Sport England invests in future for angling coaching

Jackie Sheldon, Senior Development Manager for the Angling Development Board has successfully bid for £40,000 from Sport England to develop the current Level 1 and 2 Angling Coaching qualifications. The funding will enable the development recognized coaching qualifications for the whole of the UK.

The ADB have been working in partnership with Scottish and Welsh angling governing bodies and sports coach UK to co-ordinate the development of coaching across the Home Nations. All angling governing bodies have now signed up to the new UK Coaching Framework and the UK Coaching Certificate. Consequently angling is now included within Sports Coach UK new re-categorisation of sport.

Since its formation last April the Angling Development Board has more than doubled the funding for the development of angling to nearly £400,000 over the next three years.  After setting up the ADB, sport England increased overall funding to £250,000, The Environment Agency has agreed to contribute £20,000 for the development program and Sport England have recently agreed to fund the appointment of a Regional Development Officer until 2010.

Already the ADB has been using this money to get results. Last week the organization announced the appointment of Darren Birch as Regional Implementation Officer for the North of England to work on the delivery of the club, coaching, volunteer, equity, child protection and education development through the angling network.  The ADB is already in talks with major partners to match fund post in other parts of the country.

Darren Birch is a regular angler and has a sound sports development background. Darren is currently the North West Regional Officer for the English Federation of Disability Sport and has also previously worked for Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust as Disability Sports Development Officer. This has involved developing effective partnerships with National Governing Bodies, County Sports Partnerships, Local Authorities and local voluntary clubs to increase participation in sport.

Jackie Sheldon stated that, “this is an important and exciting time for the development and recognition of angling. It will enable angling to develop the UK Coaching Certificate for the sport and ensure a consistent approach to coaching across the UK. Darren will be a great addition to the team and his extensive experience will enable the ADB to support angling at grass roots level”.

Matt Holt, Client Manager for Sport England commented, “Sport England is pleased to support the ADB in its development of UKCC for angling. This will help raise coaching standards within the sport. In addition we look forward to working in partnership with the ADB in the coming year to help achieve our objectives of increasing and sustaining participation, and creating excellence in community sport.”

David Moore, Chair of the ADB added, ‘’At a time when winning support for non-olympic sports has been under threat we are very encouraged to have such good backing from Sport England and its chief executive Jennie Price. One of the strengths of angling is the opportunities it offers everyone in society to be active and the availability of good quality coaches is vital to increasing participation.’’

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1. The Angling Development Board (ADB) is company limited by guarantee that was formed in April 2007 to protect and develop the interests of angling and recreational fisheries in the UK.

2. The ADB encompasses the work undertaken hitherto by the Joint Angling Development Board (JADB) to increase participation in angling, encourage licensed coaching and volunteering and the development of angling clubs. Its subscribing members are:-

• National Federation of Anglers (NFA)
• National Federation of Sea Anglers (NFSA)
• Salmon & Trout Association (S&TA)

3. Nationally there are over 4 million anglers spending at least £3.5BN per annum on angling and fisheries related issues, a huge contribution to the national economy which helps to sustain rural communities and supports tens of thousands of jobs.  Anglers directly contribute circa £20 million per annum towards environmental enhancement and fisheries management through rod licences sales in England and Wales.

4. The sport of angling is recognised by Sport England and the Government as offering key benefits to society through participation in a healthy outdoor activity.  It predominately funds the work of the ADB with some additional financial input from the Environment Agency in support of its Strategy for Angling 2015

5. Angling caters for every cross-section of the community irrespective of age, gender, race, physical ability, mental ability or social standing. Through pro-active coaching and development programmes we are helping to educate youngsters about the skills required in everyday life, as well as the current issues that affect our sport and how they can participate and contribute to the development of angling.

6. For further information, contact Jackie Sheldon on 0797 1677 638 Jackie.Sheldon@Anglingdevelopmentboard.org.uk