A FOCUS ON YOUNG PEOPLE

Hostelling Scotland, which was founded almost 90 years ago, is a not-for-profit charity with more than 60 youth and affiliate hostels.

Part of the organisation’s charitable aims is a range of youth initiatives to give young people and families, who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity, the chance to experience Scotland and develop their skills for life, learning and work.

Programmes include the Explorer Fund and the Mini Explorer Fund.

The Scotspirit programme, which is run by Visitscotland in partnership with the Family Holiday Association, sees Hostelling Scotland provide short holidays with accommodation and catering for families.

Hostelling Scotland also works with partners, such as Shared Care Scotland to support the Scottish Government backed Respitality programme, which provides respite breaks for unpaid carers working directly with the Scottish hospitality industry. Hostelling Scotland donates short breaks in their hostels for both young carers and adult carers.

In addition, Hostelling Scotland set up the Braw Buildings initiative in partnership with The Scottish Civil Trust.

Hostelling Scotland run the project and provide free accommodation in a range of locations over the Doors Open Days weekends for both families and young people aged 16 to 25 enabling them to visit new locations, explore Scotland’s unique buildings and experience hostelling.

Other projects have included partnership with New College Lanarkshire for a “hostel take over” by students studying travel and tourism. This was followed up with students undertaking placements in three youth hostels in Glasgow, Stirling and Edinburgh.

Young people were also invited to design and plan Glenfest as part of the Year of Young People 2018 celebrating the opening of the newly refurbished Glen Nevis Youth Hostel.

Find out more at www. hostellingscotland.org.uk