The All-Party Parliamentary Angling Group, hosted by Martin Salter MP have received a presentation by Anne Moyle, Chief Executive of the Charitable Trust Get Hooked on Fishing who attended the APPG’s recent meeting to gain the support of the MPs and Lords for their rapidly expanding UK initiative.

Get Hooked on Fishing works with local communities and young people to improve anti social behaviour and educational prospects using the sport of angling at the centre of their programme. Last year they delivered angling training sessions to 2208 young people and can demonstrate an 80% reduction in truancy from school.

Invited to talk about the issues facing the charity Anne highlighted the funding problems facing many in the voluntary sector not helped by lack of support from some of the Regional Development Agencies.

On the angling front she called for greater cohesion and direction from the Angling Governing Bodies and the need for some angling clubs to become more junior and female friendly.

Speaking after the meeting, Martin Salter MP, Chair of the APPG said:

“I invited Anne to address the meeting to speak about the fantastic work that Get Hooked on Fishing does with young people at risk of social exclusion. The health and social benefits of angling have long been clear and I am sure that all the group members were inspired by the work that Anne and her colleagues do. It was also extremely useful to hear of the practical problems that Anne faces regarding accessing funding for angling projects. I will be pursuing this with government ministers.”