Back to index of Nerve 22 - Summer 2013

Liverpool Woodcraft Folk

We decided together, as a group, how to most co-operatively compose our contribution for Nerve's issue on co-operative alternatives to capitalism. We agreed that an equal way of getting everyone's input would be for us to sit in a circle and each ask a question of the person to our left - here is the result!

Anna: Why do you think young people need a space to talk about the issues in society?
Georgie: Because we can't really talk about it with people like our parents and it's good for young people to share ideas.

Georgie: What do you think about Woodcraft?
Torsten: I've had loads of fun, I've been in Woodcraft for about 5 years and the camps are great fun. Being able to talk to individuals about things that you normally wouldn't has made me more aware of these issues through being part of the Woodcraft Folk.

Torsten: What national/ international issues has being in the Woodcraft made you more aware of?
Phoebe: Consent would be a main one, but many social issues are brought up and we learn a lot about them. We also fundraise for some international things like doing a ceilidh for Gaza, and that has made us more aware of international issues.

Phoebe: What do you enjoy most about Woodcraft?
Grace: I've only been here a week but I enjoy the socialising and meeting new people.

Grace: What are your first impressions of Woodcraft?
Alex: Everybody seems quite nice and it seems very interesting. I've only been here a week as well.

Alex: Has being in Woodcraft from a young age influenced your views and opinions?
Lily: Yes because we have talked about some things I wouldn't have learnt from school like fracking and been told the other side of the story from what the news has said about it so that has changed my views on it.

Lily: When do you use co-operation in Woodcraft?
Katy: All the time really, I think when co-operation is most seen in Woodcraft is at the Woodcraft camps which I've been going to since I was 9. There, everyone has to co-operate, from the youngest person to the oldest person, working as part of a team and that's really helped me know how to co-operate in my adult life.

Katy: Has being in Woodcraft taught you how the wider world works and how you'd like it to change?
Ellie: Yes because we talk about a lot of issues that we wouldn't normally do in school or even talk about with other people such as environmental issues, social issues, mental and physical health issues, like about appearance and stuff like that.

Ellie: Do you think going on camps and outings has made you more responsible and made you use co-operation more than you would?
Robyn: Yes definitely because on camps and outings responsibility changes a lot. Because at home your parents tend to be more responsible but at camp, everyone has to do the same amount of chores and gets the same amount of fun and rewards out of it.

Robyn: How has Woodcraft encouraged you to voice your opinion?
Claire: We do a lot of debating and political games so it's developed my opinions and made me able to voice my opinions to others.

Claire: How has Woodcraft encouraged you to co-operate with others?
Jen: We do activities that require co-operation, like this one, and it has made me see that co-operation is the only way of going about life.

Jen: What three qualities do you think that Woodcraft is based on?
Liam: The most obvious one would be co-operation and working together, also friendship and solidarity because they're good concepts.

Liam: What skills have you gained from Woodcraft?
Anna: I've learnt how to plant trees and make cake in a mug and I've gained social skills, and how to relate to people my own age.

Liverpool Woodcraft Group currently has an active group of Venturers and DFs (aged approximately 13-18) which meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7.15-9pm, at Next To Nowhere, 96 Bold St. Contact us here for more information on the Woodcraft Folk. The national website is woodcraft.org.uk

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