New Leader Training5th - 7th December 2014

Lockerbrook FarmFacilitated by Eden Ballantyne and Ellie Julings

ellie@woodcraft.org.ukeden@woodcraft.org.uk

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Index

Weekend aims & Agenda Page 3

Participants Page 4

Participant expectations Page 5

My Woodcraft Journey Page 6

What is Wcf Quiz Page 7

Group Agreement Page 10

Putting the aims and principles into practice Page 10

Cooperative Craft Page 13

Safeguarding children and young people Page 14

Discussion Techniques Page 16

Games and Song Share Page 17

Risk assessments Page 18

Outcomes for children and young people Page 19

Training and resources Page 22

Next steps? Page 23

Evaluation Page 24

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Weekend aims

By the end of the residential, it was intended that participants will:

• Have increased their knowledge of Woodcraft Folk by exploring Woodcraft Folk’s history, aims and principles and resources

• Be able to develop a group programme based on Woodcraft Folk aims and principles

• Appreciate their role in safeguarding children and young people in our care• Understand and have practiced completing risk assessments• Share and learn songs and games that are suitable to use in Woodcraft Folk

groups• Value the impact of Woodcraft Folk on children and young people• Have an understanding of the training, resources and support structures

available to all new volunteers

Agenda

Friday 7th November

7 - Supper8 - Welcome & introductions

Agenda Games My Woodcraft Folk Journey

9:30 Woodcraft Folk quiz10 Hot Chocolate10:30 History of Woodcraft Folk film

 Saturday 8th November

9 Morning Circle

9:30 Putting the aims & principles into practice11:00 Break11:15 Co-operative Craft with the crèche12:00 Lunch1 - 2 Walk2:30 Safeguarding children and young people4 Break 4:30 Discussion techniques - with the crèche5:30 Reflection circle

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6:30 Dinner7:30 Game and song share8:30 Hot chocolate and bedtime9 adults songshare

Sunday 9th November

9 Meet for tidy up of East Barn9:30 Morning circle 10 - 11:15 Keeping Safe - Risk assessments11:15 - 11:45 Break11:45 Outcomes for young people 12:45 Lunch and tidy1:30 Training, Resources and Sources of Support2 What next? 2:30 Tidy up3:00 Closing circle

Participants

Participants came from Wakefield, Sheffield, Manchester, Hebden Bridge and Birkenhead. Participants came with a range of experience and included a venturer, new leaders and those that have led groups for 20 years.

Participants included:

Iris and Lynne Skipworth - ManchesterBecky Bowers - nr SkiptonRik Stack - WakefieldRachel Julian, Adele Kind, Rob Tyler, George Kidd - Hebden BridgeHamish Cunningham - Sheffield

Participants were supported by a crèche led by Sonia, Joanne, Claire, Lou and Phil from Birkenhead who also attended sessions

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Participant expectations

Early in the event, participants were asked to share their expectations, particularly focusing on:

1. What they were most looking forward to?2. What they were hoping to learn?3. What they were anxious about?

Responses included:

Looking forward to… Hoping to learn… Anxious about…

● Meeting new people● Playing games● Making new friends

● Finding out how others do things

● Safeguarding● Increasing input from

parents● Helping venturers settle

in when they’re new to woodcraft

● How to work with paid workers

● Getting sleep● Having a fire alarm● Getting snowed in!

At the end of the residential, participants were asked to revisit their responses and confirm whether their expectations had been met, questions had been answered, their anxieties lessened.

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Participants then shared their Woodcraft Journey, sharing in groups: 1. Where they are from2. How they found out about WcF3. What interests them most about WcF

4. Things they’ve done with WcF

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What is Woodcraft Folk?

Participants did a quiz of Woodcraft facts based on the list below, and then watched a DVD of Leslie Paul (Woodcraft Folk’s founder) describing the origins and the early days of Woodcraft Folk.

Who are these folk?

Woodcraft Folk are a national voluntary youth and children's organisation. Woodcraft groups are split into age ranges: Woodchips (0 - 5); Elfins (6 - 9); Pioneers (10 - 12); Venturers (13 - 15) and DFs (16 – 20).

Most Woodcraft groups meet weekly to take part in fun educational activities, including discussion, drama games, arts and crafts. They reflect our aim of Education for Social Change.

