The Youth Hostels Association (YHA) has joined the Big Lottery Fund’s Get REAL scheme, which aims to provide summer activities for young people.

Over the next two summers, YHA will receive £1m from the Fund to help provide 21,000 places to 11- to 17-year-olds to take part in the activity breaks at 14 youth hostels in England and Wales.

Roger Clarke, YHA chief executive, said: “We believe every young person should be able to experience and enjoy outdoor adventure and activity.

“We have a wealth of experience in providing safe, fun activity breaks for young people and are grateful to the Big Lottery Fund to offer this chance to deliver Get REAL.”

Get REAL, which has attracted 3,600 young people to take part in week-long residential courses in the past two years, is expected to receive around £11.5m from the Big Lottery Fund this summer alone.

Get REAL was initiated by the Department of Education and Skills (DfES) and developed as a pilot programme in 2003.

Under the new partnership, YHA – a registered charity which operates 227 hostels around England and Wales – will be the main provider but will work with a number of other specialist organisations to provide the activities.