Staffordshire Youth Anglers
Staffordshire Youth Anglers was set up to give young people access to the sport of fishing. The club teaches members how to fish and provides them with the chance to enjoy the sport safely and with other young people. The club offers a complete coaching programme throughout the year and subsidises all costs by fundraising so everyone can join in.
In 2010 the club saw membership levels increase by 50% and they have ambitions to grow even more! A recent free try-it session has seen the club flooded with keen anglers. They have also started working with local schools and have developed a wildlife pond so that parents with young children and those with disabilities can also enjoy a waterside environment locally and an introduction to a new sport.
In order to keep pace with the growing demand for youth membership, and to help schools in the area, the clubs is in desperate need of more qualified coaching staff. The £1,000 Cash 4 Clubs grant will allow them cover the cost of coaching qualifications which will allow them to safely expand membership and provide more opportunities to young people in the community. The grant will also directly benefit current members by offering four of them the chance to gain an angling qualification and play a more leading role within the group.
Carol Parkes, coach, said: 'To keep up with the demand for lessons we desperately need more coaching staff. The Cash 4 Clubs grant will let us put three volunteers on to the Level One coaching course, and another on to the Level two course. This is great news and will hopefully mean we never have to turn anyone away due to a lack of skilled coaches.'
Take a look at www.staffordshireyouthanglers.com for more information.
