All Things Piscatorial

WEST SUSSEX FISHING ACADEMY WINS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE FOR WORK IN THE COMMUNITY
 

HOW FISHING WILL KEEP KIDS OFF THE STREETS

In a bid to keep kids and adults with any form of learning difficulties off the streets, West Sussex Angling Academy is trying to raise £2.5 million to set up further centres at Rye and Chichester.

Manager Graham Cridland said that the academy has already had success with children with learning difficulties.  A significant number will be suffering from some form of dyslexia.  Many already find it difficult to fit into school or have been excluded from normal lessons.

 

Of the 36 students attending one of the first courses – which are one day per week during the school year - 24 have passed Level I OCN.

Four have gone into the Armed Forces, eight have become car mechanics, four have gone into further education and four others have got well-paid jobs in local industry.

He pointed out: “One of our students was so bad that he couldn’t set foot in a classroom.  By Christmas, he wanted to be back in – and by the end of the year he was helping his mates with their homework.

 

“People ask why I should be giving trouble-makers a day out fishing each week.  By offering qualifications, I am improving their self-esteem.  The next stage is to offer Level II of OCN, which is equivalent to a GCSE pass at Grades A to C.

 

“I have also set up five-aside football and fishing teams.  The reason for this is that sport promotes team work, communications and fair play.

I also want older people to come along, especially ex-offenders.  The main reason why criminals re-offend is that they feel Society has nothing to offer them.

 

“Again by getting them real qualifications, the academy can help raise their esteem and get them back onto the straight and narrow,” Mr Cridland added. “Even though the current course has only been running for two weeks, there is already a visible difference in the students’ attitudes.”

 

Mr Cridland also states that the Academy helps to ease the burden of the tax-payer. After talking to a Crime Prevention Officer in Eastbourne, Mr Cridland was amazed to discover that for every young offender recruited; around £100,000 is saved in taxes. He calculates that if the academy recruits a minimum of 75 people a year, then £7.5 million can be saved.  With the academies in Rye and Chichester this would be a saving to the taxpayer would be £97.5 million.

 

After setting up the centres in Rye and Chichester, Mr Cridland hopes to expand further. By 2013, he hopes to establish two more academies in the centre of Sussex, thereby linking all the academies within a 12 mile radius. 

 

It’s not an easy task and Mr Cridland admits it would be useful to get outside support. He said: “We’ve tried applying for charity status and what would really help is patronage from an honourable or someone with a title.”

 

Currently, Mr Cridland has 30 students on his course, taken from five schools and two youth offending groups. There are still spaces available for 6 more students.

West Sussex Angling Academy was recently awarded the British Business Award of Excellence for work in the local community. 

 

The Academy was nominated for the award by Southern Counties Telegraph.  We would like to congratulate Graham and his team on winning the award.

 

Graham said “He and his team were absolutely stunned when we were told of the award.  Over the last 27yrs, I have coached young people to play rugby and since 2003 the art of fishing, I accept the award on behalf of all the students I have coached in the past, and those to come.  I would also like to thank all those who have help support the project, especially Steve Mugridge for the use of the facilities, tackle dealers Shakespeare, Pure Fishing, Leeda, Preston Innovation, Bennetts of Sheffield and Fladen.  None of this would have been possible without the support of the local schools, students and my team who help me with the coaching”.

 

Check out Graham's contact details - Click here