| Local Anglers' Helping Hands Sought
Anglers and assistants to join an instructional team for Highland Perthshire are currently being sought by Angling For Youth Development (AFYD).
Following a successful pilot project in East Perthshire plans are in place to roll out the AFYD programme in Highland Perthshire in the spring of next year. Working with local anglers and volunteer helpers, AFYD will deliver to youth organisations and Breadalbane Academy an academic angling and environmental programme that has been praised by P&K Council for its innovative learning style. It not only engages and hooks the youngsters receiving the training, but also the volunteers that help deliver it.
Widespread Growth
The project is led by Aberfeldy’s former Community Police Officer Grev Humphrey. It is now operates across six counties in Scotland with a number of new AFYD projects forming on both sides of the border next year.
Whilst the project emphasis is on working with young people, and teaching them the finer attributes of angling, AFYD instructors and assistants have the opportunity to progress their own skills and obtain their Level 2 Coaching and Instructors qualifications through their involvement in the programme.
Barrier Breaking
The project engages people of all backgrounds and abilities within a community and helps break down the perceived social barriers between both young and old. In East Perthshire, AFYD has received a great deal of support and help from many different people and the team now stands at 20 instructors and assistants.
Whilst most of the team is composed of anglers, 2 or 3 volunteers have been attracted who are happy generally to assist them, and they are learning to fish along with the youngsters.
The great virtue of a volunteer instructional team is its flexibility, for not only do the team members fish, but they have a wide range of other skills and expertise that can be tapped into and used to the benefit of the overall Programme.
Grev told Comment: “AFYD offers people from diverse backgrounds opportunities to participate in a truly community orientated programme. It involves people delivering angling and environmental training within their communities to young people and being able to offer them a chance of a qualification in something many people regard as just a “hobby”.
Qualification Offered
“The difference between an AFYD programme and any other sporting programme is that we can offer a recognised qualification that we have developed from scratch.”
Delighted with the energetic take-up of the project, Grev observed: “Having worked and lived in Highland Perthshire for many years it pleases me no end to be able to offer something to the community that can provide so many benefits for everyone who gets involved”.
In the modern world where child protection issues are daunting, many people shy away from getting involved in youth work as it is so complicated to get the approvals and insurances in place. Raising this issue with Grev he was swift to point out: “The beauty of AFYD is that all of this is taken care of. All AFYD needs are people to sign up and lend a hand.”
Anyone interested in volunteering to be an AFYD Instructor or Helper is warmly urged to contact Grev Humphrey at Blairgowrie Police Station Ericht Lane, Blairgowrie, PH10 6AL telephone 01250 872222 or e mail grev@afyd.co.uk
The picture above shows a group of AFYD trainers and youngsters in Kenmore
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