Young Leaders Training, Bristol October 2012
Event aims:
- Inspire young people to increase their commitment to Woodcraft Folk
- Build skills and confidence of older Venturers, DFs & young Kinsfolk in leading Woodcraft Folk groups
- Equip young leaders with the tools and activities to support local Woodcraft Folk groups
- Develop relationships and signpost members to support (mentors, additional training, resources) within the Woodcraft Folk movement
- Develop individual action plans
Participants:
· Alberic Hall
· Benjamin Barnes
· Dan Wellard
· Elsie Galashan
· Christina Blom
· Bethan Emery
· Sophie McGutcheon
· Izzy Apetroaie
· Alison Murray
· Sara Murray
· Joe Wyatt
· Joss Redfern
· Olivia Gidley
· Toby Attrill
· Anna Lincoln
· Beth Riley
· Sylvia Durham
Event programme
Friday 12th October 2012
7pm Meal
8pm Introduction, ground rules & expectations – Joe Wyatt
Saturday 13th October 2012
9am Welcome & share activity
9:30am Introduction to Woodcraft, to include putting the aims & principles into practice – Ghee Bowman
11:30am Share activity
12 noon Promoting positive behaviour – Debs McCahon
1:30pm Lunch
2:30pm Share activity
3pm Skills & capacity of a leader – Ghee Bowman
4:30pm Urban wide-game – Debs McCahon
6pm Feedback, followed by free time
7pm Meal
8pm Share activity followed by virtual campfire & singing – Ghee Bowman
Sunday 14th October 2012
9am Welcome & share activity
9:30am Safeguarding – Debs McCahon
11am Share activity
11:30am Discussion techniques – Joe Wyatt
1pm Lunch
2pm Dealing with local challenges – Ghee Bowman
3pm Action planning – Joe Wyatt
4pm Close
What makes a good leader?
The first activity of the weekend was to create peg ideal leaders. Before they created their peg leaders the participants were asked to brainstorm what characteristics made an ideal leader:
· Fun
· Organised/ well planned
· Happy
· Energy
· A smile J
· Experience/knowledgeable
· Respectful
· Listen to others/ take the opinions on board
· Role model
· Responsible
· Good with people
· Some knowledge (know the Woodie Way)
· Good jokes
· Decisive
· Creative
· Imaginative
· Protector
· Communicative
· Personal
· Dedication
· Enthusiasm ( don’t too much)
· Keith’s beard of Wonderment
· Brew maker
· Laidback (not too much)
· Tolerance
· Energy
· Good Listener
· Passionate
· Patient
· Loud voice
· Fair – doesn’t have favourites
· Nice
· Confident (but not patronising)
· Full of ideas
· Love Woodies
· Easy to talk to
· Leadership
· Able to have control when needed
· Able to connect
· Calm
· Imaginative
· Friendly
· Authoritative but fun
· Fresh ideas
· Makes time
· Can do something with not a lot
· Have been a woodie/understands woodies
· Quick thinker
· Can make hot chocolate
· Resourceful
· Willing to help
· Enjoys camping
Ground rules
At the beginning of the weekend, participants were asked to agree our group rules:
· Moderate enthusiasm
· Listening – one voice at a time
· Respect everyone
· Get here at right time
· Ask questions when you want to know something
· Speak up when you’re not sure
· Mobile phones on silent
· Let us know if you’re leaving the hostel
· Help tidy up
Games
Participants were asked to share games, and during the weekend we played the following games:
· Duck, Duck, Goose
· Chase (insert colour) Tea Towel
· Look Down, Look Up
· Wink Murder
· Teeth
· Zoom Boom (Chinese Fire Dragon, Samurai Shield, Yee Ha, Yoga Flame, Microwave)
· Hot seat/Chair game
· Splat
· Write me, Draw me
· Carly’s Game (Chairs)
· Word one at a time story
· High – Low
Participant expectations
Participants were asked to share their hopes and concerns for the weekend:
Hoping for / Worried about / Looking forward toTo learn a lot
To be able to run a kick ass group
Learning more about safeguarding and other leadership issues
How to organise a group
Gain new knowledge
Have fun
Contribute
More great young leaders
Learn skills of being a good leader
To learnt new activities
For ideas to go back with
To get new ideas
To meet cool people
People will make friendship / Getting home
