Ashington fishing charity hails foreign trip

Posted by Graeme Whitfield on Sep 4, 08 03:56 PM in News

Jamie Prime A charity which helps youngsters learn to fish has hailed its first trip abroad as a huge success.

The Get Hooked on Fishing organisation took three Ashington teenagers to Trondheim, in Norway, as part of its work with local communities to help create opportunities for young people.

The keen young anglers Jamie Prime, 18, Adam West, 15, Andrew Young, 15, all from Ashington and Jonathan Boulton, 18, from Bishop Auckland, were taught how to use GPS and fish-finding equipment and caught herring, whiting, haddock and cod during their three-day stay in July.

Darren McGlen, project coordinator at Get Hooked on Fishing, said: "This was a once in a lifetime experience for these young people and everything worked out better than could have been expected.

"We decided that we would travel abroad for some sea fishing of a different nature to our usual.

"We were accompanied by Tony Hall, a teacher at Ashington High School, and although it was our first international trip with young people, the excitement well outweighed any nervousness.

"Fishing is an excellent way of keeping young lads out of trouble and for the youngsters, their faces were telling the story of exactly what this trip meant to them."

Get Hooked on Fishing is a national charity that was founded in the North East in 2000 by Durham policeman, Mick Watson, who tried using the activity of angling to combat forms of social exclusion amongst young people.

Young fisherman, Adam West, said: "This was my first real holiday and to spend it fishing with the lads was excellent."

Fellow fisher, Jamie Prime, added: "This was my first ever time abroad and because it was fishing, which I love doing, it was amazing."

Originally delivered through Durham Agency against Crime and aimed at juveniles who were identified as being at risk of becoming offenders, similar youth fishing schemes have now been replicated around the country.

For more information on Get Hooked on Fishing, contact Darren McGlen on 07940251059, or visit www.ghof.org.uk

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