The Woodcraft Folk and the peace movement

Woodcraft Folk members played an active role in the large peace demonstrations in 2003.  The movement's high profile in the anti-war coalition offers us the prospect of reaching out to new adults and children.  However, as we become more visible, so we must expect our position to be questioned - so here are some questions answered.

Why are you supporting the peace movement?

Our conference last year resolved that, like many other organisations, we should affiliate to and play our part in the Stop the War coalition.  The Woodcraft Folk, right from its origins in 1925, has worked for international understanding and peace.  We know that, in war, children suffer disproportionately.  We work actively in our educational work to point out that there are other ways than violence to resolve conflict.

You shouldn't be indoctrinating children

We're not.  Just the opposite, our whole aim is to encourage children and young people to think for themselves, to ask questions, to realise that their ideas and views - whatever they may be - are important and should be listened to. We don't tell our members to join campaigns or go on demos. However we're very proud of them when they do decide to take an active interest in social issues.

You shouldn't be political

We're not political, in the traditonal party political sense.  Our stand on this issue (a stand which, incidentally,  we appear to share with the majority of the country) is guided by our belief that a peaceful world is necessary if young people are - as our aims put it - to grow to full maturity and to develop their potential.  We are conscious of our obligations as an educational movement, and believe that when we engage as an organisation in campaigning work it is to help realise our objectives and in line with Charity Commission guidelines for charities.

You shouldn't frighten young children by talking of war

Our educational programme is geared to the age of children, and what is suitable for our venturers is not necessarily appropriate to elfins.  But we do believe in being honest with children.  Hiding facts from children is fundamentally dishonest and not the Woodcraft way.

You shouldn't be spending public money on protesting

We're not - all the money we receive from the government and the lottery is spent on specific projects or for specific purposes which are set out by those funding bodies. The costs relating to the protest were covered by other funding sources - including the t-shirts that were sold on the march.

The Woodcraft Folk has produced a peace flyer explaining our peaceful ideals and outlook on conflict resolution. PDF versions are available for download - click here for the front (490Kb), and here for the back(650 Kb).