YHA Breaks Programme

Fully and part-funded trips for groups of young people and groups of families facing challenges that make travel and adventure difficult to access.

The YHA Breaks Programme is designed for groups of young people and groups of families who need additional support. To ensure the support gets to those with greatest need, the Breaks Programme is arranged via application or referral from partner organisations and are tailored to beneficiaries.

Sometimes organisations bring a group of young people and sometimes they bring a group of families. Trips to YHA hostels are usually around two nights in duration with full-board catering provided at most hostels.

To find out more, please read our frequently asked questions.

Eligibility criteria

Charities, community groups and home education network groups based in England and Wales can apply for support to fund a break to a YHA hostel. We invite applications for groups of young people (26 years and under) or groups of families.

So far, we have supported:

young carers
young people with disabilities and/or health conditions
young people with additional needs
refugee and migrant groups
young people and families at risk of being homeless
young people and families from deprived areas
young people in the care system or care leavers
ethnically diverse communities
LGBTQ+ support groups

We cannot offer funding to individuals or individual families.

What you need to know

Fully or part funded trips

Depending on your group's circumstances and funding availability, you may be offered full or part funding. Unfortunately, we cannot support every group as funding is limited.

Transport for activities

If your trip includes off-site activities, YHA will organise transport. We cannot organise or fund transport between participants' homes and the hostel, even if a trip is fully funded.

Staff costs cannot be funded

YHA Breaks Programme funding can cover board/activities for accompanying staff or volunteers from your charity or community group, but it cannot fund their salary or expenses.

Pastoral care is not included

YHA teams do not provide pastoral care. If activities are booked, activity teams will deliver sessions but also cannot provide pastoral care. Group representatives must attend the trips to support participants.

Applications are currently closed

Charities, community groups and home education networks can apply on behalf of groups of young people and groups of families who face challenges that make travel and adventure difficult to access.

The window for submitting expression of interest forms for the YHA Breaks Programme has closed. For updates, please check back from September 2025.

If you have any questions about the YHA Breaks Programme, please email breaks@yha.org.uk.

The unique value of travel and adventure

Every day, in hostels throughout England and Wales, we see first-hand the unique benefits of travel and adventure. Through brilliant hostel stays and tailor-made activities, we improve health, wellbeing and life skills. For young people experiencing their first night away from home, the impact is profound. Find out more about the difference YHA makes by reading about our impact.

Some of those who attended have never been on holiday. The reasons vary. Some parents feel unable to take their child away due to their needs, some are young carers with their own needs, some due to low income, or a combination of these factors. So, to make these memories and to give everyone a sense of pride and a huge boost to their confidence is unforgettable. We left with a group of superheroes on the bus, who had all conquered the world! Thank you YHA. We could not do this without you.

Support the YHA Breaks Programme

YHA is a charity and social enterprise. We rely on support to help fund our Breaks Programme. Thank you to everyone who has donated over the years. We couldn’t do it without you.

If you would like to help fund adventures for those that need them most, please give what you can to the YHA Breaks Programme today.

Donate

YHA Breaks Programme FAQs

How is the residential trip planned and booked?

The YHA team works with the group leader of the trip to place a booking for their group. Ensuring that a residential break is suitable for the needs of the group depends on high-quality information between the group leader and the YHA team during the booking of the trip.

It is the responsibility of the group leader to communicate effectively with the young people (and their parents) or families ahead of the trip to ensure that the break is suitable for the needs of all participants.

Will our group have sole use of the whole hostel?

Having sole use of the whole hostel is dependent on the size of the group and the size of the hostel. Most beneficiary groups will not have sole use of a whole hostel. There will be other guests and groups staying at the same time. However, when possible, we strive to ensure that a beneficiary group has sole use of a particular area of the hostel, such as a lockable corridor.

Groups will know ahead of their trip where they will be staying in the hostel. Site visits are offered to all group leaders before the break to ensure the hostel layout suits the needs of the young people/families. Bed plans will also be given to group leaders to plan who will be staying in each room ahead of the trip.

What type of accommodation is available?

Will food be provided on the trip?

What sort of trips can be booked?

Will activities be planned by YHA as part of my trip?

Activities will not be available to book at every hostel, though can be booked at some hostels. These activities range from educational activities such as arts and crafts and exploration of the local landscape/history to low-level activities such as bushcraft (fire lighting), shelter building, walks and team building sessions. Sometimes we can offer adventurous activities such as abseiling, climbing, canoeing and kayaking.

The range of activities that is available to book is dependent on the hostel/location. Some activities, including the adventurous activities, have a minimum age requirement of eight years and over.

Are trips accessible to individuals who have physical disabilities or use a wheelchair?

The YHA team will liaise with the group leader about the needs of their group and advise on suitable accommodation. Due to the layout of some of our hostels, we unfortunately cannot offer accessible rooms everywhere. However, many of our hostels do have some accessible rooms and ramps. Site visits are advised for group leaders ahead of their trip to see if the accommodation is suitable for their group.

Some of our activities can be tailored to the needs of the group and accessible for participants with physical disabilities. The YHA team can advise group leaders when booking their trip and, after booking, our activity teams will work closely with group leaders to arrange a timetable of activities inclusive for all participants.

Ensuring that a residential break is suitable for the needs of the group depends on high-quality information between the group leader and the YHA team during the booking/planning of the trip. YHA works with the group leader of the trip and does not have direct contact with group participants before the trip.

Will YHA complete risk assessments for the trip?

Will bedding and towels be provided?

Does YHA evaluate the impact of the YHA Breaks Programme?

Yes, YHA reports back to funders and donors. Group leaders send YHA photographs/videos (with parental consent) from their trip. YHA also has surveys for groups to complete. This allows YHA to complete reports on the impact of trips.

Sometimes, there are specific requirements for reporting back to funders that YHA must complete when spending some funding pots. This will be communicated with group leaders ahead of booking and a bespoke evaluation of impact plan will be arranged by YHA.

Introduction