We are entering the final period of the Social and Community Benefits of Angling research project. The project runs for 3 year and has been collecting vital evidence about the benefits of angling for participants, young people and local communities. It is funded by the Big Lottery and run by Substance, a research cooperative. www.anglingresearch.org.uk

July saw the launch of the first Get Hooked On Fishing (GHOF) project in Wales. The GHOF Flintshire project is being delivered by Allan Ellis as part of the Flintshire Neighbourhood Watch Association (FNWA) ‘Y Factor’ Youth Engagement Scheme.

What does angling participation mean to someone with a physical or mental health impairment?

CAST project in Nottingham is part of the Future Newstead community group that has just been chosen to take part in Village SOS. They competed with communities across the UK to gain funds to transform an old spoil heap created by the former colliery into a sustainable, eco-sensitive Country Park that will improve local quality of life. Central to the plans will be the development of a fishing venue and education centre.

Today's young anglers will grow up to be the key consumers of tomorrow, so how is the tackle industry investing in young people’s angling engagement?

In August, I visited a project working in Cumbria, Dumfries and Galloway and across the Scottish Borders. Chris Bowman and Clive Mitchelhill have been delivering fishing experiences for young people in the area for the last 12 years, and in 2005 went on to set up Borderlines as a not for profit company.  

By way of immersion, I spent the weekend of 18th and 19th of July at the Go Fishing Show at Cudmode Fisheries. It offered me the opportunity to spend time with the GHOF team providing 20 minute coaching sessions to young people, but also to meet many more people involved in angling and find out about coarse fishing (something I was completely new to).