Philanthropy, trusts and foundations

Help provide adventure for the first time, and a lifetime

We’re on a mission to connect people with each other, the outdoors, nature and heritage through hostel stays in amazing places.

Children and young people growing up in challenging circumstances miss out on these connections. We are determined to change that. Some children can’t wait for life to change. Now is the moment they need you most.

By giving a significant gift to YHA you can help make that change possible.

Together, we can provide adventure for the first time, and a lifetime.

Contact us

If you’re looking to make a significant gift or find out more, our dedicated team is here to help you along the way.

How we’ll support you as a major donor

Dedicated fundraising contact to answer your queries and questions about giving to YHA

Regular updates and communications on the impact of your gift in action

Invitations to special events and to visit hostels across the YHA network

Collaborative relationship to ensure your gift goes towards the projects you care about most

Projects your donation could support

Person helping children cross a stream

No child left behind appeal

The number of children experiencing poverty is rising. And with the squeeze on school and household budgets, more school residential trips are being cancelled.

For children from low-income families, it could mean missing out on their only night away from home. Help give more children access to amazing adventures.

Find out more

Child looking up

YHA Breaks Programme

Our Breaks Programme aims to reach young people and families with the most challenging lives.

Financial hardship, homelessness, disability, long-term illness, bereavement and caring for a parent all limit children’s opportunities. We are here to create new opportunities for those in the greatest need.

Find out more

Guided walking group at YHA Streatley

Outdoor Citizens

We’re working with community organisations across England and Wales to tackle inequality of access to the benefits of the great outdoors.

We’ve formed a community of practice to bring together small charities, not-for-profit groups and organisations that are working to support more people to access the outdoors.

Find out more

Capital projects

YHA’s diverse range of locations across England and Wales is in constant need of revitalising and improving to ensure we remain fit for purpose to deliver our charitable aims.

Get in touch to find out about projects happening in your region and across our network.

Discover the difference your gift could make

As a charity, we focus on improving physical and mental health, wellbeing and life skills through travel and real adventure. We’re here to enrich the lives of all our guests, yet we know we make the greatest difference to young people – and especially those coping with challenges that mean they otherwise miss out.

YHA’s annual report gives a comprehensive review of our activities for the year. Find out more and download your copy.

Christmas appeal

Our Christmas appeal raised vital funds for No Child Left Behind, a campaign supporting schools in areas of greatest deprivation by helping them take classes on residential trips.

Thanks to the generosity of our members and supporters, our 2025 Christmas appeal raised over £105,000 — enough to support over 1,000 pupils.

The funds raised provide bursaries and support schools that would otherwise not be able to afford a residential trip, helping ensure that no child is left behind.

Breaks Programme

For many young people and families facing tough challenges, travel and adventure can remain out of reach. That’s why our Breaks Programme exists. It provides vital support so groups who might otherwise miss out can stay at YHA hostels, take part in activities, and enjoy the proven benefits of time outdoors: improved confidence, connection and a sense of belonging.

Festival of Walking

Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we’ve organised an annual Festival of Walking every autumn since 2021.

We provide a fun-packed month-long programme of free guided social walks from hostels across England and Wales, designed to help everyone be active and enjoy the outdoors.

You can also step out independently using our self-guided walking maps. Better still, there’s discounted accommodation throughout the festival period at participating hostels, so you can make a weekend of it.

Our major donors and supporters

We are grateful to every person who gives a gift to YHA of any size. We’d like to thank all our major supporters and donors for their generosity.

Together, we can transform young lives forever through travel and real adventure.

The Pilgrim Trust

Since 2023 Pilgrim Trust have pledged £125,000 of funding towards our Outdoor Citizens programme as part of YHA’s commitment to ensure that a more diverse range of people have access to activity in the outdoors, nature and heritage in all its forms. This funding will reach people who might otherwise miss out to ensure the removal of barriers preventing them from engaging with the outdoors and tracking the impact this has on them. This includes people from lower social economic groups, culturally diverse communities and women and girls. A huge thank you once again to The Pilgrim Trust for their generous support.

Peter Harrison Foundation

The Peter Harrison Foundation’s generous funding has ensured that young people most in need in the South East will benefit from a fully-funded adventure away from home. By pledging £25,000 over two years, six fully-funded residential breaks will provide young people with a break that will have lasting benefits, such as improving their mental health and encouraging them to be more active in the future.

Individual donors

“Our Uncle was most positively a life-long supporter and was very happy in providing essential funding towards the wonderful work YHA does. He will be looking down feeling very proud to have been part of YHA, knowing he contributed to something special.”
– The family of Dr F G Pink, YHA’s first million-pound donor

“I wanted to support an amazing organisation that is doing a good job and is close to my heart.”
– Jo

“I decided to support YHA so that young people can continue enjoying the freedom of travel and adventure as I did in my youth.”
– Bruce

“I have pleasure from supporting a charity that continually provides life enhancing and life changing experiences for those that cannot take part themselves without YHA’s contributions to cost. YHA offers exciting and memorable stays away for a few days, similar to what I enjoyed as a child every day.”
– Kay

“I happily donate to YHA. Modern life is difficult for many young people. YHA offers opportunities from a motivated, friendly, supportive and talented staff and management team.”
– John

Contact us

If you’re looking to make a philanthropic gift as an individual or family, we’d love to hear from you.

Make a philanthropic donation

If you’re looking to make a philanthropic gift as an individual or family, we’d love to hear from you.

Contact Darren Worthy to discuss.

Email:  [email protected]

Phone:  07977 185 455

Give via a trust or foundation

If you’re looking to make a gift via a charitable trust or foundation, we’d love to tell you more about our work.

Contact Carl Jones to discuss.

Email:  [email protected]

Phone:  07989 731 482

Donate online

If you would prefer to donate online, please donate using our philanthropy donation form

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