The TREE Programme

The TREE Programme is many different activities and resources gathered under the heading 'Training, Representation, Equality and Engagement'. These are all things Woodcraft Folk aims to give young members. The more fully young people can participate in the organisation, the stronger our future will be. 

Woodcraft Folk has always brought children, young people and adults together to learn about and act on social issues, since we were established in 1925 by 19 year-old Leslie Paul. At local and national level, we try to create an atmosphere of equality and co-operation where people of any age can get involved in making decisions, running activities and influencing the movement.

With five years of Big Lottery funding, we're currently able to focus on making sure young people's experience of Woodcraft Folk - from playing games at a weekly group night to sitting on our national trustee board - is as good as possible, and that they can act on the issues that are important to them within the movement and outside of it.  

There's a lot going on! Since the programme started in April 2009, TREE has developed new ways for young people to get involved in the organisation, and helped them join existing activities and committees to get their voices heard. Below are links to the latest news on all our current projects, groups and resources.

The TREE Steering Group

This is the mixture of adults and young people who guide the TREE programme, making key decisions about how to spend our funding, how to prioritise our work and most importantly how to reach as many Woodcraft Folk members - and potential members - as possible. 

The TREE Communications Group

The TREE Communications Group is made up of young people from Woodcraft groups across the country. They create the communications that young people asked the TREE programme to deliver, such as publicity materials, they contribute to publications including newsletters and the website, and they run our current national campaign Right to Refuge, in support of refugees and asylum seekers in the UK.  

Follow the Trail

What does Woodcraft Folk mean to you? As a Pioneer at group night? As a DF at district camp? As a group leader trying to get young people more involved in running the group?

Follow the Trail is a programme to help us all answer questions like this, so that the Woodcraft Folk experience gets better all the time – whatever your age or role. There are lots of Follow the Trail activities to run at your Woodcraft group night, devised with contributions from young people. They'll help you recognise what your group is already doing really well and what you'd like to do more of. 

Action Projects

Woodcraft Folk Action Projects is a new scheme supported by the TREE programme to help groups of young Woodcraft Folk run projects. Groups and districts can apply for up to £500 each to run their own ‘action projects’ on an issue chosen by young people. As long as your project is created and led by young people, and has a positive impact on your community, it'll be eligible for support. The decision on which projects to fund is made by a panel of young Woodcraft Folk. Click through to the Action Projects page for the latest news. 

A Right to Refuge

Young people across Woodcraft Folk have chosen to campaign in support of refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. They've put together activities and publicity materials to help you and your group learn about the issues and take action. Read more on the campaign page or join the Facebook group and tell us what you're doing to help. 

Mentoring

The Mentoring Programme has been developed to help support young people to take up new roles of responsibility within Woodcraft Folk. Young People might need support in anything from getting involved as volunteers at group nights, promoting or budgeting for an event or help running a campaign. The programme will recruit volunteer mentors and match them with a young person or a group of young people needing their support. Click through for more information on mentoring.

New roles for young people

TREE aims to support young people who already have specific responsibilities in Woodcraft, for example organising a camp or representing their group at Annual Gathering. If you're doing something you'd like some help with, let us know! We're also creating some new roles which young people have suggested to us, for example trainers, mentors and reporters. Click through to the latest opportunities for young people in Woodcraft Folk. 

Support for group leaders

TREE has lots of support available for anyone working with young people in Woodcraft Folk. There are activity plans in the Resources section, on topics like campaigning and setting up a project. We can also come and visit your group to run a session, just give us a call on 020 7703 4173 or email tree@woodcraft.org.uk to talk about the options. If you're looking for training around young people's involvement - for adults or for young people - we can help you arrange some. TREE will also be helping Woodcraft Folk to recruit and support new volunteers, including setting up new groups where they're needed. 

Young Trainers

The Young Trainers Programme is specifically aimed at supporting and developing young people under the age of 25 to become trainers within Woodcraft Folk. They can then use these skills not only within Woodcraft, delivering training to support local groups, but also use them to gain future employment as the training is accredidated through the ASDAN Activity Award. For Further information about the Young Trainers programme contact Rose Mitchell, TREE Development Officer, Mentoring and Twinning or Tracy Cleveland, TREE Events Administrator