Sarah Murphy, Welsh Minister for Social Partnership, has praised YHA (England & Wales) commitment to accessibility and environmental and financial sustainability during a visit to the charity’s Bannau Brycheiniog youth hostel.

The hostel has invested £40,000 to make the site more accessible and ecofriendly. The newly appointed minister met with the youth hostel manager Jane Barber and her team, as she toured the new visitor facilities which have been funded by the Visit Wales Brilliant Basics Fund.

The government fund, which is administered Powys County Council, awarded £32,000 to the hostel earlier this year. The funding has been invested in sustainability measures to help the hostel reduce its carbon footprint as well as attract new guests.

YHA contributed a further £8,000 to the grant funding, enabling the youth hostel to invest a total of £40,000 in improvements to the site, including:

• A new lockable CycleHoop bike shelter with EV bike charging

• EV charging point in the carpark for guests

• Improved accessibility on site with the creation of level surfaces and pathways to picnic and camping areas, and the carpark

• Installation of solar lighting on the access road

Sarah Murphy said: “These fantastic additions at YHA Bannau Brycheiniog are part of the Welsh Government’s £5 million ‘Brilliant Basics’ investment into a range of measures which will help deliver a greener, more accessible visitor experience for people choosing to holiday in Wales.

“Projects such as this make a real difference. Amenities have a big part to play in making a trip a memorable one and although these types of facilities often go unnoticed, they are an important part of a visitor’s experience. It’s great to see YHA driving forward sustainability not just for themselves, but for their visitors too.”

The new cycling facilities
The new cycling facilities (.)

The electric car charging points
The electric car charging points (.)

The installation of EV bike and car charging points will enable YHA Bannau Brycheiniog to meet growing demand from guests who visit in electric cars and on electric bikes. The new secure bike shelter will also have an eco-friendly sedum roof.

Guests with mobility issues and wheelchair users will also be better served with the creation of level pathways and surfaces around the hostel and camping area.