Flintshire Neighbourhood Watch Association’s initiative ‘Get Hooked on Fishing’ swam with the big fishes for the National Get Hooked on Fishing Championship 2011. The competition, taking place fo the first time this year at Glebe Fisheries in Leicester on 1st and 2nd of September, saw 12 projects come together and have their peer mentors match off for the trophy.
The first day of the competition gave all ‘Get Hooked on Fishing’ members an opportunity to have practice sessions with their coaches to perfect their technique.
The matches took place the following day, and saw ‘Get Hooked on Fishing’ Flintshire finishing 17th out of a total 57.
Image 2But the guys from the Flintshire & Wrexham project, led by Allan Ellis, Youth & Environment Development officer at Flintshire Neighbourhood Watch, did not go home empty-handed, with Alex Evans, one of our junior coach, making the winners' list.
Alex was awarded the prize of Best Peer Mentor. Volunteer Alex, pictured left, said:
“That was an amazing two days. Thanks to everyone who taught me new knots and locks and a special thank you to Allan Ellis for helping me all the way. I’ve enjoyed the Get Hooked on Fishing project and I plan to continue taking part in the initiative and keep learning about the sport.”
Alex's mentor Allan Ellis, who is also the project co-ordinator, commented:
“It was great to see Alex win the trophy. He’s worked really hard all season and definitely deserves it. It was a great mixed team and it gives all members something to work at for next year.
After a very positive reaction by all participants, there will now be a National competition once a year.
If you are interested in becoming a member of ‘Get Hooked on Fishing’ or volunteer for the initiative, contact the Flintshire & Wrexham project co-ordinator, Allan Ellis at Flintshire Neighbourhood Watch Association on allan.ellis2@fnwa.org.uk or call 01352 708118. You can also visit our official website at www.fnwa.org.uk.
showed its support for Get Hooked on Fishing Wales by handing out a check worth £100 to Allan Ellis, Get Hooked on Fishing coordinator, at the company's North-East Wales power plant in Connah's Quay.
Allan met up with Tracy Hill, Operational Excellence Team Manager, John Pacey, Plant Manager, and Gary Wilkes, Site Manager, who is also a volunteer coach for Get Hooked on Fishing Wales.
Our -Factor Media volunteer Laura Taylor was also present to capture the moment. Read Laura's press release here.
The ‘Get Hooked on Fishing’ programme delivers fun and interactive training around the sport of angling.
It is designed to engage with local communities, particularly those who have high level of economic or social deprivation and to involve them in the activities undertaken.
To coincide with the beginning of the Get Hooked on Fishing Week, the UK-wide website of the project was revamped, and launched on 1st June 2011. Follow this link to discover its new look.
GHoFF & Fnwa's Youth & Environment Development officer Allan Ellis joined others from the UK for the GHoF Conference in Manchester. Click here for the group photo.
There was also some feedback from happy customers.
Rob Kirman B.Sc., Superintendent of the Eastern Division at North-Wales Police, visited Get Hooked on Fishing Flintshire. Find out what he had to say about the project here.
GHoFF held its first competition on Tuesday the 31th August 2010.
The aim was to catch the most fish during the day's session. The young people put into practice what they had learned since participating in the project.
From a total of 14 attendants, the winner was Shane Geary, aged 13 (pictured), who had the biggest catch of the day with a total of 4lb5oz worth of fish.
Close behind was Jamie Griffiths with 4lb, while in joint third, both Bradley Butler and Sara Ellis managed a 2lb2oz haul each.
There will be another 3 or 4 additional competitions, at the end of which points acquired during each session will be added up, and the overall winner will receive a prize.
Get Hooked on Fishing Flintshire have been running a couple of sessions already.
The first one took place on Friday the 13th of August. Let's hope it will be a good sign for the rest of the project. The following session took place on Tuesday 17th.
