DD(16) in YHA for residential

[Mummymay2]

Hi, my DD is signed up for a week’s volunteering at a youth hostel. It’s residential and is a week specifically for DofE so the group will be all be young people but she won’t know anyone else there.
Are there any things she should take / safety tips we need to be aware of - it’ll be the first time she’s been away without either us or on a school trip.

Well, if she's volunteering, I'd start with an alarm if she is the sort to potentially snooze the alarm on her phone.
Obvious things like her charger.
Outdoor clothes for all weathers as well as inside clothes.

Period supplies even if not anticipating needing them. They’ll have some but it can be embarrassing to ask. OS map of the area, for interest. Robe/decent PJs to wear to the bathroom. Towel.

Flip flops for the shower room, a hot water bottle and rubber gloves.

Thanks for all suggestions so far. Rubber gloves??
Any particular safety precautions? I’m not one to generally catastrophise but inevitably I’m thinking of worst case scenarios.

By safety precautions, do you mean about sharing a room?

DS did this, was the only boy in a group of girls. The previous week had been all boys!

After a few hours of initial embarrassment everyone got on socially. He would go in town with them and look after their bags while they shopped :)

His was based around decorating and he ruined a jacket so if it's doing that, take better coveralls than he did...

Good to hear Hipnotised!

By safety yes I’m mainly thinking overnight, especially if the YH is open to the public at the same time

Other than requesting a female-only dorm, there's not a whole lot you can do to prevent someone assaulting you if you are sharing a sleeping space with strangers.

I'm not really sure what precautions you might have in mind for that scenario, but I assume that's what you're driving at.

You can get door and window alarms and locks for travellers if you have a private room and are worried about the risk of someone breaking in. There's not a whole lot you can do in a shared space other than locks for your personal possessions and removing yourself if people's behaviour concerns you.

Safety aside, ear plugs for the inevitable snorer.

Yes I think that is what I’m concerned about - it’s all new territory

But also more general tips on what to take

I would say a personal safety alarm that she could set off in case of threat/ assault.
Sleeping bag rather than the bedding as it's zipped to the top.

DS had a room to himself, the girls were together. He definitely wasn't near them at night!

Thanks everyone, some good ideas. I’m still intrigued by the rubber gloves suggestion though?!

The rooms would be single sex.

For washing up, in case they're not provided. YHA shared kitchens wouldn't usually have them.

If it’s sleeping in bunk beds and she likes privacy taking the bottom bunk then hanging 1-2 sarongs around the bed using pegs or tucking it under the mattress above creates a nice little quiet space. I used to do that a lot when travelling. She’ll have a great time. My 16yr flew off with a sports group this year as her first time away without us. She cried whilst driving to the drop off point but then had the best time away and grew so much in confidence it was great to see.

Wax ear plugs are essential

Rubber gloves?! Never even wear at home unless cleaning an oven

Food if she gets hungry and dinner times are not “scheduled” when you are used to them. my dd was used to eating earlier than the late evening meal. So had snack bars and biscuits etc to keep her going.
A plastic bag to take all your bits into the shower room is handy to keep stuff off the floor whilst you use it.

She won't be allowed to take her own bedding, it's a bed bug risk. All her bedding will be provided by the hostel. She won't be sharing a room with members of the public.

A pack of cards or Uno or something similar. Great ice breaker / constant gane nice way to play a group without knowing anything about anyone /revealing more than wanted for the sake of small talk. Both my niece and dd came back with pretty much dead decks after a weeks DofE and similar!

YHA are well set up. My dd was there with school recently. If it's booked as part of the DofE group her roomates will be on the DofE group too. Have a look at the website from what pics mine have brought back I'd say the pics on the website are pretty reflective.

My dd worked in a YH for a while, absolutely loved it. She said that the rubber gloves were for using for cleaning the kitchens and showers, they weren’t provided. Nothing ominous! They used industrial type cleaning materials so tough on the hands.
A fleece blanket might be useful for her bed, it may be chilly at night.

Padlock for bag/case as you never know

Unless things have changed, they will
be single gender. Not single sex.

I would ask the group leader whether they are going with YHA policy or sticking with single sex rooms. Also about showering arrangements, as it’s often one bathroom with multiple cubicles for showering that anyone in the hostel can use. But as the rules are different for under 18s, it’s possible they may set aside a bathroom for this group, if that’s possible with their layout.

This thread is nuts.

She doesn't need anything that's been suggested so far! Or at least nothing that she wouldn't take on a normal week's holiday with you, or that hasn't been suggested by whoever she's volunteering with.

Overnight security really isn't an issue. The only thing I can think of is a lock for her backpack/bag if she's in a dorm.

Relax. She'll be fine.