The end of the last 10 week course culminated in a fishing match on lake 4 at Bradshaw on 22nd July with the young people drawing for pegs, choosing which method of fishing and bait to use and setting up themselves. It was great to see how far they have progressed over the last 10 weeks. The match was won by Bill who decided to stick it out for the Carp and won with 5lb 10oz. He was very proud to receive his match winner’s trophy.

One young person is chosen from each group to receive a special award for behaviour and attendance. They were thrilled to receive their sets of fishing tackle with a value of £100 each.

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As part of the Big Lottery Funded Project ‘The Social and Community Benefits of Angling’ Substance Researcher Dr Natalie Djohari has been visiting GHOF projects across the country. Over the last three months she has been gaining a comprehensive picture of what GHOF has to offer. In particular Natalie has been focusing on two themes: GHOF’s work in the wider community (such as the development of the pond at Homestead Park in  Immingham, the Easington Colliery Welfare Angling Club Open Day, and community engagement at Charlton’s Pond, Billingham); and secondly, the variety of ways GHOF engage with young people (observing taster days, YOT teams, school ASDAN sessions, a national school match, and the achievement of a young person catching a trout on a fly they had tied themselves.)

Throughout it all she has been speaking to coordinators, teachers, parents, young people and the Peer Mentors to understand how and why GHOF has an impact on socially excluded young people.

“It is clear that GHOF delivers more than ‘just fishing’. In particular the peer mentor scheme offers the opportunity for taking a personal development approach to engaging with young people and is one of the best illustrations of how GHOF sessions can have a more sustained impact on young lives. There is a great deal to be learnt from the variety of ways in which GHOF coordinators deliver sessions and I am looking forward to being able to share some of my preliminary findings with the GHOF team in December.”
To follow some of Natalie’s visits over the coming year, visit her research blog http://www.anglingresearch.org.uk/index.php?q=blog/4

Peter Henery, the Get Hooked on Fishing Co-ordinator with Positive Futures, Liverpool, is going to be a ‘living statue’ in Trafalgar Square, on the 9th September, between 1.00 and 2.00 p.m.

We hope he will be happy on his plinth and that the weather will be kind.

He is hoping to say something about Get Hooked and, if you happen to be in the area that day, do go and give him some support.

This autumn will see the launch of the first GHOF scheme in Wales,  based in Flintshire, co-ordinated by the very successful local Neighbourhood Watch Association. 

Allan Ellis, their Youth and Environmental Development Officer, will become the new scheme co-ordinator.

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GHOF participated in a Fun Day for young people organised with Easington Colliery Welfare, Easington Colliery Angling Club, The Environment Agency, Angling Trust, Coastal Rangers, local angling shops, Groundwork and Easington Council.  The aim was to boost membership of Easington Sea Angling Club’s newly formed young people’s club and raise awareness of the 3 angling disciplines. Over 200 people attended and the day was judged a resounding success.

Over 70 VIP guests at a special event at Blundell Park, home of Grimsby Town Football Club saw first hand how the project is working to help young people and combat social exclusion and divert young people away from anti-social behaviour, truancy and youth crime. The North East Lincolnshire scheme was set up in 2007.

Get Hooked on Fishing is a nationally acclaimed programme and is the brainchild of Mick Watson, a Durham-based Policeman. Mr Watson addressed those at the event and praised the work of Shoreline and North East Lincolnshire Council, which fund the North East Lincs Project.

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