Environmental charity Thames21 is appealing for fishing enthusiasts to donate books about angling to help kick-start a reference library for young people learning to fish as part of the charity’s Tightlines project.

Thames21’s Tightlines launched in 2005 and enables young people in some of London’s most deprived areas to learn to fish with professional coaches.  All training and equipment is free ensuring that the project is open to all.

An angling reference library will mean that young people involved in Thames21 Tightlines can access books essential to building their knowledge about angling, wildlife and the environment.

Thames21’s Tightlines Coordinator Grant Fear said, “Thames21’s work on London’s canals brought us into contact with a lot of young people using the tow paths for the wrong reasons and making the area feel unsafe to the public. 

“Our response to this was to set up an innovative angling programme in the summer holidays to give young people something to do, build their skills and generate positive behaviour on the canals.”

Thames21 Tightlines has gone from strength-to-strength and is now mentoring some young people who now help to organise and run events, giving them a sense of responsibility and ownership over the project and the canal environment.

Any individual or organisation interested in donating books should send them to: Thames21 Tightlines Book Appeal, Thames21, Walbrook Wharf, Upper Thames Street, London, EC4R 3TD. 

·         Thames21 is an environmental charity working with communities to improve and maintain London’s rivers and canals. Its mission is to create clean, safe and sustainable waterside environments for all.

·         Thames21 Tightlines is funded by the Environment Agency