Wild Trout Trust.

Scotland's largest angling coaching organisation is expanding

Angling For Youth Development Trust are seeking more volunteers from the angling community to come forward and assist in their increasingly popular programme.

With over 90 coaches and instructors currently working within Scotland teaching all 3 disciplines of angling in schools and weekly sessions more and more young people are wishing to participate in the programme.

At present over 700 teenagers in Angus, West Lothian, Renfrew, North Lanarkshire, Orkney and Perthshire are benefitting from AFYD’s community based projects and moves are now in progress to expand AFYD’s work into East Dunbartonshire, South Lanarkshire, Govan, Dumfries & Galloway, South Renfrewshire, and (South of the border) Preston.

To help service this need AFYD are seeking experienced anglers to join their instructional teams as Instructors, Coaches, and coaching assistants.

Project Development Manager Grev Humphrey said

“We are hoping to build a team of 300 new Level 2 qualified coaches and Instructors throughout Scotland by the end of 2011. We are looking for anglers from all 3 disciplines to come together to help us introduce future generations of anglers to our sport”.

Whilst the emphasis is working with young people and teaching them the finer attributes of the sport, AFYD Instructors, Coaches, 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.

Jim Matthews, North Lanarkshire Project Leader, says “It takes about 6 months for an AFYD project to form and become operational, Our project launched in January and we are still looking to increase the number of volunteers getting involved and helping us . The more anglers who can help deliver the AFYD programme will mean that we can teach loads more young people to fish”.

AFYD projects engage people of all backgrounds and abilities within a community and helps break down the perceived social barriers between them.

Anyone interested in volunteering as an AFYD Instructor, Coach, or volunteer helper please visit the website at www.afyd.co.uk or contact Grev Humphrey at Blairgowrie Police Station Ericht Lane, Blairgowrie, PH10 6AL , telephone 01250 872222 .