new curriculum in Wales. The charity will also increase the reach of its funded breaks, Campus and work readiness programmes across the country.
Within the strategy, we have made five key pledges:
- To strengthen the role that YHA and its hostels play in celebrating Wales’ natural and cultural heritage.
- To improve the use of the Welsh language across the organisation.
- To support more young people and families living in Wales to experience adventure.
- To ensure YHA has the right mix of hostels in the right places in Wales, all offering quality stays.
- To make sure YHA’s programmes and operations across the organisation consider the specific context of Wales.
At the event, we invited Senedd members to pledge their support to the new strategy. Support pledges were received from a number of members including Samuel Kurtz MS for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, who pledged to “signpost people to the fantastic our locations across West Wales, especially YHA Manorbier in my constituency.”
Jenny Rathbone MS for Cardiff Central and Chair of the Equality and Social Justice Committee pledged to “work with YHA to support more young people and families to experience our countryside and affordable hostels.”
Supporting our pledge to improve the use of the Welsh language across the organisation, Cefin Campbell MS for Mid and West Wales pledged to “promote the use of Welsh in youth hostels and highlight the unique heritage and culture of Wales amongst the people who visit youth hostels.”
Our first youth hostel was established at Pennant Hall in North in 1929 ahead of us being formally established in 1930. Today, we have 21 youth hostels in Wales – approximately 15% of our network.
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Photo credit: Tomas Marek / Adobe Stock
YHA yn lansio strategaeth newydd i Gymru gan addo cyrraedd mwy o bobl ifanc a chymunedau
Mae Aelodau’r Senedd wedi addo cefnogi strategaeth newydd yr YHA (Youth Hostels Association) i Gymru.
Cafodd y strategaeth newydd ei lansio ar 29 Tachwedd 2022 yn y Senedd yng Nghaerdydd ac mae’n cynrychioli ffocws newydd, sy’n ail-flaenoriaethu Cymru, i’r elusen 92 oed.
Bydd y strategaeth ‘YHA yng Nghymru’ yn pennu YHA fel partner yn llesiant ehangach pobl ifanc a chymunedau ledled Cymru ochr yn ochr â’i llety fforddiadwy mewn adeiladau hanesyddol a hardd yn nhirweddau hynod Cymru.
Lansiwyd y strategaeth newydd i Gymru gan Huw Irranca-Davies, AoS Ogwr, ac fe’i croesawodd gan ddweud: “Dwi wrth fy modd â hosteli ieuenctid YHA. Maen nhw wedi’u lleoli yn rhai o’r lleoedd mwyaf godidog yng Nghymru a’r DU, ac maen nhw wrth wraidd llesiant ein cymunedau a’u pobl ifanc – gan gynnwys rhai â chalon ifanc fel fi.”
Datblygwyd y strategaeth dros chwe mis drwy ymgynghori â mwy na 300 o unigolion a sefydliadau, gan gynnwys Deaf Hub Wales, Ramblers Cymru, Fforwm Cymru Gyfan a Pharc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro.
Croesawyd strategaeth newydd yr YHA i Gymru gan Nisbah Hussain o’r elusen grymuso ieuenctid Mwslimaidd, a ddywedodd: “Mae’r YHA yng Nghymru yn gyfle gwych. Yn aml caiff Cymru ei diystyru pan fyddwn ni’n cynllunio anturiaethau, ond mae’n cynnig cymaint i bawb; mae rhywbeth yma sy’n taro deuddeg o ran anghenion a gofynion pawb.”
Dywedodd James Blake, Prif Weithredwr yr YHA (Cymru a Lloegr): “Nid llais yn yr anialwch yw ein strategaeth newydd i Gymru; rydym wedi gwrando ar yr unigolion a’r sefydliadau a gymerodd yr amser i gyfrannu, ac mae’r lleisiau hynny wedi helpu i lunio blaenoriaethau’r YHA yng Nghymru, a fydd yn cael eu cyflawni dros y tair blynedd nesaf.
