Woodcraft Folk

Woodcraft Folk is a UK-based educational movement for children and young people. Founded in 1925 and grown by volunteers, it has been a registered charity since 1965 and a registered company limited by guarantee since 2012. The constitutional object of this youth organisation is "to educate and empower young people to be able to participate actively in society, improving their lives and others' through active citizenship." Woodcraft Folk was founded by Leslie Paul in 1925. It originated from the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift, an organisation led by ex-Scout Commissioner John Hargrave, who aimed to move away from the militaristic approach of the Scouts at that time. In its early days, Woodcraft Folk had strong pagan and anti-capitalist emphasis, but it gradually developed its own distinct ethos. The organisation was closely tied to the co-operative, labour, pacifist, early feminist, and trade union movements during the 1920s and 1930s. The Woodcraft Folk's philosophy is centred around issues of social justice, pacifism, and cooperative values. They believe all members have an equal say in the decision-making process, regardless of social background, status, age, gender, or sexual orientation. The organisation is co-educational and welcomes young people of all religious backgrounds or none and places importance on international understanding and solidarity. The name "Woodcraft" was used by writer and naturalist Ernest Thompson Seton at the start of the 20th century when setting up the American proto-Scouting organisation Woodcraft Indians, and in this context meant the skill of living in the open air, close to nature. Seton later influenced Robert Baden-Powell and became chief scout of the US. John Hargrave admired Seton's work and aimed to revert to it and away from Baden-Powell's influence in founding the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift. Another pro-Seton breakaway Scout group was the Order of Woodcraft Chivalry, founded slightly earlier in 1916. Whilst sharing many of the same historical roots as the Scouting movement, Woodcraft Folk's direct antecedent was the Kindred of the Kibbo Kift, an organisation led by ex-Scout Commissioner for Woodcraft and Camping John Hargrave, who had broken with what he considered to be the Scouts' militaristic approach in the years immediately after the First World War. Woodcraft Folk was established by Leslie Paul in 1925 after the south London co-operative groups challenged Hargrave's authoritarian tendencies over his refusal to recognise a local group called "The Brockley Thing" and broke away from the Kindred. In its early days it was very similar to the Kibbo Kift, with a strong pagan and anti-capitalist emphasis, but gradually developed its own distinct ethos. In the 1920s and 1930s it had close ties to the Co-operative Societies and to the labour, pacifist, early feminist and trade union movements, which provided a base for recruiting both adults and children and a practical focus which avoided it sharing the fates of the Kibbo Kift and Order of Woodcraft Chivalry, which both became increasingly eccentric and esoteric and were both moribund by the 1950s. The Woodcraft Folk remained mainly based in working-class districts of industrial towns and cities, notably London, Coventry, and Sheffield, and with strong connections to the Co-operative Societies until the 1960s when it began to acquire a larger middle-class membership. During the 1970s to 1990s there was a large increase in new "districts" (local branches) being founded in suburbs and small towns, some of which were short-lived. Recruitment of new members slowed in the 1990s, apparently due to Scout and Cub groups admitting girls, which removed the Woodcraft Folk's former appeal as the only organisation of its kind welcoming children of both sexes. In the 1990s there was considerable debate within the movement, including over whether to keep or abandon the "Folk Shirt" (a green overshirt worn with badges) and over the role of camping and other outdoor activities. The Woodcraft Folk had traditionally attached great importance to outdoor activities and to urban children having access to the natural world, but camping has had a more peripheral role in recent years. In 2000 Woodcraft Folk developed a birthday logo. There was much argument about which logo should be used on official publications, with the new square logo favoured for a long time by the Head Office. In 2008 Annual Conference Woodcraft Folk voted to stop using the 75th logo and resort only to the round logo on official publications. The history within the labour movement can be seen in the book produced by Woodcraft Folk called Fashioning a New World which it commissioned for its 75th birthday. Other historical references exist, including Cooperative Banners, a book available from the Rochdale Pioneers Museum which includes Woodcraft Folk banners. Woodcraft Folk historical records are held at University College London. Much of these archives can be viewed online including resources on how to use them for young people's groups. Notable former Woodcraft Folk include the MPs Jeremy Corbyn and Lloyd Russell-Moyle (the latter of whom went on to become the organisation's chief executive), singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, author and broadcaster Michael Rosen, and journalist Robert Peston. The Woodcraft Folk has always been "committed to issues of social justice, pacifism and the principles of cooperation" and described itself in 1930 as a "powerful educational instrument". They use the slogans "Span the World with Friendship" and "Education for Social Change", the latter particularly in its publicity and also constitutional documents. Woodcraft Folk is not based upon any particular religious belief or national identity. The core values are that irrespective of social background, status, age, gender, sexual orientation etc. all members have an equal say in the decision-making process. The organisation welcomes all young people whether they have a religious background or none and much of its work emphasises the importance of international understanding and friendship. The principles of peace and co-operation are therefore central to everything they do and they endeavour to develop members to have an understanding of some of the issues behind global poverty and conflict in the belief in fashioning a new, better world. The organisation lists its educational aims and principles as: Education for Social Change Co-operation International friendship Equality inclusion and religion Environmentalism Peace Politics and affirmation The Creed, or envoy, is a statement that reflects the principles and values of Woodcraft Folk. It emphasises peace, kinship with all living things, the rejection of war, sloth, and greed, and the love of fellowship. Members pledge to work towards a new, better world through their actions and beliefs. It is traditionally said at the beginning of any group night or formal meeting, or sometimes sung. It is also known as the envoi. The tradition is that, when said, each person raises their right hand with their palm facing upwards, representing coming to the group with no weapons, and says in unison: This shall be for a bond between us, That we are of one blood you and I; That we shall cry peace to all, And claim kinship with every living thing; That we hate War, Sloth and Greed, And love fellowship. And that we shall go singing to the fashioning of a new world. PEACE There is an alternative to this, usually recited in younger groups such as Elfins (6–9). The words to this are as follows: We will do our best to be healthy and happy, To care for the world and everything in it. We will work with our friends in Woodcraft Folk To build a fair and peaceful world for everyone. PEACE. At the end of camps it is tradition to link hands and sing the closing song (which is an old Rote Falken song): Link your hands together A circle we make; This bond of our friendship No power can break. Let's all sing together In