Members used to wear green folk shirts that had to be tucked in! Some still choose to wear a traditional folk shirt with various badges they sew on but others wear hoodies and t shirts, many of which are designed by young people.

Nearly 90 years on from our start, we are still going strong and taking young people on camps and activities inspired by Leslie Paul's original vision.

Most groups go camping and on residential weekends every year.

Nearly 400 groups are run all over England, Scotland and Wales.

We are always getting involved in exciting new projects and working with other organisations that have similar values and vision.

We are a democratic organisation and every year our members get together to help set our priorities for the coming year. All age groups are involved and each district is encouraged to send at least one member to our decision making conference that we call AG - Annual Gathering.

One of our mottos is Span The World With Friendship and we take part in many international exchanges including a large international camp in the UK every five years.

Everyone in Woodcraft is equal, young and old.

When we meet or camp we form a circle so that everyone can be seen, heard and take part in decision making and everyone is given a chance to share their opinions and experiences.

We have had strong links to the Cooperative movement since we started and cooperation is still one of our main values.

Woodcraft Folk are an independent charity and we are not linked with any political party or

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organised religion.

We welcome people from all faiths, backgrounds and beliefs.Woodcraft has loads and loads of useful resources and materials (both on paper and electronically) to help people run fun activities.

You can get books, badges and clothes from Folk Supply, including our songbooks and Games Games Games, our popular book of co-operative games.

Many groups do things differently, but a favourite with all groups is cooperative parachute games.

For many years Woodcraft has campaigned for environmental sustainability and our activities include this as a theme.

There has recently been a comeback for Bushcraft activities.

Through our activities, Woodcraft Folk aims to develop self-confidence and activity in society, with the aim of building a world based on equality, friendship, peace and co-operation.

Woodcraft actively supports our young people in their work campaigning for a fairer world.

How did we start?

In 1925, a 19 year old man called Leslie Paul started the first Woodcraft Folk group as an alternative to the scouts. He wanted to see a group that had equal opportunities for girls and boys and that was driven by his passion for peace, freedom and democracy around the world.

Leslie Paul wanted to offer children from the city experience of the countryside and took them camping. He did this to help them learn more about nature and things they didn't see every day, including animals, trees and plants.

In the 1920s, children were not allowed to call adults by their first names and so folk names were adopted, for example Leslie Paul was known as ‘Little Otter’. Nowadays, most groups just use first names but some groups still carry on this tradition and do naming ceremonies for those who want them.

How are we run?

Woodcraft Folk are run locally and nationally by volunteer adult members, who must have a DBS clearance.

Woodcraft Folk are managed by a team of volunteers – General Council – half of them are under 25.

We have a small staff at the offices in London, Wales and Scotland, and our residential

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centres, led by our General Secretary.

Useful resources:

1. Introducing Woodcraft Folk2. New Group Journey module3. 60 th anniversary film

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Saturday

Group Agreement

After morning circle, children left with the creche, and adult participants were asked to agree a series of ‘ground rules’ to support us all to have a good time and get the most out of the planned sessions. Ground rules included:

Appreciate peopleHave fun!No ideas are badBe openListen to everyoneOne person talking at a timeBe present - mind and body

Putting the aims and principles into practice

Participants were asked to share what types of activities make up a typical group night, suggestions included:

● Playing games● doing project / badgework● Group circle● Discussions

A common format, particularly for Elfin groups, would be for group night to last between 75-90 minutes and include:

● Taking the register and collect subs● Having a simple well known game that children can join in with as they arrive● Circle with individual news and an explanation of tonight’s session● Themed activity/activities● Games● Circle to reflect and share information about next week● Link your Hands

Ellie introduced participants to the aims and principles of Woodcraft Folk, which include:

Aim & Principle 2 Education for Social Change – Woodcraft Folk seek to develop in our members a critical awareness of the world. We will work to develop the knowledge, attitudes, values and skills necessary for them to act to secure their equal participation in the democratic process that will enable them to bring about the changes that they feel are necessary to create a more equal and caring world.

As an educational movement, we believe that equal opportunities should extend to all aspects of activity and participation in the Woodcraft Folk. We will combat

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oppression or discrimination in our movement, whether on grounds of age, class, gender, race, sexual orientation, for reasons of disability, contact with mental health services, or a previous criminal conviction that does not create risk to children or young people. We will educate our members so that they may take these issues into the wider community.

