Get Hooked on Fishing has been
running in Durham and Darlington since April 2000.
The project returned to The Angling &
Conservation Centre in May 2004 and is
delivering most of the programme on site.
Being on hand to advise and engage with
young anglers on a daily basis has allowed
Paul Steel to identify and enlist further
peer-led coaches thus increasing the capacity
of Get Hooked.
Most of the users of the facility are young
anglers, indeed during the summer holidays
some youngsters were attending daily. This
has given the scheme the opportunity to
engage with new people, improve their skills
and focus young people on useful recreation.
An Angling Academy for junior match anglers
is being delivered and co-ordinated by a peerled
coach and his father (a qualified coach).
They currently have 18 young members of the
academy. The project is self- funding.
Away from the site we partnered
Northumbrian Water and the Environment
Agency on two days during the holidays,
utilising NW reservoirs. A great deal was
learned by all concerned and a number of
smiling anglers had a most enjoyable time.
Residential schemes have been delivered for
Connexions. Our core work for local partners
continues to be in demand and delivery
exceeds that of previous years. From May
2004 to August 2004 183 young people from
County Durham and Darlington attended
formal GHOF courses held in Durham. This
represents a significant increase on previous
years, our provision is on course to double
by May 2005. A small satellite centre at
Firth Moor in Darlington will make more
places available for the South end of
our catchment.
GHOF is currently under review by
Positive Futures and the Countryside
Agency, investigating the viability of
the scheme being duplicated
across the country.
Locally, a Strategic Board now
has oversight of our work at
Wadsworth, with senior
representatives of Durham Agency
Against Crime, the Environment
Agency, the Countryside Agency,
Bishop Auckland Angling
Club and Get Hooked on
Fishing Trust involved. |
