Quakers go wild in Yorkshire
An innovative 'wild' initiative to revitalise Quaker communities in East Yorkshire successfully launched on Saturday.
'Rewilding Quakers' aims to engage children and their families through a new, creative form of outdoor Quaker practice and community.
“We've launched this initiative to breathe new life into the Quaker community in Hull and the surrounding area," explained Yorkshire development worker, Craig Barnett. “We're hoping that what we learn from the impact of this project, could be adopted by other area meetings and Quaker communities around the country."
Craig and Yorkshire youth development worker Jo Baynham have joined forces for 12 months with a local youthwork organisation called Rewilding Youth – a not-for-profit Community Interest Company. The organisation offers fantastic facilities and learning opportunities for children and young people at East Hull Community Farm. These include a roundhouse, outdoor kitchen, covered meeting and activity space and composting toilets.
“After a number of meetings with Rewilding Youth we knew that partnering with them would help us to deliver our vision of a new way of engaging with people," said Jo. “Their work aligns with Quaker values of appreciating and protecting the natural world and our focus on holistic youth development. To deliver this we needed some funds, and that's when we and Pickering and Hull area meeting approached the Sir James Reckitt Charity."
James Reckitt was a Quaker and a successful Hull industrialist who steered his family business to international significance. He created a charity in 1921 and to this day it supports local community organisations and Quaker projects. They generously provided £5000 to engage Rewilding Youth and their facilities and provide expenses for families to travel to the venue.
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Afterwards they told us they'd like to start attending their local meeting...
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Once every two months the team will offer newcomers a gentle introduction to Quaker spirituality, a range of all age forest-school type activities, cooking and eating together and the opportunity to experience an all-age Quaker meeting for worship in the roundhouse.“Six families and eleven children attended the first session on Saturday," Craig said, “including one family completely new to Quakers who'd seen the invitation on Facebook.Afterwards they told us they'd like to start attending their local meeting. We couldn't have hoped for a more positive start."
The next Rewilding Quakers event will take place on 12 July. If you'd like more information please email Local.Development@quaker.org.uk
