General Council (our board)

I am a group leader for Waltham Abbey and Harlow District as well as the safeguarding and membership officer. I have been a member of Woodcraft since the ripe old age of 7 days old, being born on a group night and making my first appearance the following week. Outside of Woodcraft Folk I am a Humanities teacher in North London. I am very active in activism in the NEU, campaigning to add much-needed diversity to the education curriculum. I am also a trustee for Epping Forest District Museum and host history seminars and other events. In terms of interests,I am a typical nerd, but I also do frantic stress relief swimming. As a trans woman, I am starkly conscious of the many negative developments in society and believe that Woodcraft needs to be more vocal, active, and militant, particularly in its support of all those in society who are being vilified, particularly LGBTQ+ people. As a teacher, my union puts on equalities conferences throughout the year to provide a space for educators to interact with other people like them. This has been incredibly important to my continued journey as a teacher, and because of this, I would like to bring something similar to Woodcraft. I would like to introduce Rainbow Camps, similar to how pioneer, venturer and DF camps operate, but for LGBTQ+ people in the folk.

I've been in the Folk since I was six years old, and I haven't really left since. I'm currently an Elfin, Pioneer and Venturer leader at Walton District, as well as being on GC for the last 6 years.  Outside of the Folk, professionally I'm a Publican, a live music promoter and a reluctant DJ I'm really into comic books - really loving the Absolute line from DC at the moment - as well as hiking about the place and running TTRPG games for my friends  The Woodcraft Folk has a radical streak running through it, and I'd like to build on that. I've been keen on building out connections with the Trade Union movement, starting a project with Ro Marsh (also in the board) and other interested parties this year to develop and identity areas where we can collaborate closer. I'm also keen on reaching out to movements and organisations that we would be ideologically aligned with, and *do something* together.

I've been in the Folk since I was six years old, and I haven't really left since. I'm currently an Elfin, Pioneer and Venturer leader at Walton District, as well as being on GC for the last 6 years. Outside of the Folk, professionally I'm a Publican, a live music promoter and a reluctant DJ I'm really into comic books - really loving the Absolute line from DC at the moment - as well as hiking about the place and running TTRPG games for my friends The Woodcraft Folk has a radical streak running through it, and I'd like to build on that. I've been keen on building out connections with the Trade Union movement, starting a project with Ro Marsh (also on the board) and other interested parties this year to develop and identify areas where we can collaborate closer. I'm also keen on reaching out to movements and organisations that we would be ideologically aligned with to *do something* together.

I started in Woodcraft as a Venturer, and was inspired to join General Council after experiencing and seeing all the wonderful things that were happening at Common Ground. I've just graduated in Creative Music Technology from UWE, and am now working as a bartender and studio assistant. My main interest is in music, whether that be playing it or recording it. I am Welsh Representative and Health and Safety Lead on the board, and want to work towards growing the movement while keeping it a youth led organisation.

I have been instrumental in the running of Woodcraft Folk Leicestershire district camps, attended national camps, Lockerbrook warden since 2014, H&S representative on Lockerbrook Centre Committee since 2019, chair of Lockerbrook Decarbonisation working group, member of various Lockerbrook recruitment panels, member of Woodcraft Folk national H&S and decarbonisation working groups. Outside of Woodcraft Folk I have worked as a Chartered Electrical Engineer in energy generation and baggage handling then following an MBA moved into business process re-engineering then public sector GRC management; married now with two grown-up children, all of them involved in Woodcraft Folk! I used to do lots of cycling but now mainly walking; founded and now chair of the Friends of Clarendon Park community group in Leicester. I have a wealth of experience of Lockerbrook, but I’m interested in representing the interests of all Woodcraft Folk centres at GC and finding new ways to attract more group visits.

I have been a part of Woodcraft Folk since a Woodchip, and then started helping out at Elfin group nights and district camps as a DF/young leader Outside of Woodcraft Folk, I am currently at university studying photography My interests include photography and water sports. (open-water swimming, paddleboarding, kayaking, and canoeing) I wanted to join the General Council to have young people represented on the board.

I first joined as a Pioneer in Muswell Hill and stayed through to DF. I re-joined in 2013 when my children became Woodchips in Waltham Abbey & Harlow. Since then, I’ve become an Elfin Leader, Bushcraft Group Secretary, volunteer warden at Cudham. From 2024-2025 I was Chair of General Council and am now Vice Chair with a responsibility for staffing. I’ve worked in IT for nearly 30 years and am Technical Director for two companies, dealing with IT and home automation. Woodcraft is very much part of our family life. My wife Jojo and our twins Fred and Tom are all members too. When I get time outside work and Woodcraft Folk, I enjoy visiting family in France and Scotland, going for walks, and cooking curries. Woodcraft gave me valuable experiences growing up. I joined General Council to bring the perspective of an active group leader and centre volunteer, to help ensure the movement adapts and thrives for future generations.