“Gyda’r argyfwng ynni a chostau byw, mae’n gyfnod heriol, ac ni allwn gyflawni ein strategaeth uchelgeisiol ar ein pen ein hunain. Dyna pam mae gweithio gyda phartneriaid wrth galon ein hymagwedd. Credwn y gallwn wneud gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol i fywydau plant a phobl ifanc ledled Cymru trwy weithio gyda phartneriaid sy’n rhannu ein huchelgeisiau.”
Er mwyn cyrraedd mwy o bobl ifanc a’u teuluoedd yng Nghymru, bydd yr YHA yn teilwra ei gynnig i ysgolion a’i gynnig preswyl er mwyn cefnogi’r gwaith o weithredu’r cwricwlwm newydd yng Nghymru. Bydd yr elusen hefyd yn ehangu cyrhaeddiad ei seibiannau, campws a rhaglenni paratoi ar gyfer y gweithle ar draws y wlad.
Fel rhan o’r strategaeth, mae’r YHA wedi gwneud pum addewid allweddol:
- Cryfhau’r rôl mae’r YHA a’u hosteli yn ei chwarae wrth ddathlu treftadaeth naturiol a diwylliannol Cymru.
- Gwella’r defnydd a wneir o’r iaith Gymraeg ledled y sefydliad.
- Cynorthwyo mwy o bobl ifanc a theuluoedd sy’n byw yng Nghymru i brofi antur.
- Sicrhau bod gan yr YHA y cyfuniad iawn o hosteli yn y lleoedd iawn yng Nghymru, sy’n cynnig arosiadau o ansawdd da.
- Sicrhau bod rhaglenni a gweithrediadau’r YHA ledled y sefydliad yn ystyried cyd-destun penodol Cymru.
Yn ystod y digwyddiad, gwahoddodd yr YHA aelodau’r Senedd i addo cefnogi’r strategaeth newydd. Cafwyd addewidion gan nifer o’r aelodau gan gynnwys Samuel Kurtz, AoS Gorllewin Caerfyrddin a De Sir Benfro, a addawodd i “gyfeirio pobl at leoliadau arbennig yr YHA ar draws y gorllewin, yn enwedig YHA Maenorbŷr yn fy etholaeth i.”
Dywedodd Peredur Owen Griffiths, AoS Rhanbarth Dwyrain De Cymru: “Rwy’n addo helpu’r YHA yn eu cenhadaeth i gysylltu â’r dreftadaeth gyfoethog a’r iaith yr ydym yn ffodus o’i chael yng Nghymru.”
Addawodd Jenny Rathbone, AoS Caerdydd Canolog a Chadeirydd y Pwyllgor Cydraddoldeb a Chyfiawnder Cymdeithasol i “weithio gyda’r YHA i gefnogi mwy o bobl ifanc a theuluoedd i brofi ein hardaloedd gwledig a hosteli fforddiadwy.”
Gan gefnogi addewid yr YHA i wella’r defnydd a wneir o’r iaith Gymraeg ar draws y sefydliad, addawodd Cefin Campbell, AoS Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru i “hyrwyddo’r defnydd a wneir o’r Gymraeg mewn hosteli ieuenctid a thynnu sylw’r rhai sy’n ymweld â hosteli ieuenctid at dreftadaeth a diwylliant unigryw Cymru.”
Sefydlwyd hostel ieuenctid cyntaf yr YHA yn Neuadd Pennant, gogledd Cymru, yn 1929, cyn sefydlu’r YHA yn ffurfiol yn 1930. Heddiw, mae gan yr YHA 21 o hosteli ieuenctid yng Nghymru – oddeutu 15% o rwydwaith yr elusen.
Gallwch lawrlwytho a darllen am yr YHA yng Nghymru yma: www.yha.org.uk/about-yha/yha-in-wales
