Application to become a Director and Trustee of the Forest School Association
Name Lily Horseman………………………………………………………………………
Organisation/Freelance: Director Kindling (freelance) ……………………………….
(If you are involved with any organisation – please state the name of the organisation and position held).
Sector Experience/Skills (please rate each from 0 to 3: 0 = no experience, 1 = general background/experience, 2 = Strong relevant experience, 3 = direct relevant experience):
| Sector Experience | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Early Years Forest School | þ | |||
| Primary Years Forest School | þ | |||
| Secondary Years Forest School | þ | |||
| Special Needs Forest School | þ | |||
| Play Sector | þ | |||
| Environmental Organisations involvement with Forest School | þ | |||
| County Council Forest School | þ | |||
| Academic Research for Forest School/Higher Education | þ | |||
| Outdoor learning | þ | |||
| Forest/Woodland management | þ | |||
| Forest School Training | þ | |||
| Other (please specify) | ||||
| Skills | ||||
| Media/Communications including social media | þ | |||
| Business/Marketing | þ | |||
| Fundraising | þ | |||
| Events | þ | |||
| Public Speaking | þ | |||
| Other (please specify) |
Please indicate which role you would like to apply – job descriptions for the Treasurer and Company Secretary are attached.
| Directors
|
|
| Post | I would like to apply for this post on the FSA Board (please tick) |
| Director – Company Secretary | |
| Director – Treasurer | |
| Director – Without Portfolio | þ marketing and comms? |
Please tell us a bit about yourself (max 500 words), including;
- Why you are standing for FSA directorship?
I feel really lucky to be someone who loves their work with a passion. People notice it. I feel like I have found my place in the world; being in the woods with children and with adults, connecting with nature, exploring and refining skills and creativity, noticing how we are all flourishing; it’s so easy to get excited about that!
I have been interested in the growth of the FSA from the beginning and can see how it has emerged as an association with the potential to get stuff done. I’m a great believer in getting stuff done. I’m really passionate about making sure that there are good quality Forest School experiences for children and young people and that people who are working with those children feel supported and inspired. I feel this is a critical time for Forest School to have a coherent voice and integrity if we are influence outwards. Part of my motivation for this standing at this time is that having experienced similar challenges in the playwork sector I’m aware of the impact that can be had.
- Your Forest School experience (and this is not necessarily a pre requisite but you will need to have some basic working knowledge of Forest School)
I have worked with children in the outdoors for over 15 years. The Forest School ethos has been one of the core strands of my work since 2004 and Forest School training and delivery has been the mainstay of my freelance business since 2009. Previous to this I was working for a Wildlife Trust setting up FS networks and delivering FS in a rural county. I also developed Forest School networks and delivery when I worked for Bradford Council and helped embed Forest School as a priority for children’s services. I have worked at a strategic level as well as delivering Forest School training at levels 1-3 and Forest School programmes for a wide range of children and young people.
- How you personally can benefit the FSA.
I have strong connections with a number of key organisations in the wider Forest School community. I have experience of working in a number of roles around Forest School and can empathise with the position of many practitioners in our community. I have experience of writing about FS in a number of contexts, such as blogs and magazine articles. I’m based in the North of England I have different networks that I can bring to the FSA.
One of my biggest challenges will be to make sure that I am able to deliver benefits to the FSA while maintaining my existing commitments.
- Please declare any special interests or affiliations with other organisations in the Forest School sector including commercial, public sector or voluntary.
I am a freelance trainer and practitioner trading as Kindling Play and Training – since 2009
I’m an associate trainer with Forest School Education – since 2009
I’m a member of the Forest School Trainers Network (FSTN) – since 2011
I’ve been a member of the FSA -since 2012
I’m a member of the IOL – since 2010 and became an Accredited Practitioner of the Institute of Outdoor Learning (APIOL) in 2013