Around 20 young people attended over the two days. They were from 9 up to 19 years of age and from different areas of Flintshire. One of the youngest ones said he loved the fishing and believed himself to be an expert at it! A member of the public, from Greenfield, along with his son who came to participate in the fishing session as a coach, said he was very happy with what he saw, finding the event very well organised and the coaching good. The equipment and pond looked the part. He also noticed how well behaved the young people were and how well they listened to the advice given, putting in to practice what was taught.
Another person, whose sons participated in the sessions, declared:
I would like to say a very big thank you to Alan and his team for showing such willingness to help my two boys learn about fishing. Travis and Bradley attend every week and are having a "brill time" as put by themselves. This scheme has gone above and beyond to help the kids enjoy themselves everytime, so again an extra big thank you and a pat on the back for all you do, may the scheme grow in the coming years and help many more youngsters. Myself and my partner are always here to give a helping hand xxxxxx.
Peer mentors are themselves fishing enthusiasts, and are learning along with the young people.
So this has been a promising start. Well done everyone, and we are looking forward to the next sessions.
Get Hooked on Fishing Flintshire (GHoFF) Gets Noticed
Dr Natalie Djohari, of Substance, wrote for Angling Research on the Get Hooked on Fishing project in Flintshire, in an article entitled "Brokering relationships between young people and the community: the GHoF Flintshire launch":
The future of the project will depend however on how well supported they are by the local community, schools, policing and youth agencies that stand to benefit from GHOF's particular brand of angling engagement.
So support the project, because it is not just the Youth that will benefit, but also the rest of the community.
July 13th 2010 was the launch date for GHoF’s new scheme in Wales – hoped to be the first of many. GHoF Flintshire is an initiative of Flintshire Neighbourhood Watch Association (FNWA).
A grant from the Environment Agency, Wales, has helped with the set-up costs. Redrow Homes provided the venue.
It culminated with a fishing event to mark the occasion, with local youngsters from Ewloe, joined by GHoF ‘veterans’ from GHoF Liverpool.
Lady Janet Jones JP DL, the High Sheriff of Clwyd, declared GHoF Flintshire officially opened by cutting a ‘fish ribbon’ at the ponds.
The project is benefiting from support from Get Hooked on Fishing and excellent links have already been established with GHoF Liverpool, itself part of North Liverpool Positive Futures.
Flintshire's co-ordinator, Allan Ellis, a keen fisherman and existing employee of FNWA, is delivering the scheme as part of the Association’s ‘-Factor’ Youth Engagement Programme. The GHoF activities enables local young people to grow in confidence, teach each other good fishing and conservation practices and enjoy themselves.
Get Hooked on Fishing uses the buzz of catching fish to engage young people in positive activities and encourage peer mentors to teach others about good fishing practices.
Watch GHoF in action.
Here, peer mentors from the Get Hooked on Fishing (GHoF) Liverpool scheme interview staff and young people to find out how GHoF got started and what they enjoy about fishing. This video also features young people explaining good and bad angling practice.
More Get Hooked on Fishing Flintshire videos to come...
Get Hooked on Fishing is developing projects all around the UK, with many more videos available. We can't show you all of them, as the number is expecting to grow, but you can have a look here as more are expected to be uploaded to YouTube.
If you would like to find out more about the new scheme, become a volunteer or simply take part then please get in touch with Allan by email – allan.ellis2@fnwa.org.uk - or telephone - 01352 708118 / Mobile 07515051193.
SUPPORTS GET HOOKED ON FISHING
“That was an amazing two days. Thanks to everyone who taught me new knots and locks and a special thank you to Allan Ellis for helping me all the way. I’ve enjoyed the Get Hooked on Fishing project and I plan to continue taking part in the initiative and keep learning about the sport.”
showed its support for Get Hooked on Fishing Wales by handing out a check worth £100 to Allan Ellis, Get Hooked on Fishing coordinator, at the company's North-East Wales power plant in Connah's Quay.
-Factor Media volunteer Laura Taylor was also present to capture the moment. Read Laura's press release 