I joined Woodcraft Folk at aged 14 and thoroughly enjoyed my time as a young person in the organisation. Now I'm not associated with any local groups but I've helped organise the last several national and international camps Woodcraft has held from managing the stewarding at Venturer Camp 2019 to overseeing camp public health at Common Ground to coordinating programme at Camp 100. My career is as an infectious disease epidemiologist working across a range of pathogens. Currently I'm on a sabbatical to undertake a PhD looking at mathematical modelling of respiratory virus transmission in care homes. Outside of work and Woodcraft Folk I'm quite active so I work out regularly, go on hikes, and play touch rugby. Within the next year I'm hoping to enter more touch rugby tournaments and do my first triathlon. I gained a lot from my time as a young person in Woodcraft and it's shaped who I am as a person for the better. So I stood to be on the board to help give that to others and shape the organisation's future.

I was recently elected to be Secretary of the DF Movement, and I have been a volunteer at Cardiff Woodcraft Folk for several years. I am currently studying English and History at Sheffield University. I have always wanted to be a part of General Council and have an impact on the movement that meant so much to me growing up. Through this position, I hope to help Woodcraft remain the safe and inclusive environment it always has been to all young people.

I have been in woodcraft for 8 years now and in that time have helped run both Elfin and Pioneer sessions, have committed to the role of shadow treasurer on DF committee for the coming year and strive to KP at more camps. I am currently studying for my A-levels in June and hope to study engineering at university. I am a passionate - perhaps not brilliant - tennis player (and watcher), keen hiker always looking for new routes and/or new mountains to climb and I love to stargaze as well which is one of the many reasons I love woodcraft camps so much I wanted to join General Council because I want to first understand how Woodcraft Folk is run and then use the resources of the board to support our districts so that they can retain their current members as they grow older (especially the transition from venturer to DF) and work with the districts to gain new members.

I grew up in the organisation; serving as Chair and working in our international office in Brussels. After taking ten years out to pursue formal politics, I have now returned as General Secretary (CEO). I oversee the staff team, ensuring they provide the support our member volunteers need to deliver their work, and I work closely with the Board (General Council) to guide the organisation towards our shared ambition for growth.

I co-lead the Pioneers in the Highgate and Holloway District, where I am also coordinator. I became involved in Woodcraft Folk when my son was an Elfin. I also am a lead on Woodcraft Folk’s Education and Groups Committee and a member of the Staffing Committee Outside of Woodcraft Folk I have worked in large and small charities – Alternative Information Center, Amnesty International and now London Gypsies and Travellers – as a researcher and campaigner for human rights. I love sewing and embroidery even though I am not very good at it! I learnt how to make quilts and patchwork when I was growing up, and I was taught cross-stitching when I lived in Palestine. On General Council I hope to create opportunities for children to be engaged in progressive social change in ways that are responsive to children’s campaigning priorities and aligned with Woodcraft Folk values and principles.

I first joined Woodcraft as an Elfin in Manchester district at 8 years old, when I couldn't have imagined how important a part of my life it would become. Since then I've become involved in many areas of the Folk, from DF committee to stewarding at big camps, and helping out with the new Cambourne Elfin group! Outside of Woodcraft Folk I completed my undergraduate degree in Geography, and am pursuing a career in environmental management. I also also really love camping! I would spend all my life living out in a tent in nature if I could. I know how important it is to our young members that the organisation champions sustainability and equality, while the climate surrounding these issues is rapidly changing- I would like to ensure that Woodcraft Folk remains informed and relevant on these critical areas when setting our course for the future.

My daughter was in the Woodcraft Folk in the 1980s in Cambridge. I set up a group in South Norwood so that my two grandchildren would be able to experience Woodcraft Folk. I am a District Co-ordinator and Pioneer Leader. Outside of Woodcraft Folk I worked for many years in trade unions – was National Officer representing, advising and supporting members and leading on collective negotiation. In that time, I had a particular focus on equality and diversity, working with the TUC and other unions. My personal interests outside of Woodcraft Folk are mostly around attending theatres and concerts, including opera. I joined the Board in 2024 because I was looking around for something more to occupy my time, which I would find fulfilling. Woodcraft Folk advertised for Board members with human resources and equality backgrounds, so I felt I would be able to bring my experience in these areas, to help Woodcraft Folk.

I’ve been involved in Woodcraft pretty much my whole life, including as a trustee for last 10 years or so. My eldest son is about to join Elfins so I expect to get back involved in volunteering with a group for the first time in a while. Outside of Woodcraft Folk I’m a lawyer in the Civil Service and I love music! I’d love to see the number of groups grow so that more children have the chance to take part in Woodcraft activities.

I joined Glasgow Kelvingrove Woodcraft Folk (virtually at first) in 2020, and have since joined the Scottish Committee. I’m also on DF committee as both Scottish liaison and the accessibility rep. I’m currently in my last year of high school, and I’m hoping to go to university for english literature/theatre studies next year! Outside of Woodcraft Folk, my main hobbies are playing the clarinet and guitar, and reading my favourite book is Slaughterhouse-5 by Kurt Vonnegut

I joined Woodcraft Folk as a venturer, and went on to spend two years as the Chair of DF Committee, helping to rebuild the DF movement after the COVID-19 Pandemic Outside the organisation I am a music student and I have a keen interest in music composition, as well as student politics I'm on the board because I've seen what young people can accomplish within this organisation, and I believe that General Council is the best way for me use my skills to help Woodcraft Folk move forward.