Youth Hostels Association (YHA) Wye Valley in Ross-on-Wye, is one of 40 Youth Hostels throughout England and Wales that are offering people a free holiday as part of the YHA (England and Wales) Working Holiday programme.

The youth hostelling charity is offering up to five nights’ free accommodation in exchange for volunteers’ time to help them get Youth Hostels ship-shape for spring 2017.

Volunteers aged over 16 are needed from October 31st to November 3rd 2016 and from February 19th to 23rd 2017, at YHA Wye Valley to assist in painting internal and external areas of the building, as well as lending a hand with other maintenance jobs and housekeeping duties.

As a thank you, YHA Wye Valley is offering volunteers the opportunity to have a fish and chip supper with the staff on the final night. There is also a generous contribution to travelling expenses.

Stuart Chaplin, manager of YHA Wye Valley, explained: “Because YHA is charity, the time and help given to us by volunteers is essential to ensure the Youth Hostel and YHA can continue to operate and make a difference to the lives of so many young people each year.

“We love hosting volunteers on Working Holidays. As well as seeing the Youth Hostel change we get to see them making new friends and developing their skills. It’s always a fun week.”

YHA’s Working Holidays all offer a unique volunteering experience for individuals who want to contribute to the youth hostelling charity, make new friends, try something different, explore, learn a new skill or simply use for valuable work experience for a CV. Working Holidays with YHA (England and Wales) are also a fantastic opportunity for Duke of Edinburgh students to earn their gold award.