A pioneering project – Angling Action – kicks off in Reading this month in a bid to encourage more people to take up the hobby and steer some youngsters away from anti social behaviour.
The scheme is a partnership between Reading Borough Council, the Environment Agency and Nacro, the leading crime reduction charity in England and Wales who will be leading on the management of the project. It has been boosted by a £ 10,000 donation from local businessman Joe Hemani of Westcoast Ltd, and has also received £ 15,000 from the Environment Agency.
The project launch will include presentations by Mick Watson, organizer of the highly successful ‘Get Hooked on Fishing’ Project in Co. Durham which has achieved remarkable success in diverting young people away from crime and anti-social behaviour. Also speaking will be Dr. Alan Butterworth Fisheries Development Manager of the E.A, Les Webber of Junior Coarse Angling UK which has successfully put angling on the curriculum of a number of schools and representatives from NACRO, the National Federation of Anglers and the British Disabled Anglers Association.
Local angling clubs are also playing an active role in the initiative which will see a full-time angling development officer appointed to promote the sport and attract more money into the scheme. It is planned to have the project up and running by November.
Organisers will be targeting schools, clubs and communities to showcase angling as a sport that can be enjoyed by all sections of the community. It can also increase people’s understanding of conservation, ecology, wildlife, sustainability and provide a healthy way to relax. A programme of regular events will give people chance to try their hand.
As part of National Fishing Week (August 22nd-28th) the project is planning to organize taster sessions for youngsters from the Reading area attending summer holiday playschemes to introduce them to angling.
The project also intends to make angling more accessible for people from all walks of life, providing quality, structured coaching and a workshop programme for vulnerable groups.
The scheme will put together a regular programme of angling activities and work to improve angling facilities across the borough. It will aim to use angling as a diversionary tool to help cut crime and anti social behaviour in Reading hotspots and will also use angling as a way of improving the physical and mental health of young people and volunteers. Figures show that more people in England and Wales go fishing than take part in any other sport, and sport has been seen as a successful tool in tackling issues like social inclusion, regeneration, crime reduction, employment, education and health.
Angling initiatives have been carried out in the borough in the past and these have proved to be a big hit. Family Fishing Days were set up last year with the Environment Agency and other partners and were so successful that this year two separate events have been arranged on a much bigger scale. Last year the Rotary Club funded some after school events for children in Whitley and, of the sports offered, angling was the most popular.
For the last five years, Reading West MP Martin Salter has arranged a day of angling for around 15 children with special needs.
Reading and District Angling Association hold a series of angling sessions for children every summer and this year they will be using Longwater Lake in Green Park for four sessions over the summer holidays. And Reading Fishing Club has a junior section with around 100 members, some representing their club at local and national level. They were winners of the National Championships at junior and intermediate level last year, competing against teams across the UK
The Environment Agency also plays a major role in promoting angling across the local community. It uses rod licence fees and Government investment to increase the number of viable locations for angling as well as working to protect and improve the quantity, health and range of fish found in them.
The Environment Agency donated £ 15,000 towards the Reading project last year, and a further £ 12,000 this year. Their Fisheries Development Manager Dr Alan Butterworth, said: “Angling continues to be one of the most popular and accessible sports, and has a remarkable record of steering young people away from a life of drugs and crime. We are very keen to be involved with projects such as this which introduces more people to this wonderful life-long activity.”
Martin Salter MP, a keen angler for more than 40 years, said: “In my capacity as Parliamentary Spokesman for Angling I have seen first hand how successful angling projects have been in diverting young people away from criminality and anti social behaviour. I am particularly pleased that with the support of the Environment Agency and the generous sponsorship from Westcoast, we are about to see a similar scheme launched here in Reading.”
