Notice is hereby given for the Woodcraft Folk’s Annual Gathering and Annual Conference which shall be the Annual Policy Meeting and Annual General Meeting respectively of the organisation.
Book now
Nominations: Stand for Election
FAQ
Preliminary Agenda and Motions
Venue
Biblins Youth Campsite, Ross-on-Wye HR9 6DX
Dates
Annual Gathering and Venturer Camp Pre-Camp:
Saturday 13th to Sunday 14th June 2026
Annual Conference (AGM): Saturday 13th June 2026, 2pm
Booking
Book now for the early bird discount until end of March
What the weekend will include
The event will take place at Biblins Youth Campsite in the beautiful Wye Valley 12-14 June. It will bring together 3 key strands:
- Annual Conference, our formal AGM and constitutional decision making and elections (see below)
- Annual Gathering, policy debates, training and development
- Venturer Camp 2026 pre camp programming
We believe the event will be highly valuable for both new and existing members. A detailed programme of training activities, along with full details of the Venturer Camp pre camp sessions, will be published by the final deadline at the end of May.
Whether you are a new leader undertaking training, refreshing your safeguarding knowledge, preparing for Venturer Camp this summer, or taking part in the democratic decision making of our organisation, you must register to attend.
This is an all inclusive weekend will also include entertainment and a paid for evening refreshments.
Motions
Check out the motions and preliminary agenda here.
You will see there are 12 motions on the agenda. The rules allow Standing Orders to determine which motions are organisational in nature and which are policy. Where there is overlap, the Standing Orders Committee has made that determination.
Six motions are listed for general debate at the Annual Conference. We hope many of these will pass with limited debate, allowing more time for other motions.
- Motion 1: Updating General Council terms
Amendment 1 to Motion 1: Changing terms to 3 years for General Council - Motion 2: Reducing Motion Lengths and Introducing Musings
- Motion 3: Updating the names for our Annual Gathering
- Motion 4: Regional Funds
- Motion 5: Online participation to Annual Conference
- Motion 6: Trans Rights and volunteer conduct
Six motions are listed as policy motions. We are asking members to review these with their groups and districts, using this as an educational opportunity to engage young people on the issues. We encourage you to submit amendments and suggestions. These motions will be debated in workshops on the morning of conference, with 3 x 1 hour long workshops each slot covering 2 topics at the same time. The aim is for each workshop to bring forward a unified, composited motion that can secure the support of the conference. These will then be voted on at the Annual Conference in the afternoon.
- Motion 7: Supporting action against the far right
- Motion 8: Alternatives to militarised youth programmes
- Motion 9: Strengthening links with the trade union movement
- Motion 10: Young People, Mobile phones, social media and digital wellbeing
- Motion 11: International Youth Exchange: Erasmus +
- Motion 12: Peace not war
We hope you and your young people will come and engage with these important issues and help push the organisation to take bolder, clearer and more progressive positions on the issues that matter to them.
Elections to General Council, Standing Orders Committee and Wayfinding Committee (IC2030)
Any individual member of any age may stand for election.
General Councill
9 vacancies for 2 year terms, including reserved places: Wales x1, Scotland x1, age 16 to 24 x1, age 16 to 24 and non cis male x1, non cis male x2.
Plus 1 vacancy for a 1 year term.
General Council are the Trustees and Directors of Woodcraft Folk, providing leadership and oversight. Experience or interest in safeguarding, finance, legal, health and safety, fundraising, communications or policy is welcomed.
Standing Orders Committee (SOC)
3 vacancies for 2 year terms.
SOC organises Annual Conference and Annual Gathering. We welcome those interested in events, procedures, elections and participatory spaces.
Wayfinding Committee, International Camp 2030
9 vacancies for 18 month terms, including reserved places: 1 elfin leader, 1 pioneer leader, 1 venturer leader
Additional members will be selected in other forums including representatives from IFM-SEI, Pioneers, Venturer and DFs. This committee will establish International Camp 2030 over an 18 month period by creating a vision representative of the needs of the movement. Experience in attending events, event organisation, budgeting, group leadership, logistics, educational delivery and political education will be valuable.
More information can be found on the project page https://woodcraft.org.uk/projects-campaigns/2030-international-camp/ or by contacting ic2030@woodcraft.org.uk.
Nominations and voting forms here
Submit to: nominations@woodcraft.org.uk by 12 noon on Saturday 9th May 2026
Voting will take place at Annual Conference on Saturday 13th June 2026.
What you need to do
Right now
Book your space – Bookings must be made here.
Think about people in Woodcraft Folk who could make a contribution to General Council, Wayfinding Committee or Standing Orders Committee. Encourage them to stand.
By 12 noon Saturday 9th May
Submit nomination forms and amendments to motions.
By 12 noon Saturday 30th May
Ensure your group, district or DF region is registered and delegates are confirmed.
Annual Gathering is our shared democratic moment. Please book your place, speak with your group, encourage nominations, submit motions and help us make this a vibrant, participative and forward looking event.
We look forward to welcoming you to Biblins in June.