Aim & Principle 3 A Co-operative and Sharing Attitude to Life - We believe that to further our aims it is vital to approach our educational work through the principles of co-operation. To achieve this we will provide a programme which ensures that our members practice co-operation through all the activities in which they participate.

Aim & Principle 4 International Understanding - Our motto is ‘Span the world with friendship’. We will therefore encourage and develop international understanding and friendship through our educational work and by our exchanges between children and young people of different lands. We will promote a greater understanding of the world amongst our members so that they are aware of the inequalities which exist in it.

Aim & Principle 5 The Rights of the Child - In our work with children and young people, we respect and defend their individual rights, and encourage them to participate responsibly and democratically, in all aspects of Woodcraft Folk activity.

Aim & Principle 6 Religion - The Woodcraft Folk welcomes all children, young people and adults, who wish to become members of the movement, and it asserts the right of all its members to practice the faith of their choice providing it does not contravene the aims and principles of the movement.

Aim & Principle 7 One World - The Woodcraft folk will encourage an understanding of the need to work towards a world where we provide for the needs of everyone on the planet now and in the future without destroying the physical environment. We aim to educate our members about issues of environmental and social sustainability and how this relates to their own lifestyles and other people’s actions. Aim & Principle 8 A world at Peace - Because of our international outlook and concern that all shall enjoy the right to freedom from the immorality of war and want, the Woodcraft Folk is dedicated to the cause of peace. Accordingly we associate with the movement for world disarmament and for the transfer of those resources directed to the destruction of life into channels which will be used for the fulfilment of humanity’s needs.

Participants were asked to explore the principles in more detail, by standing next to the principle which:

1. Most appeals to them as an individual2. Their group covers the most3. Their group covers the least

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In small groups, participants then created session plans for Elfin and Pioneer groups linked to the aims and principles.

Useful resources

Aims and Principles:Aims and principlesAims and Principles photo story Woodcraft Folk’s heritage websi te

New Group Journey module on programme planning Hinckley Film about the aims and principles

Programme planning: Follow the TrailElfin Activity PackPioneer Activity PackVenturer Activity PackVenturer Issues PackHounslow District’s favourite songsIsh Ash Osh websiteCraft, craft, craftBushcraft Packs

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Cooperative Craft - with creche

Participants took part in some co-operative craft with young members – building towers using marshmallows and spaghetti. At the beginning of the session teams were asked to suggest why we were doing this. Suggestions included:

● To develop / show our skills● To work together● Its difficult● We can● You have to be gentle and creative● Its fun to do challenges● Because more buildings should be made of food!● To kill time

Groups were asked what they did well and what they could have done better.

What we did wellWe used ‘Yes and...’Worked together Never gave up

What could’ve been betterMore time planning Kept marshmallows wholeListened and learnt from team better

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Safeguarding children and young people

Participants were asked to reflect on their understanding of safeguarding as a group, and then asked the question ‘What’s the difference between safeguarding and child protection?’ Then Ellie shared the formal safeguarding definitions from the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services:

Safeguarding is the broader preventative and precautionary approach to planning and procedures that need to be in place to protect children and young people from any potential harm or damage. It is more than child protection, although child protection is one important aspect of safeguarding.

Safeguarding involves keeping children and young people safe from a much wider range of potential harm and looks at preventative action, not just reaction.

Child protection involves recognising signs of physical, sexual or emotional abuse or neglect and acting on it.

Ellie described how we should raise concerns:

Group Leader

Local Safeguarding Officer

Lead Safeguarding Officer08452178939

Deborah.mccahon@woodcraft.org.uk

If any leader felt that a child or young person was in immediate risk they should contact the Police and ask to speak to the Child Protection Team.

The group wrote on post it notes reasons why people might not report a disclosure from a child. Volunteer: Lack of experiencefear of intimidationfear of reprisalshared expectations lacking - parents need to know our procedure eg. we will flag and it might be an unfounded problem. fear of it not actually being an issue - having misunderstoodconfidence (not a longstanding member)

ParentsUnsure / nervous about implicationsnot want to limit child opportunityRelationships with child / family damagedHappened on their watchMight not care

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Might not think the disclosure is relevant or seriousDont appreciate how their involvement could change the childs lifeNot want to get involved (not their business)

Kidsunaware that anythings wrongembarrassed confusedthink they’re to blamefrightened of a personLoyalty to parentDon’t know who to speak to Think they won't be believedDont want to bother a stressed parent

The group went on to explore a number of real-life scenarios that have all occurred in Woodcraft, identify what they would do in each scenario.

