YHA warns parents – ‘when schools out crime could be in’

May 14, 2012 - PRLog -- Ensuring kids are as busy as possible could be key to keeping many of them out of trouble during the summer holidays, claims YHA (England and Wales). The national youth hostel charity is now targeting concerned parents with news of its Do it 4 Real residential summer camp programme for 10 - 19 year olds.

Worryingly, a *survey by StreetChance found that teenage boredom was a primary cause for the riots in London last summer. It also found that the majority of kids get bored only half way through holidays and two thirds admit to lying to parents about what they do during the holidays.

YHA has run its hugely successful Do it 4 Real residential camps - Action Adventure, Go eXtreme, Performing Arts and Future Leader - since 2005, with more 60,000 young people experiencing them during this time. Activities on the camps include gorge climbing, film making, quad biking, archery and raft building.

Do it 4 Real camps held at Edale, Langdale and Gradbach in Derbyshire, also give youngsters the opportunity to achieve the John Muir Award, an environmental award scheme focused on wild places. It encourages awareness and responsibility for the natural environment, in a spirit of fun, adventure and exploration. Additionally, YHA’s Future Leader Do it 4 Real camp counts towards the residential expedition element of the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

Caroline White, YHA (England and Wales) Chief Executive, commented: “For many parents, the six week school break is one long headache to ensure their teenagers are both entertained and have adequate adult supervision.  The great thing about YHA’s Do it 4 Real camps is that parents can be confident their children are being looked after in a safe, fun and challenging environment. At the same time, their youngsters are being given the opportunity to try new activities, face new challenges, learn new skills and make new friends. Without fail they grow in confidence."

She added: “It is no surprise the testimonials from young people and their parents about YHA’s Do it 4 Real camps are glowing.”

Recently YHA was praised by Tim Loughton MP, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families. He said: “YHA, and the hands-on experiences it offers children through its Youth Hostel network, gives young people real life experience. It triggers their imagination, encourages teamwork and really brings them out of their shells. It is a great example of the National Citizen Service in action.”

Do it 4 Real camps are run at six YHA locations in the East Midlands, Lake District, Heart of England, Midlands and South West. Prices start from £270 for a four night, five day residential Do it 4 Real camp. Prices include all snacks and meals, instruction and activities. Payment plans are also available.

For details of YHA’s Do it 4 Real camps contact 01629 592 530 or visit www.doit4real.co.uk.

Ends

*Source: *poll of 1,000 teenagers, commissioned by the inner city cricket scheme, StreetChance, published 29 August 2011

Notes to Editors

YHA is a charity with a clear mission: to inspire all, especially young people, to broaden their horizons gaining knowledge and independence through new experiences of adventure and discovery.

YHA has a network of around 200 diverse hostels throughout England and Wales – often situated in exceptional locations.  These welcoming and sociable spaces are open to everyone.

They have strong beliefs and a passion for what they do. By encouraging a spirit of adventure, they aim to inspire people of all ages to discover the world around us.

YHA helps young people take part in educational or recreational visits with their friends or classmates by providing financial support from YHA’s bursary scheme, Breaks for Kids.  In 2011, YHA provided 5,553 of these funded trips.

In 2011, YHA recorded 1,719,348 overnight stays and had 218,054 members.
Further information about YHA can be found at www.yha.org.uk