Emerging from the Scouting movement in the 1920s, its founder Leslie Paul was an influential member of the Albemarle Committee in the 1950s. But after that the Woodcraft Folk somewhat lost its way, largely because most other youth organisations had by then embraced the principles on which it had always stood, and often stood alone in the inter-war and post-war period. By 1960, however, it was not clear what was distinctive about it any more.
Now I see that it was the Overall Winner of the National Energy Efficiency Awards 2008, held in December. It also won the Education and Awareness Raising category, while one of its members, George Brooke, 17, was winner of the Young Carbon Champion category. If ever a youth organisation has so dramatically reinvented itself, while not sacrificing its founding principles, then this must be it. George comes from an environmentally conscious family, but his commitment to energy saving broadened and deepened when he got involved with C-Change, the Woodcraft Folk environmental project.
The Woodcraft Folk worked in partnership with the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales, and with De Montfort University. Apparently a survey of young people showed that while the vast majority were aware of issues relating to climate change, they had little idea what they could do about it. As a result, and with some hefty grant funding, C-Change set about educating young people in very creative, diverse and active ways.
Music was a central feature (at one point a solar-powered recording studio was used for a Battle of the Bands) and young people made and played their own musical instruments out of recycled materials. There were exhibitions and community events, and a live radio show under the name C-Cast. Young people led a series of workshops addressing energy and climate issues. The external evaluation suggested that not only did it get its message across but changed the behaviour of many of the young people.
George was a member of the steering committee for C-Change and constructed the solar-powered shower during one of the Woodcraft Folk's summer camps. It was that steering group of some 20 young people who constructed the range of imaginative projects that aimed to grab the attention of their peers. Clearly, they met with impressive success, which has now been recognised by the wider community. I am sure Paul would be delighted - this is indisputably a 21st century version of the vision he sought to establish not far short of a hundred years ago.
