General Council (our board)

I've been in Woodcraft Folk my whole life, and it has shaped how I've grown up. I volunteered at my local Elfin group in Exeter, and organised equipment for our district camps. I was inspired to get involved nationally after a fantastic Camp 100, becoming Co-comms rep last year, and now Chair of DF Committee! I'm a Maths student at Edinburgh University, and enjoy playing and listening to music, as well as doing parkour and going on hikes. I'm interested in the activism side of Woodcraft Folk, and how we can use it to grow our organisation, amplify our voices, and make change in the wider world. I'm very excited to get involved!

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 sometimes 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

I have been in Woodcraft Folk since I was 9, but have become a lot more involved since becoming a DF. I am halfway through my term as Comms Rep for the DFs, as well as dabbling in First Aid and Admin roles. Outside of DFs, I study engineering at uni and, despite my pacifist ideals, frequently find myself engaging in one-on-one combative sports. I also enjoy going out, playing music, machining and wearing odd earrings. I plan to continue working on the Comms + Campaigns committee, and can't wait to work more on combining DF and central woodcraft comms

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 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’ve been in Woodcraft Folk since I was an Elfin, being a part of the organisation has undoubtedly shaped who I am in the best way. I now volunteer with Elfins at my local group night and in 2025 I helped set up a new Saturday morning Woodchip group which is now thriving! I am currently studying event management at college and I love to play the fiddle. Playing on stage is one of my favourite things in the world. I joined General Council because I am incredibly passionate about how Woodcraft Folk has provided me with the best community and friendships I could ever have hoped for. I want to help the organisation grow, to reach more young people and provide them with the same incredible experience I have had (and continue to have).

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 Co-chair, along with Eddie Moriarty, and have 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 children 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 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 joined Woodcraft Folk in Lewisham and Greenwich district as an Elfin, and it has had a huge impact on my life since. I started getting involved in big camps as I moved through DFs, most recently co-coordinating Camp 100. Outside of Woodcraft Folk I study Earth Science, currently starting a research project in isotope geochemistry and paleoclimate. I also love camping and generally being outside, and starting lots of new craft projects, whether that's crochet, leather work or jewellery-making. On General Council, I hope to look at how Woodcraft Folk can grow to reach more young people, and become stronger as it does so - how we can make our internal practices more sustainable in order to look outward and increase our presence and voice externally.

I have been in Woodcraft Folk since I was an Elfin, originally in the Cambridge District and for the last 8 years, a Pioneer/ Venturer Leader in Walton District. In between, I have helped at groups wherever I have lived, been DF Chair, ran food at 1995 International Camp, and have had 2 previous terms on General Council. I am a Chemist by training but since having children I have been at home. Most of my time is spent looking after my kids and volunteering for Woodcraft Folk, the local schools and with Homestart. Aside from that, I love taking my dog for long walks and getting engrossed in a good book. I have been co opted onto General Council as Treasurer so will be keeping an eye on all things finance