YHA England and Wales
Nominee Profile
Location: Derbyshire
At YHA, we’re proud to be at the start of our diversity journey, taking meaningful steps to attract and retain a workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
Our vision is to embed equity, access, diversity and inclusion into everything we do, ensuring “all means all.” We’ve focused on building a more diverse team and inclusive culture from the ground up. 93% of our employees have shared their EDI data, giving us the insight to make informed, targeted decisions
Since 2021, we’ve increased applications from ethnically diverse candidates from 6% to 46% in 2024, surpassing our goal of 35%. Applications from candidates with disabilities have reached 6%, aligning well with national benchmarks. Our current workforce is 21.66% from ethnic backgrounds and 6.48% identify as having a disability. As a charity with little funds available towards an EDI budget, we’ve developed creative, accessible tools: bitesize training for all staff, an EDI intranet page with our 3-year strategy, and a Recognition & Awareness Calendar to celebrate key cultural moments.
Managers have completed Inclusive Leadership training, cascading insights to their teams through “Team Talks.” We’ve also earned an Autism Friendly Award at a flagship hostel, using this learning to improve access across our network. We take part in RACE reporting and are exploring other ways to strengthen our data transparency. We measure inclusion through onboarding, employee, and exit surveys, helping us track progress and identify areas for growth.
Looking ahead, we’re launching EDI staff networks and embedding equality impact assessments to ensure every decision considers inclusion. We know there’s still more to do, but we’re proud of how far we’ve come. YHA is building a workplace where everyone belongs and has the opportunity to thrive.
Our vision is to embed equity, access, diversity and inclusion into everything we do, ensuring “all means all.” We’ve focused on building a more diverse team and inclusive culture from the ground up. 93% of our employees have shared their EDI data, giving us the insight to make informed, targeted decisions
Since 2021, we’ve increased applications from ethnically diverse candidates from 6% to 46% in 2024, surpassing our goal of 35%. Applications from candidates with disabilities have reached 6%, aligning well with national benchmarks. Our current workforce is 21.66% from ethnic backgrounds and 6.48% identify as having a disability. As a charity with little funds available towards an EDI budget, we’ve developed creative, accessible tools: bitesize training for all staff, an EDI intranet page with our 3-year strategy, and a Recognition & Awareness Calendar to celebrate key cultural moments.
Managers have completed Inclusive Leadership training, cascading insights to their teams through “Team Talks.” We’ve also earned an Autism Friendly Award at a flagship hostel, using this learning to improve access across our network. We take part in RACE reporting and are exploring other ways to strengthen our data transparency. We measure inclusion through onboarding, employee, and exit surveys, helping us track progress and identify areas for growth.
Looking ahead, we’re launching EDI staff networks and embedding equality impact assessments to ensure every decision considers inclusion. We know there’s still more to do, but we’re proud of how far we’ve come. YHA is building a workplace where everyone belongs and has the opportunity to thrive.