HACKNEY WOODCRAFT

Welcome to Hackney Woodcraft

Hackney is one of the largest Woodcraft Folk districts in the country.  We have three established Elfin groups for 6 to 9 year olds, one in Stoke Newington (Clissold Park venues), one in the south of the borough (Sebright School, Goldsmith's Row E2) and one in Clapton (Clapton Park Methodist Church Hall E5).  Each area also runs a Pioneer group for 10 to 12 year olds.  In addition, the District also has a Venturers group for 13 to 16 year olds. Not all sessions are held at the groups bases, often groups will meet at other venues around the area.

All groups meet on Thursdays (term time only), usually between 6 and 7pm, although there may be some time variation between groups.  The sessions are parent run (apart from the Clapton Elfin and Pioneer groups, which are leader-run), which means that parents will usually run one session and assist with two or three others in a term.  

The activities are chosen by the parents and children at the beginning of each term.  In the last year, we have done a whole range of activities including making sushi, bonfire & bbq, making bird feeders, ice skating, team building games, hiking, environmental activities, African drumming, folk dancing, drama, rounders and cricket.  We also organise regular camping trips.

Our aim is to have great fun, but also to try and develop the children and young people's self-confidence and build their awareness of society around them. Through our activities, outings and camps we help our members understand important issues like the environment, world debt and global conflict and, in recent years, we have focused on sustainable development.

By encouraging children to think, we hope they will help build a peaceful, fairer world.

All of our costs have to be covered by donations (subs) from members, so we suggest a donation of £25 per young person per term or a reduced donation of £20 for siblings or those on limited income. You may choose to donate less than this (or more) if you wish.