Useful resources

Woodcraft Folk’s Safeguarding PolicyWoodcraft Folk’s Safeguarding checklistWoodcraft Folk’s Local Safeguarding Plan template www.woodcraft.org.uk/safeguarding www.nspcc.org.uk

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Discussion techniques - with the creche

In small groups, everyone discussed:● Why we come along to group● What we like about Woodcraft Folk● What would make it even better

Each small group adopted different approaches to discussions:● Talking stick (only the person holding the stick can talk)● Tokens (put one of your 4 tokens in a tub in the middle each time you speak. You can

take another 4 only when everyone has used all theirs)● Silent debate (write your discussions down on sheets of flipchart, no-one can speak)● No rules

Silent debates are also a great way to make sure conversations are documented...

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Games and song share

During the games share, and over the weekend the group played a range of games, including:

Name and what we’re doing hereGroup juggling7 earsEmpty spaceYes and throwing masks port starboardtouch redsharkey sharkey / Mr SharkChinese whiskersThe sun shines on

Useful resources:Games, Games, Games Book available from Folk Supply for £8:50 Games, Games, Games DVD

We sung loads of songs from the Woodcraft Songbook, and a few from Cerys Matthews’ book Hook, Line and Singer. Special thanks to the Hebden group for bringing that along and sharing their songs. The Rattling bog was a real favourite for everyone, especially the kids. Here’s a link to it on youtube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLHuu3Ygvns

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Risk assessments

Participants were asked to share their understanding of risk assessments.

Participants were reminded that risk assessments should include all risk associated with:

● Environmental risks = venue, equipment, location● Activity risks = equipment, physical contact● Participant risks = needs, experience, abilities, relationships & interaction● Leader risks = experience, abilities, relationships & interaction● External factors = weather, members of the public

And that when scoring potential risk, a useful guide is to think about the need of the child, for example:

1 = Reassurance and some tender loving care2 = Minor First Aid treatment e.g. clean and cover3 = Major First Aid treatment and GP referral4 = Hospital visit or ambulance called5 = Multiple A&E visits or fatal injury

Participants then used the Woodcraft Folk risk assessment template to produce a risk assessment for the activities they planned during the ‘putting the aims and principles into practice’ session.

In conclusion, participants created the following golden rules for risk assessments:

● Common sense● Keeping it real● Stay alert and keep it dynamic - keep revisiting to keep it live● Take into account personal circumstances● Make it comprehensive● Share information

Useful resources

1. www.hse.gov.uk 2. Woodcraft Folk’s Health & Safety Policy 3. Risk assessment template and guidance

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Outcomes for children and young people

Participants started this session by thinking about why children came along to groups, responses included:

● Its about peace● Fun● Parents bring them● They come with friends● To make new friends● games● A shared value system - to see yourself reflected in a group (if you’re ‘different’ in school)● belonging and connection ● achieving fulfillment● camping● respect

In small groups we then looked at what we wanted children to gain, and how we might help them to achieve that.

What do we want kids to gain? Maturity, growthIndependencePractical outdoor skillsHow to be happyfriendshipsCreativityIndependent decision making Communication skillsFriendship Discussion Strong peer social groupOptimismHaving a voiceBe constructively questioning Understanding of the worldtravel and experienceFacilitate change themselvesSocial networkFire skillsantidotes to HollywoodSocial confidenceSelf reliance and resilienceKnowledge of the cooperative movementWant to come back next week working in a team

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How we can do this

Keep on keeping on Make sure all voices are regularly heardMake your expectations clearKnow their namesto have varied noise levels and activities Be a role modelThink about who / which adults we talk to and involveHave a registerKeep learning ourselvesSafety improved by: communication / shared expectations - attendance check - feedback to parents termly? Getting them out in the sticksconcrete experience of world around themoffer space and opportunity for children to reflectActivitiesRelationshipsVariation and excitementDiverse skill set of leadersConcrete experience of world around thembreaking adult child barriersCommunicating concepts with kids - in an age appropriate wayKids involvement in planning activitiesActivities that foster independence

Eden shared statistics gathered in the last 2 years about what children gained from WcF...

