Share

cover art for It's fun to stay at the YHA: who gets to access the outdoors?

Reasons Revisited

It's fun to stay at the YHA: who gets to access the outdoors?

Season 1, Ep. 313
•

We’re back! Over the summer the Youth Hostel Association announced it was selling off some of its properties in a bid to stay afloat. It seems like a cruel irony at a time when many of us had reconnected with nature over the lockdowns. The charity has long been committed to opening up the outdoors to more people, especially children and young people, says Sally Nutland. But is there a way to save the YHA hostels? We talk about what the loss of these hostels means with Talia Randall and Haroon Mota, and why it's so important that everyone can access nature in rural and urban Britain.


Plus: What made one listener throw up in their cornflakes??


Guests


Sally Nutland, Communications Manager, Youth Hostel Association (@YHAOfficial)


Haroon Mota, Founder Muslim Hikers and the Active Inclusion Network (@Haroon_Mota / @Muslim_Hikers)


Talia Randall, Writer, performer and podcaster (@TaliaRandall)


More information


Read more about the sale of the 20 YHA properties in this John Harris column (Guardian)


Support the YHA's No Child Left Behind Campaign for children who are unable to afford a school residential


Visit YHA Boggle Hole


Learn more about and support Muslim Hikers


Listen to Talia’s podcast 'Blossom Trees and Burnt Out Cars' on BBC Sounds


Learn more about the Right To Roam campaign and listen to our episode on it 


Read more about the benefits of parks and green spaces and research by Natural England on engaging under-represented groups in nature

More episodes

View all episodes

  • LABOUR'S FIRST MOVES: Keir Starmer Gives Away Power

    12:52|
    In its first King's Speech, the Labour government said that "greater devolution of decision making is at the heart of a modern dynamic economy and is a key driver of economic growth."Historically, why has the UK been so insistent on hoarding power centrally? And what's the potential in Westminster giving away power?With Tony Travers (LSE), Sarah Longlands (IPPR North) and Neil McInroy (The Centre for Local Economic Strategies)

  • LABOUR'S FIRST MOVES: Rachel Reeves' National Wealth Fund

    13:48|
    Ed has departed for government, and Geoff is left as custodian of the archive. As the Labour government makes its first raft of announcements and appointments, we delve into our back catalogue to find the ideas which might have influenced them. In this episode, we look at Rachel Reeves' announcement of the National Wealth Fund. What are public wealth funds? What different forms can they take? What are the potential benefits to our country?We revisit our episode Investment for the People from October 2022. First, we get the beginner's guide from UCL Associate Professor Josh Ryan-Collins. Then we hear from Professor Karin Thorburn about Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, which (due to specific historical circumstances) is very different to the one proposed for the UK, but illustrates how a public wealth fund could transform the way we finance Government spending. More infoNorway’s Sovereign Wealth FundUCL IIPP Report on Public Wealth FundsGuestsJosh Ryan-Collins, Associate Professor in Economics and Finance, UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose (@jryancollins) (@IIPP_UCL)Karin Thorburn, Professor of Finance, Norwegian School of Economics (@karinsthorburn) (@NHHnor)

  • 28. ED & GEOFF HAVE LEFT THE CHATTEROO

    36:51||Season 2, Ep. 28
    The day is upon us. Maybe. In the words of the late Teddy Kennedy (uncle of Robert F. Junior, and real-life inspiration for Kendall Roy):"For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die."Thank you for keeping us cheerful.Email our sporadically monitored inbox: chat@cheerfulpodcast.comFull text of Ted Kennedy's 1980 Democratic National Concession address: https://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/tedkennedy1980dnc.htm

  • TOMORROW: THE CHATTEROO STOPS HERE

    00:12|
    We're giving you an extra 24 hours to don a black armband and stock up on Kleenex, as the Chatteroo approaches its final destination.

  • 27. CHATTEROO #25 - Cicada Ardor

    30:09||Season 2, Ep. 27
    From Highland Park, Illinois, we're joined by our cicada correspondent, who's keeping watch for the first dual emergence in 221 years. Plus, we find out more about this phenomenon with entomologist Professor Dave Bilton.Bigger than the beetles - more about Dave: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/staff/david-biltonEmerge in the Chatteroo inbox: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com

  • 26. CHATTEROO #24 - with Lauren Child

    33:44||Season 2, Ep. 26
    Lauren Child (former Children's Laureate/creator of Charlie & Lola, Clarice Bean and Ruby Redfort) joins the Chatteroo.Buy Lauren's new Clarice Bean book, 'Smile': https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/smile-lauren-child/7462273?ean=9780008285548

  • 25. CHATTEROO #23 WILL HUTTON - This Time No Mistakes

    27:54||Season 2, Ep. 25
    Political economist and writer, Will Hutton joins the Chatteroo to talk about his new book, 'This Time No Mistakes: How to Remake Britain', and its parallels with his mid-90s bestseller, 'The State We're In'.Buy Will's book: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/this-time-no-mistakes-9781804549407/Email us: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com

  • 24. CHATTEROO #22

    34:28||Season 2, Ep. 24
    Vegetarian escalope at the Paris Olympics, energy nerds, The Boring Phone, Mid TV and your correspondence.Join the Chatteroo! Email us with thoughts, questions and any fodder: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com

  • 23. CHATTEROO #21 England: Seven Myths That Changed a Country - And How To Set Them Straight

    42:12||Season 2, Ep. 23
    Just in time for St George's Day, former Mili-gang members Marc Stears & Tom Baldwin join the Chatteroo to talk about their excellent new book 'England: Seven Myths That Changed a Country - And How To Set Them Straight'Treat yourself to a copy - you deserve it! https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/england-9781526646231/Email us: chat@cheerfulpodcast.com