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DfES Refuses Woodcraft Folk GrantPublished on Friday February 25 2005In the Year of the Volunteer, the Department for Education and Skills has rejected a grant application from the Woodcraft Folk, threatening cutbacks in national education programmes for young people and redundancies among the tiny group of staff who support a huge network of volunteers. “I’ve been in the Folk
since I was five and it’s given me opportunities to meet people from around the
world, learn more about global issues – and have fun at the same time,” said
17-year-old Katherine Hunter, from “I want other people to have the same opportunities, so the government must give us the grant. The Woodcraft Folk,
which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, has received
grant money from central government every year since the 1960s. Since 1983, the
money for work in The rejected grant application covered the years 2005-2008, and leaves the Woodcraft Folk having to make tough choices about how to move forward with its nationally recognised work with young people – work that goes well beyond the 9,000 children and young people in the Woodcraft Folk across the country. Woodcraft Folk educational materials are widely used by teachers and youth leaders, and its “Playout” project targets hard-to-reach young people in deprived areas with play activities open to the whole community. The organisation also operates a string of campsites and residential facilities across the country that are used by school and community groups. Ironically, while the
Woodcraft Folk isn’t “good value for money” in The Woodcraft Folk is mounting a campaign to persuade the DfES to change its mind, and is also seeking alternative sources of funding, including an appeal to its own members. However, it is unlikely that this could fill the gap. Already the loss of the grant has meant that the organisation has had to drop its annual grants to Woodcraft Folk groups across the country for training and development work. For more information contact: Jess
Cawley, Chair, Woodcraft Folk
General Council – 0114 296 7788 Andy Piercy, Woodcraft Folk General Secretary – 020 8672 6031,07802 445 688 Naomi Koppel – 07910 141791 naomikoppel@yahoo.com Notes
for editors:
The Woodcraft Folk is a
national educational charity, established in 1925, for boys and girls. Its aim
is to create a world built on equality, friendship, peace and co-operation. Groups meet weekly for a varied programme including games, drama, craftwork, singing and dancing as well as following an educational programme. Hiking, hostelling, and camping are also undertaken at weekends and during holidays. There is a strong emphasis on co-operation and empowering young people. Attachment:PDF Document 33 Kb | ||||||||||||
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