more Activities

Visits

This theme provides lots of opportunities for visits out or for inviting speakers to your group. You could visit your Town Hall or go along to listen to part of a Council meeting.

MPs hold regular surgeries in their constituencies. If there is an issue which your group are concerned about why not send a delegation along to the surgery. It is a good idea to take a letter along setting out your concerns as you should get a reply in writing as well as the discussion which takes place at the time.

If you live in or around London – or you fancy making a day out of it in the capital – why not take your group to the Houses of Parliament. If you arrange this through your MP they will probably be happy to meet you there and give the group a guided tour - Awesome!

School Councils

You could have a discussion in your group about School Councils. Do the schools the Pioneers go to have school councils? Are any of them involved? How effective are they? What sort of issues do they deal with? How do teachers respond?

Useful info about school councils can be found at:
http://www.citfou.org.uk/teaching_support/democracy_schools.pdf

Campaigning

Get active in a campaign in your town – or start your own if there is something you are concerned about.

Useful ideas on campaigning can be found at:
http://www.woodcraft.org.uk/earthsummit/9_act2.htm

On Yer Bike

Is a role play exercise from the Citizenship Foundation which looks at some of the problems faced by young people wishing to cycle on busy or dangerous roads, and how these might be addressed. The exercise also considers whether legislation is preferable to other ways of bringing about social change, for example through education or publicity campaigns. It is aims at a rather older age group but could be simplified for Pioneers.

On Yer Bike is available at:
http://www.citfou.org.uk/teaching_support/on_your_bike.pdf

Hunting with Hounds

Since 1949 there have at least been seven attempts to restrict or ban hunting with dogs.

All the source material you need to organize a well-informed debate is available at:
http://www.citfou.org.uk/teaching_support/tci_hwh_i.php4

Youth Participation and Children’s Rights

Lots more activities on these themes are available on the Woodcraft Folk’s Sust’n’Able web site:
http://www.woodcraft.org.uk/earthsummit