CEO YHA. Chair ACRE. Former CEO St Albans Council and Governor Uni Of Herts. Fan of all things outdoors - walking, running, travel, sport. Views my own.
England and Wales
Joined July 2017
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Delighted to see @R_Quallington and his lifelong service to rural communities recognised in the #NewYearsHonours
Congratulations to Richard Quallington former Executive Director at ACRE on being awarded an OBE in the New Years Honours. Well deserved recognition of his work with rural communities. acre.org.uk/former-acre-exec…
James Blake retweeted
Programmes like #GenerationGreen can introduce #NationalParks and #NationalLandscapes to the next generation and inspire the environmentalists of the future.
xitter.cf/NaturalEngland/status/…
Celebrating 75 years of the #NationalParks and Access to the #CountrysideAct! 🍃
This law opened up nature for all, creating #NationalLandscapes and #NationalNatureReserves.
Journey through the last 75 years and see where we're heading. ⬇️
naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2…
James Blake retweeted
YHA is proud to have been part of the campaign which led to the legislation establishing the National Parks 75 years ago today. We look forward to this Labour government's action to bring access to nature to more people and welcome their ongoing commitment to the National Parks🏞️
A very welcome anniversary gift 🎉
Defra has promised new legislation to modernise #NationalParks!
This means driving nature recovery, cleaning up waterways & fixing broken governance💪
We've been campaigning for this for a long time, what a win 💚
defraenvironment.blog.gov.uk…
Thanks @Sport_England for partnering with @YHAOfficial - supporting #YHAWalks and #OutdoorCitizens - opportunities to get more people active outdoors, connecting to nature and tackling inequalities in access
We're delighted to announce new long-term partnerships with:
⚙️ @LshipSkillsFdn
🟢 @TheMSF_
🍃 @YHAOfficial
They will to help us deliver on the commitments made in our #UnitingTheMovement strategy.
James Blake retweeted
🌿 Celebrating the roots of countryside access and nurturing nature connections for a new generation🌿Yesterday we celebrated the enduring legacy of John Dower, architect of YHA Malham and the mind behind the National Parks and Countryside Act 1949.
ALT A group of smiling people standing next to a blue heritage plaque dedicated to John Dower, outside the entrance to YHA Malham youth hostel.
ALT Baroness Hayman of Ullock crouches to watch a small group of children learning to use flints for bushcraft. The minister is smiling as a small boy is concentrating on his task.
ALT A group of people walking, dressed warmly in coats and hats. In the foreground there is a dry stone wall. The background is green grass. At the head of the group is YHA Chief Executive James Blake and minister for access Baroness Hayman of Ullock.
Blog on up & down fortnight in @YHAOfficial: tough challenges with #Budget & end of @NCSTrust. But uplifting day @YHAMalham. Look forward to working with @SueHayman1@SteveReedMP to cement Dower’s legacy on access livemore.yha.org.uk/john-dow…
James Blake retweeted
Just fabulous to hear about children getting new experiences with @YHAOfficial These kids have been getting their first chance to build a den, paint a picture of a hill, even do some hostel gardening. Really simple stuff that many take for granted.
Our AGM keynote speaker @educurious2015 inspires us with a presentation on how YHA helped Ormiston Academies Trust bring their children back from lockdown.
Great to share progress over the last year at the @YHAOfficial AGM 2024. Really enjoyed hearing from @educurious2015 on @YHAOfficial helped unlock the power of the outdoors for young people by developing a feeling of belonging
Our AGM is getting under way.
Following Chair Margaret Hart’s welcome address, we’ll be hearing from Helena Brothwell @educurious2015 on the power of the outdoors for young people, @JamesBlakeYHA on his report of the year, and Treasurer Graham Turnock on our financial results.
James Blake retweeted
On the face of it, @RachelReevesMP made several headline announcements in yesterday's #budget that are good news for #rural communities - however the devil will be in the detail...
READ: acre.org.uk/budget-2024-rura…
Sarah is right - it’s a tough Budget for @YHAOfficial, the hostelling sector and charities generally, at a time when we’re still dealing with the aftermath of Covid, high inflation, the cost of living, and energy crises, and uncertainty of future funding programmes
James Blake retweeted
The❤️of hostelling shines through in this one. Thanks to everyone who recommended their favourite YHA places. It's super to see so many getting a mention.
