02.08.2007

Free angling coaching gets London fishing

Young people across London will have the chance to have a go at angling at free taster sessions run by waterways charity Thames21 throughout August.

As part of Thames21's Angling Development Project, the charity is organising fishing events across London in Camden, Hackney, Greenwich, Southwark and Westminster.

All sessions are free with equipment and bait provided. Each participant will receive 30 minutes of coaching by a Level 2 First for Sport angling coach and there is no need to book.

The coaching has a particular focus on young people and the sessions developed as a way to engage young people living in inner city London with their local waterways.

Thames21's Angling Development Coordinator Grant Fear said, "There are a lot of young people living in built up urban areas interested in learning to angle but they don't know where to start. These sessions are free and to take part you don't need any special equipment or clothing.

"Many young people are bored and frustrated, and angling helps to prevent anti-social behaviour around the waterways because we capture their interest in this environment and turn it into something much more positive."

Thames21's Angling Development Programme aims to instill a commitment to the aquatic environment in young anglers and uses angling to promote a better understanding of the problems affecting the environment and wildlife, and what we can do to help.

Grant added, "The young anglers we work with today are some of the waterway guardians of tomorrow, and we need to do everything we can to encourage that."

For those who decide they want more than a taster session, Thames21 will link participants up with local angling clubs.  Thames21 will also direct young people to its new community angling club in North West London called the Ladbroke Rovers Angling Club.  Membership fees are affordable and it looks set to become a fantastic angling resource for inner London.

All events are free.  Professional coaching, equipment and bait provided, contact Grant Fear: 07974 937 151 for more information. 

For full event listings visit: www.thames21.org.uk/events.htm (opens in a new window).

Media enquiries - Leigh McAlea at Thames21 020 7213 0166 / 07875 250 284

Notes to Editors:

• Thames21 London Angling Development Programme began as a pilot project in West London in 2003 with the aim of getting young people interested in angling and caring for the waterways.  Today, Thames21 runs many free angling taster sessions across London targeting deprived urban areas and works with angling clubs, community groups, local residents, British Waterways, the Environment Agency and other stakeholders to get London fishing.
• The Ladbroke Rovers Angling Club (LRAC) is a membership club.  Annual membership costs are: Full membership £15; Pensioners over 65 £10; Disabled £10; Juniors £5; Day tickets £4
• British Waterways have part funded the set up costs of the LRAC by giving the club the fishing rights for free to the canal between Scrubs Lane and Ladbroke Grover for one year.