During the autumn term 2013, all groups in Scotland were visited and asked to complete an outcome survey (which involved smiley faces for Woodchips and Elfins and an Outcomes wheel for Pioneers, Venturers and DFs). The survey suggested that:

● 92% of children enjoyed or really enjoyed games at group ● 84% of children felt safe at group ● 77% of children enjoyed or really enjoyed being outside at group ● 69% of children enjoyed or really enjoyed doing new things at group

Overall, Woodcraft Folk young members gave the highest scores to feeling safe in their group, and the lowest to knowing about where they live.

In a recent research survey which was sent to current Pioneers, Venturers and DFs. When asked if Woodcraft Folk had benefited them:

● 85% strongly agree that they have made new friends from their involvement ● 74% strongly agree that it has provided them with good experience that will benefit them in

future life at school, college and in relation to jobs and training ● 74% strongly agree that they have acquired new skills

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● 67% strongly agree that they feel more confident as a result of their involvement

If you include those young people who agreed together with those who strongly agreed, there was universal/100% acceptance that their Woodcraft Folk experience had benefited them in the above ways. In addition:

● 54% agree strongly that they understand themselves better through being involved and ● 38% agree strongly that it has helped them understand people who are different from them

Useful resources

TREE evaluationCatch the Light evaluation 2014Follow the TrailEvaluation & Reflection Activities Toolkit

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Training and resources

Ellie and Eden shared sources of training and support available to new leaders.

Woodcraft Folk provide a range of courses for leaders, including:

· Introducing Woodcraft Folk· Membership Secretary training· Local Safeguarding Officer training· Treasurer training· Learn 2 Play· Venturer Leader training· Working Together

To enable easier access to training, Woodcraft Folk introduced both online training modules and webinars in 2014. There are online modules on:

· Being part of the Folk· The people your need· Finance· Staying Safe· Communication· Programme planning

The following webinars available for you to watch now:

· Introduction to Special Education Needs· Communication for All, delivered by SCOPE· Supporting children and young people with Autism, delivered by the National Autistic

Society· Who needs a DBS or PVG certificate? · Introduction to the membership database

Making Gift Aid work for your Districts · Working with Dyslexia, Structure & engagement, delivered by Dyslexia Action

Useful resources New Group JourneyWebinars

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Next steps?

Participants were asked to write down answers to the following questions to take home:Name, groupOne thing they will do One thing they will share with your groupOne thing they need help with

We tidied up and then had a closing circle in the courtyard, ending with Link your hands together.

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Evaluation

At the end of the event, participants were asked to complete an evaluation sheet, summarised here:

Positives:Small group work Singing, games, walk Working with the childrenLearnt new techniques to use in groupTalking about outcomesAims and principles session

Negatives:Having to dip out of sessions to meet kids needsWhen discussion was moved on too quickly & leader voices dominatedTidying up with kids on Sunday was difficult

What was helpful:Safeguarding examplesAcknowledging differences in the groupAccommodating children's needs

What was puzzling:Sorting bedtimes on the first night would be helpfulDiversity wasn’t a big issueSessions with children didn’t engage the children present

What was surprising:Being catered forRealising I could bring learning from elsewhere into WCFLoud voices dominated too muchFinding commonality with most of the groupI expected to see experienced leaders running sessions, the weekend seemed disjointed

In response to the above, the following changes will be made to future programmes:

Recommendation

In the info sent out beforehand, explain: we will have programmed activities each night until 10pm which everyone - children, adults and creche leaders are strongly encouraged to attend to get the most out of the weekend. If that’s too late a bedtime please let us know before the weekend so we can meet your needs.

Send out the menu in advance so people know what to expect.

Double check dietary requirements and number of kids that are coming

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For friday night, assign one leader to be responsible for logistics (coordinating arrival times, welcoming people and making sure they are in the session at the right time), the other for getting the session ready and running it.In the introductory round, introduce all families, adults and children and where they’re from, in addition to a fun icebreaker and make sure there’s enough time to properly go through the agenda for the weekend and for sorting out any worries people have around timetabling.

At the end of each relevant session, allow for at least 5 minutes to clearly explain resources and sources of further support and why they might be useful.If possible show on computer / print copy.

Revise session plans to look at including more group work

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