Deadlines
The following timetable has been agreed by the General Council and the Standing Orders Committee:
| Convening Notice published by | Saturday 28 February 2026 | 2pm |
| Motions received by | Saturday 21 March 2026 | 12 noon |
| Preliminary agenda published by | Saturday 11 April 2026 | 2pm |
| Amendments to motions and nomination received by | Saturday 9 May 2026 | 12 noon |
| Final agenda published, deadline for groups, district and DF regions to be registered and deadline to register to attend by | Saturday 30 May 2026 | 12 noon |
| Deadline to register change of delegate or cast proxy vote by | Saturday 6th June | 12 noon |
| Voting opens for elections at | Saturday 13 June 2026 | 12 noon |
| Voting closes for elections and Annual Conference opens at | Saturday 13 June 2026 | 2pm |
Useful Documents
- Covering letter to the Preliminary Agenda
- Preliminary Agenda and motions
- Nomination Forms
- FAQ AG 2026
- Covering letter AG 2026
- Convening notice AG 2026
Woodcraft Folk’s constitution made up of:
- Articles of Association (The legal rules we follow)
- Aims, Principles and Programme (Our values and how we work)
- Standing Orders (How Annual Conference runs)
- Draft minutes from 2025 AGM (Annual Conference 2025)
Preliminary Agenda and Motions
Book now
Venue
Biblins Youth Campsite, Ross-on-Wye HR9 6DX
Dates
Annual Gathering and Venturer Camp Pre-Camp:
Saturday 13th to Sunday 14th June 2026
Annual Conference (AGM): Saturday 13th June 2026, 2pm
Booking
Book now for the early bird discount until end of March
Attendance
All attendees must be individual members on 30th May 2026.
Adult member must be paid up members on that date,
Young members (under 16s) will automatically become company members on completion of the booking form.
Voting
The following categories will be entitled to be represented by one voting delegate per category:
| Groups | Those who have paid and completed their 2026 registration by 30th May 2026 |
| Districts | Those local areas with more than two paid up groups by 30th May 2026 |
| DF regions | One delegate for each of the 8 Woodcraft Folk Nations and English Regions, appointed by DF Committee by 30th May 2026 |
Changes
Groups, Districts and DF regions may change or appoint a proxy to represent them in any vote up until the 6th June 2026
Motions
Motions to change the constitution of the Woodcraft Folk (Articles of Association, Aims Principles and Programme and Standing Orders) must be proposed by: Groups, Districts, DF regions or General Council. These motions should commence “This Annual Conference resolves to..” and should include the original text and the text changes proposed. You can read our Articles of Association Aims, Principles & Programme and Standings Orders here: woodcraft.org.uk/ag2026
Motions to set policy will be taken at the Annual Gathering they must be proposed by: Groups, Districts, DF regions, General Council, DF Althing, DF Committee, Venturer Committee, Regional or Nations Conferences, previous Annual Conferences, or previous Annual Gatherings. These motions should commence “This Annual Gathering…” and should include action to be taken.
All motions may also be accompanied by a brief rationale which will be published in the final agenda. All motions must be sent to motions@woodcraft.org.uk by 12 noon 21st March.
If you need help submitting or composing a motion, please contact the Standing Orders Committee soc@woodcraft.org.uk who are very happy to help with any question you may have.
Elections
Any individual member of any age may apply for election.
(a) General Council has the 9 vacancies for two year terms:
Out of this the following places 6 will be reserved for members who are:
- from Wales x1
- from Scotland x1
- 16 – 24 year old x 1
- 16 – 24 year old & non cis-male x1
- non cis-male x2
(b) General Council has 1 vacancy for a one year term for any member.
General Council are the Trustees, Directors and leaders of the Woodcraft Folk. They should both be representatives of the groups we run and young people we work with and show leadership in the direction they take the organisation. People with safeguarding, financial, legal, health and safety and policy interests are encouraged to apply.
(c) Standing Orders Committee (SOC) has 3 vacancies to serve for a period of two years.
SOC runs and organises the Annual Conference and Annual Gathering. We are seeking a dynamic range of people who may like putting on events, understanding rules of procedures, conducting elections or creating participatory spaces.
Nominations for General Council or Standing Orders Committee must complete the form downloadable at woodcraft.org.uk/ag2026 and be submitted to nominations@woodcraft.org.uk by 12 noon 9th May 2026
Candidates statements will be listed in the final agenda and voting will take place at the Annual Conference closing Saturday 13th June 2026, 2pm
Online
Groups, Districts and DF regions may take part online through casting a proxy mandated vote. All voting members so registered by 30 May but not attending shall be provided a voting link which must be cast by Saturday 6th June, 12 noon
Deadlines
The following timetable has been agreed by the General Council and the Standing Orders Committee:
| Convening Notice published by | Saturday 28 February 2026 | 2pm |
| Motions received by | Saturday 21 March 2026 | 12 noon |
| Preliminary agenda published by | Saturday 11 April 2026 | 2pm |
| Amendments to motions and nomination received by | Saturday 9 May 2026 | 12 noon |
| Final agenda published, deadline for groups, district and DF regions to be registered and deadline to register to attend by | Saturday 30 May 2026 | 12 noon |
| Deadline to register change of delegate or cast proxy vote by | Saturday 6th June | 12 noon |
| Voting opens for elections at | Saturday 13 June 2026 | 12 noon |
| Voting closes for elections and Annual Conference opens at | Saturday 13 June 2026 | 2pm |
Useful Documents
Woodcraft Folk’s constitution made up of:
-
- Articles of Association (The legal rules we follow)
- Aims, Principles and Programme (Our values and how we work)
- Standing Orders (How Annual Conference runs)
-
- Draft minutes from 2025 AGM (Annual Conference 2025)
