Eight young people from across Caerphilly county borough have successfully completed a course in angling, which has been instrumental in occupying their spare time and preventing possible anti-social behaviour.
Caerphilly County Borough Council Youth Service’s The Hub Team have been working with the young people on the ‘Inclusion through Angling’ scheme. The young people who took part in the scheme have in the past been involved in committing anti-social behaviour.
The eight youngsters successfully completed their National Open College Network (NOCN) Introduction to Angling and the Environment certificate, and were presented with their awards at a special ceremony recently.
Cllr Lyn Ackerman, cabinet member for the environment said, “This initiative was an excellent means of engaging with young people and providing them with alternative activities to take part in, as well as encouraging them to learn valuable skills and discouraging them from taking part in anti-social behaviour”.
The thirteen-week course run at Cefn Mably Lakes near Rudry was split into two parts – firstly in the mornings, the participants took part in lessons in English, maths and science using the theme of angling, before putting into practice what they learned on the lakes in the afternoons.
Several of the participants have in the past become disengaged with education; this initiative therefore gave them the opportunity to continue to learn vital skills in English, maths and scheme in a way that interested and motivated them.
The scheme was funded by the Safer Caerphilly Community Safety Partnership. One of the partnership’s key priorities is to work to reduce levels of anti-social behaviour in Caerphilly county borough.
Cllr Phil Bevan, cabinet member for education and leisure said, “Our team of Youth Workers have worked with these eight youngsters throughout the duration of this project to emphasise to them that their previous behaviour was not acceptable and was having a serious adverse effect on their local communities.
The project also allowed the young people to ‘turn over a new leaf’ and change their behaviour for the better, by engaging them in alternative activities, which also allowed them to gain new useful skills which will stay with them as they progress through their adult lives.”
One of the scheme’s participants said, “I have really enjoyed the whole course and have learned so much, not just about English and maths but also about the environment and wildlife – I would definitely recommend it to anyone.”
The ‘Inclusion through Angling’ scheme was set up in 2007 by Luke Richards, who combined his career with his love for angling to create a fishing school to help youngsters improve their skills in English, maths and science while working to achieve recognised qualifications by learning in the great outdoors.
For further information, please visit the Inclusion through angling website at http://www.inclusionthroughangling.co.uk/