Not good at planning
Getting a good night sleep
Getting lost on the treasure hunt
That won’t be able to use new information as quickly as I would like
Not understanding
Interaction with scary people
My residential
Leading my first session at Woodcraft
Interacting with other
Not enjoying myself
Not gaining any new knowledge
Being unable to compare some activities proper / Seeing Bristol
Becoming a better leader
Meeting new people
My first residential
Pirate treasure hunt
To learn new stuff I can do with my Elfins
Campfire
Learning how other groups deal with leadership issues
Playing fun games
Sharing with others
Lunch and the pirate thing
Hoping found / Worry Over / Enjoyed
Some stuff to do with our Ventures
Some stuff to do with our new Pioneer group
I learn some fun/interesting new games/songs
To learn some new games and activities to do at Elfins. / Lack of sleep
Remembering everyone’s names
Low wine consumptions levels
Nothing because everything is going to be lovely / Wide games
The games shared
Learning something useful
Getting to know new people
Putting the aims & principles into practice
Participants were given one half of a fact about Woodcraft Folk, and asked to find the person with the other half of the fact. The facts included:
Who are we?
q The Woodcraft Folk is a national voluntary children’s and youth organisation and as such is part of the voluntary youth service.
q The groups are divided into age ranges: Woodchips (0-5), Elfins (6-9), Pioneers (10-12), Venturers (13-15) and District Fellows (16-20)
q There are more Elfin groups than groups of any other age range.
q Most groups meet weekly to participate in an educational programme and take part in singing, games and outdoor activities.
q There are around 360 groups throughout England, Scotland and Wales. The highest concentration of groups is in London.
q We are continuously looking at expanding our provision beyond standard group nights e.g. Play out, National Citizen Service or Face your Elephant projects
q Each group and district is entitled to send a delegate to vote at the Annual Gathering (AGM) usually held under canvas in June
q We are described as the “youth wing of the co-operative movement” as we have had strong links and support from them since we began.
q The Folk do not have political affiliations but does endorse and support the work of the peace movement and other campaigns
How did we start?
q The Woodcraft Folk was started in 1925 by a young man – Leslie Paul - as a reaction against the nationalism and militarism of the Scouts at the time
q Leslie Paul’s original aim was to take city children from south London to the country to camp and to gain awareness of the wider environment and of the world.
q In the old days members had Folk Names and hand-made their costumes.
q The movement grew steadily with peaks after the 2nd world war and in the 1980’s.
q During the 2nd World War the leadership of the organisation was divided between conscientious objectors and anti-fascists. Groups often met in people’s houses.
What are we about?
q The Folk is based upon strong principles of democracy, peace, equality, world friendship, co-operation and a protection and awareness of the environment and this forms the core and basis of all of our activities
q Most group meetings begin with a circle, where everyone is given the chance to share their experiences / opinions / to participate in decision-making.
q We have an extremely popular book full of ideas for co-operative games entitled ‘Games, Games, Games’.
q Equality of the genders is important to the Folk. Each group is mixed and all are encouraged to participate in every activity on an equal footing.
q Many Woodcraft Folk members participate in international visits & exchanges, we aim to provide an awareness of global and sustainable development issues.
q Our motto is “Span the World with Friendship”.
q Most groups have a parachute, which is an excellent piece of equipment for all sorts of non-competitive games.
