“It was the DFs who invented Woodie Hoodies, who pioneered peer mental health support, and who produced ephemera ranging from badges and videos, to newsletters and banners. If you have a box of DF shirts under your bed, a collection of papers in your attic, or a folder of photos or minutes saved on your computer we would love to speak to you about how you could contribute.”
In 2027, across Woodcraft Folk we will be celebrating 50 years of the DF movement! We have received funding from the National Lottery Heritage fund to support the DF archiving project ’50 years of the DFs’. The project plans to celebrate DFs achievements over the past five decades in order to support them to continue organising as autonomous youth in the fifty years to come.
The main aims of the project are to organise and collect a DF archive. While Woodcraft Folk’s archived history is currently being preserved within the special collections held at UCL following the ‘100 years Spanning 100 Objects’ arching project- many items related to the DFs are missing. Below are some ways you can get involved in the project
This project is also about collecting the stories of DFs old and new; giving young people the chance to learn about producing oral histories from professionals working at UCL. If you are a current DF who wants to learn about the history of the movement or an ex-DF who wants to share their experience and knowledge with young people today, Woodcraft Folk want to hear from you.
Get involved in the project:
Join the Archival and Oral History Working Group
We are looking for volunteers to join our archival and oral history working group for a one year project centred around the history of the DF movement and more broadly the activities and organisations of young people in the UK. We are interested in building a regular working group centred around cataloguing, digital archiving and the collection of oral histories. This will be a space where young people can get involved in digitising and making the history of the District Fellows more visible to those within the Woodcraft Folk as well as the broader public.
Throughout the project, you will learn basic skills of cataloguing and turning evidence of the rich history of autonomous youth organising into pixels using overhead and flat-bed scanners, copiers, and your phones! We will also provide training in the collection and storage of oral histories before connecting you with ex-members of the DF movement young and old to collect their stories – and their gossip!Over the year, we will be working together to produce an archive collection that speaks to the breadth of activity that DFs have engaged with in their 50 year history. From camps and parties to protests and squats; international solidarity to peer mental health support. The deadline for filing in this form is 29th November 2026 at 11:59pm. We aim to inform you about the outcome of the application process by the beginning of December.
Oral History Training – 29-31 January at Cudham
This event is open to DFs and young Kinsfolk. Come and learn how to conduct oral histories and help support the 50 years of DFs archive project. The weekend will see training from experts in the field as well as a chance to share your own oral histories about being a DF now or in the past. Learn how to record stories, use equipment and find out more about the history of the movement. The event will take place at Woodcraft Folk’s Cudham Environmental Activities Centre. Food and bedding will be provided and we can also support travel costs. Book your space here.
The project will share regular updates with the movement. If you want to find out more, have any questions or want to get involved in the project please contact our Project Officer, Delilah at archive.dfs@woodcraft.org.uk, to talk over email or organise a meeting to discuss how you would like to contribute.
