about us
OUR MISSION
The mission of TRIBE is to reconnect people with nature by teaching both traditional and modern bushcraft and outdoor living skills. By imparting this knowledge, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the importance of nature, empowering individuals to become better stewards of the environment. With our expertise, we aspire to reach and educate as many learners as possible, striving to become the UK's foremost provider of bushcraft education.
CORE VALUES
NATURE
With the world facing unprecedented threats to its very ecosystems, there has never been a more crucial time to understand its importance and learn how we can live in harmony with it.
At TRIBE we put Nature first and treat it with the utmost respect.
EXPERIENCE
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
At TRIBE we do not shy away from people wanting to know more or admitting they do not know. Everybody has to start from somewhere and TRIBE is the place where we will nurture interest and provide the tools and knowledge needed for people to achieve their best.
FUN
With technology on the rise, we need more innovative and ingenious ways to grab peoples attention and at TRIBE having fun is an essential part of what we do.
MEET THE TEAM
PETEr
SUTHERLAND
Director
& Chief Instructor
Having founded TRIBE in 2017, my vision is to share the knowledge of bushcraft and wilderness skills to anyone wanting to learn about how we can not only live, but how we can thrive in nature. In the process, people will naturally learn about the respect needed for us to enjoy nature as it is now and help protect it for future generations.
The reason I believe that this is of vital importance is that I see our planet suffering today from the direct impact humans have had on it in modern history. My goal is that through outdoor education we can make a difference to how we interact with nature and as a greater ‘life-goal’ I want to utilise these skills to help protect the rainforests of the world and I beleive outdoor education has a hugely important role to play.
Like many entrepreneurs, I found setting up a company to do what I am passionate about more of a challenge than I ever could have imagined (with COVID19 only adding to those challenges). But persistance is key, and in 2019 we not only found the perfect woodland home for TRIBE at Holmesfield Park Wood, but it has become the fastest growing Bushcraft centre in Derbyshire.
I have created and developed a company designed to let children and adults discover the joy and wonder of the great outdoors irrespective of their background. Having personally studied bushcraft for over 15 years through courses, self-study and most importantly, practice, I am now more passionate than ever about relaying my knowledge on to the next generation of young people and adults alike.
With my background in teaching and entertaining, my ambition is that through TRIBE, children and adults will gain a heightened appreciation for environmental protection, and will be driven to continue learning about the importance of nature.
ALISON BALL
Resource Manager
& Outdoor Learning Specialist
As someone who has been with TRIBE since the beginning, I am involved with all aspects, so you’ll find me facilitating learning on courses, running the catering, setting up exciting new activity areas, creating paths around the woodland, and back at the office doing recruitment, accounts, payroll, and reaching out to new TRIBE-people. I am both a First Aider and Mental Health First Aider, always available to support our staff and visitors.
A forever-outdoors person, I grew up spending many an afternoon, weekend, and holiday climbing trees and foraging for chestnuts and blackberries, only to go on to pursue a degree and masters in environment & sustainability. Over the past decade, I have been working for a variety of organisations developing and delivering environmental and outdoor education provision for schools and communities. I have experience of working, volunteering, and studying in state and private schools, and feel strongly that this sort of outdoor learning can compliment the education of those both within and outside of the school system. Combining this experience with conservation, ecology, and volunteering, as well as my developing love of bushcraft, I have come to the conclusion that I am happiest immersed in the natural world and supporting others to become comfortable and happy within it, where they can learn naturally from their surroundings.
I strongly believe in the power of authentic experiences within our world as a way of learning. Context, relevance, and interconnectivity is important and something that is integral to how we work at TRIBE.
Through TRIBE and facing a world where people spend less and less time outdoors, I hope to bring these nourishing outdoor experiences and the joy of being in nature to as many people as we are able to.
Josh
straw
Bushcraft Instructor /
Survival Specialist
Having left service as a Royal Marines Commando in 2018, I’m forever grateful for the opportunities of my 8 year career which all began by being fuelled by my passion for adventure in the great outdoors from a very young age. It was here where I spent most of my childhood in the woods – admiring being free, building shelters and cooking by fires.
Employed as a survival instructor in some of the harshest places on Earth, it was my responsibility to train elite military personnel from all over the world in unforgiving conditions. With a positive mindset at the forefront of my teaching, I have been able to see those I have taught thrive in the outdoors.
Upon leaving the military, I spend the majority of my time in the outdoors returning the favour it has given to me, by organising conservation efforts such as litter picking in order to preserve the wonderful outdoors for the future generation. I am a big believer that the majority of the world’s problems today stem from our disconnection with nature, and I will continue to do everything I can to promote our reconnection.
As an instructor at TRIBE, I take this as a great privilege and opportunity to be involved with like minded people who are pursuing this reconnection, and I hope that together we can learn and help our future generation rediscover the love we should all have for our wild places.
Jackie
Bruce
Bushcraft Instructor /
Forest School Lead
Jackie joins us at TRIBE following ~40 years working with children of all ages and adults in the outdoors.
As a qualified Forest School Practitioner she has run a woodland playgroup, led Wild Learning sessions, and has been a Youth Group Leader with Woodcraft Folk for 28 years, heavily involved with camps and activities .
Jackie has significant experience working with children and adults with learning difficulties and children that experience SEND such as autism, and those with behavioural challenges.
Besides her experience working with children & adults, Jackie has attended training on bushcraft, craft camps, foraging workshops, survival weekends and wild learning festivals.
Jackie feels most at home when she’s out in the woods engaging with nature and having fun.
In her role with TRIBE, Jackie is particularly focusing our offering for younger age ranges, including extending our schools provision to cover KS1, offering woodland birthday parties from age 4+, and running our Wild in the Woods holiday sessions for age 5+. In addition, Jackie instructs on our KS2+3 school days, adult courses, Home Ed and holiday courses, so you’ll see her popping up and sharing her skills and experience in lots of our activities.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
TRIBE is a Derbyshire based Social Enterprise that aims to reconnect people of all ages with nature, using bushcraft as an engaging tool to learn about the natural world, the many uses of it, and why we should protect it. Although we are a business, we operate for the benefit of people and the environment, and our work falls into several "Charitable Purposes" categories.
We are certified through Social Enterprise UK. To find out more, please get in touch.
SPECIAL MENTIONS
Making TRIBE successful has required the help and support of many people. We would like to make a special mention to a few of those people who have helped us in our journey.
Woodthorpe Hall (WH)
From the outset the support and kindness of Dick, Sue and Rosanna of WH has been wonderful. Their support for the TRIBE project resulted in an agreement between WH and TRIBE for TRIBE to use Holmesfield Park Wood as its home. We look forward to an ongoing and mutually fulfilling relationship, thank you.
Michael Hulton (The Princes Trust)
Most if not all successful entrepreneurs have all had great mentors. TRIBE would like to make a special mention to one of those great mentors Michael Hulton for supporting TRIBE throughout the challenging process of starting a new business.
The Princes Trust is a great organisation that has helped TRIBE become established. This includes the great generosity of all the volunteers at The Princes Trust that have aided the development of TRIBE thank you.
Jen & Dave Hughes
TRIBE would like to say thank you to Jen and Dave for helping with the back end processes that makes TRIBE work. When setting up a business there are always areas you need additional support with and Jen and Dave provided just that, thank you.
Bianca Blezard
In the early stages of developing TRIBE, Bianca helped to make the dream a reality. Without her support, we may not have made it this far, thank you.
QUALIFICATIONS & ACCREDITATIONS
Trademark
tribe