‘We loved pub trips, wild swimming and sing-songs’: readers’ favourite UK hostels theguardian.com/travel/2024/…
Delighted to be delivering #GenGreen2 - a real highlight in challenging times for @YHAOfficial. Thanks to all outdoor education and protected landscape partners in the #AccessUnlimited coalition - bringing the vision of every child having a night under the stars one step closer.
Connections to nature flourishing with #GenerationGreen 2. The £4.5m @DefraGovUK-funded project will help 25,000 young people from England’s most disadvantaged areas access inspiring activities in nature. More on this ambitious #AccessUnlimited project ➡️bit.ly/401Xdft
ALT A line of children with their backs to the camera walking through mountain scenery on a sunny day. Dressed in t-shirts, the young people are making their way along a path surrounded by ferns and greenery. One child raises her arms in the air in joy.
🥳We are delighted to announce a grant of £75,000, to @YHAOfficial for 'Outdoor Citizens'. Given the huge health and wellbeing benefits, it is crucial barriers are removed so more diverse communities feel connected to the outdoors. tinyurl.com/ywz8hdpt
James Blake retweeted
Our Chair, @JamesBlakeYHA talks about why we are excited to play our role in this important new initiative that aims to strengthen #rural communities resilience to #flooding
It seems fitting on a very wet day to be announcing ACRE's involvement in a new Rural Flood Resilience Partnership
We'll be working w/ @EnvAgency @NFUtweets @ADA_updates @CLAtweets & @NaturalEngland to reduce the impact of flooding on rural communities
acre.org.uk/shared-press-rel…
James Blake retweeted
The #RuralCoalition has published a report outlining the economic potential of #rural areas to add £19billion pa to UK tax revenues. But catalysing growth requires investment in infrastructure, fair funding of services, & empowering local governance
READ: acre.org.uk/rural-coalition-…
James Blake retweeted
Young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and girls are particularly affected by low life satisfaction. Through funded residentials and targeted programmes we're connecting young people to nature to improve wellbeing - vital in tackling this issue. bit.ly/4g1qFYz 🧵
Great to see @BBCBreakfast @nickeardleybbc visiting beautiful YHA Clun Mill yesterday to catch up on progress with @YHAOfficial network transition & franchise model, which is bringing new investment & entrepreneurialism into hostels while keeping them in the YHA network
Did you catch YHA on TV? @BBCBreakfast broadcast from YHA Clun Mill yesterday. @nickeardleybbc interviewed Colin Trigg, who’s just acquired the hostel under our new franchise model, @jnmaccoll from YHA, and a group of guests who had hired the hostel for their 60th annual reunion.
ALT A group of 21 people of different ages pictured outside YHA Clun Mill hostel. They are sat on picnic benches or stood on the grass of the campsite. All are facing the camera and smiling. In the background there are trees and part of the hostel building. BBC presenter Nick Eardley is on the left of the picture in a suit and tie. He is holding prompt cards and a microphone.
Great to attend the @DefraGovUK summer reception this week with both @YHAOfficial and @ACRE_national hats on. Enjoyed speaking to @SteveReedMP about his enthusiasm for ensuring more young people access nature, and to @DanielZeichner about issues facing rural communities
Thank you to the 200 representatives from the environment, animal welfare, water, food and rural sectors who joined us yesterday as @SteveReedMP set out our plans.
Together we can nurture our countryside, restore nature, and build our rural economies.
ALT Secretary of state talking to singer, Will Young, by a greenhouse.
ALT Group of people talking at an event
ALT Secretary of State in conversation with British Retail Consortium CEO.
ALT Secretary of State on stage doing a speech to a group of stakeholders
Great to spend a couple of days in @peakdistrict including welcoming @jnmaccoll to @YHAOfficial’s senior team as Director of External Affairs and joining families and individuals enjoying the sunshine in and around beautiful @YHAHartington
In 75th year since creation of National Parks, great to talk all things countryside & access @YHAOfficial @YHABath with CEOs of partners who campaigned for their formation: @RoseONei11 @Campaign4Parks; @CampaignerKate @openspacessoc; @roger_mortlock @CPRE & Ross @RamblersGB