How are we run?
q The Woodcraft Folk is managed voluntarily by a General Council of democratically elected members half of whom are under 25
q The regional structure of the Woodcraft Folk includes 6 English regions as well as the nations, Scotland and Wales, each with their own council.
q The Folk manage and run several residential centres where groups can stay to take part in outdoor activities.
q Most groups belong to a district association, so that members have the opportunity of sharing activities and camps with other groups.
q There are some paid staff at the head office in London. who handle the day to day business of the organisation e.g. membership and new enquiries
q Groups and camps are run by volunteer adult members who must have CRB clearance through the organisation.
q The Woodcraft Folk is a single charity registered in England (1073665) and in Scotland (SC039791)
q The Woodcraft Folk gets financial support from government departments in Scotland and Wales.
Ghee then shared the aims and principles of Woodcraft Folk:
Woodcraft Folk Aims and Principles
Woodcraft Folk is an educational movement for children and young people, designed to develop self-confidence and activity in society, with the aim of building a world based on equality, friendship, peace and cooperation. Our Principles include:
A&P.1 Education for Social Change
We seek to develop in our members a critical awareness of the world. We will work to develop the knowledge, attitudes, values and skills necessary for them to act to secure their equal participation in the democratic process that will enable them to bring about the changes that they feel are necessary to create a more equal and caring world.
A&P. 2 A Co-operative and Sharing Attitude to Life
We believe that to further our aims it is vital to approach our educational work through the principles of co-operation. To achieve this we will provide a programme which ensures that our members practice co-operation through all the activities in which they participate.
A&P. 3 International Understanding
Our motto is ‘Span the world with friendship’. We will therefore encourage and develop international understanding and friendship through our educational work and by our exchanges between children and young people of different lands. We will promote a greater understanding of the world amongst our members so that they are aware of the inequalities which exist in it.
A&P. 4 The Rights of the Child
In our work with children and young people, we respect and defend their individual rights, and encourage them to participate responsibly and democratically, in all aspects of Woodcraft Folk activity.
A&P. 5 Equality for All
As an educational movement we will ensure that equal opportunities extend to all aspects of activity and participation in the Woodcraft Folk. We will combat oppression or discrimination in our
movement, whether on grounds of age, class, gender, race, sexual orientation, for reasons of disability, contact with mental health services, or a previous criminal conviction that does not create risk to children or young people.
A&P. 6 Religion
The Woodcraft Folk welcomes all children, young people and adults who wish to become members of the movement, and it asserts the right of all its members to practice the faith of their choice providing it does not contravene the aims and principles of the movement.
A&P. 7 One World
The Woodcraft Folk will encourage an understanding of the need to protect our environment and the use of the world’s resources.
A&P. 8 A world at Peace
Because of our international outlook and concern that all shall enjoy the right to freedom from the immorality of war and want, the Woodcraft Folk is dedicated to the cause of peace.
A&P.9 Affirmation
The task of the Woodcraft Folk is the cultivation of a world outlook. Because the Woodcraft Folk is concerned with educational activities, it is accordingly precluded from being involved in activities and policy making of political parties. The Woodcraft Folk expects its members to abide by its Constitution and to participate actively in a movement that is dedicated to all people for all time.
During the session participants were asked to identify the principles that they felt most strongly about, and the principle they felt we could do without. Although it was recognised that our shared values gave strength to our movement, they was wide agreement that the language used in the aims and principles could be made more accessible.
Putting the principles into practice
In small groups participants were asked to make programme recommendations for individual aims and principles.
World at Peace
· Apocalypse film
· ‘Hands up for Peace’ protest
· Craft
· Elfin Badge
· Learning about other cultures
· Amnesty tea party
· Respect each other in groups e.g. play nicely
· Elfin activity on child soldiers
· Holocaust memorial day
· International exchanges
· Envoi
· International delegations at CoCamp
· Workshops with ‘Free the Children’
· Songs e.g. Mighty song of peace
Religion
· Fairer fare
· Leading
· Co-operation
· Organisational links with inclusion organisations e.g. Young MINDS, National Autistic Society, National Deaf Children’s Society, SENSE
· Trying something you have not done before
· Clans
· Applying for grants – money less of an issue
· Educated by others and their religion
· Multi Faith Marquee at CoCamp