Staffordshire Youth Group Leader Reels in Funding for Angling

Bradley Parkes, 19 from Stafford, is a student at Harper Adams University and is Chairman of Staffordshire Youth Anglers.

After attending a fishing session run by Staffordshire Wildlife Trust, Bradley was inspired to set up his own club. He successfully approached Carney Pools to base the youth angling group from their fishery, which quickly gained momentum. They developed a name for the group, designed a logo and devised a set of group guidelines. The local MP at the time, David Kidney, also backed the group.

Bradley applied for youth bank funding to cover sessional coaching costs, peg fees and the first equipment and, together with 5 donated float rods the group started to operate on Saturday mornings.

Bradley has applied to various organisations for funding and now has equipment to keep the web site up to date, record catches on film or on photographs and has been able to increase the amount of angling equipment the group can offer its members.

Bradley explains how he has promoted the club and his sport: "We started with 12 members and we now have 35 who attend regularly. We have held three open days, each offering free Try It Sessions to young people, which helped us gain 7 new members.

"As a voluntary club we don’t charge membership fees, and ask only a 50% contribution of £2.00 towards the peg fees. The Open Days are vital for raising club funds to see us through the year and I issue press releases and put up posters locally to bring in as many visitors as possible."

Bradley has visited schools to talk to Duke of Edinburgh candidates about angling and he has also been involved in a number of promotional events representing Staffs Youth Anglers.

He has established a wildlife pond at Carney Pools with a pathway suitable for disabled users and people with pushchairs. This has been particularly successful in promoting angling to those with disabilities who would not normally have any access to the sport.

Bradley's passion for the sport is never ending. He adds: "I am working with two high schools (one in Rugeley and one in Stafford) to provide an 8-week programme of after school angling sessions for 15 young people per school.

"During the last 2 years I have encouraged contact between our club and other angling groups and we have fished a number of matches against a local Stoke on Trent angling group.

"On a personal level I enjoy all aspects of the sport. I have been fishing since the age of 12 and have been to lots of different venues. If I was to win this competition, the £2,000 worth of angling equipment would be a really vital to help with the growth of our club, and it would be such good news to all the current members too as sometimes there is not enough kit to go round."

If you go to the equal lengths to promote angling and want to enter the competition, email gofishingshow@connect-group.com with a brief description of why you should be considered before 2 July.