A £10,000 grant from the Environment Agency is helping children with learning and behavioural difficulties in West Yorkshire.
 
The grant awarded to Gareth Gaunt, of Sicklinghall Farm near Wetherby will support his projects with schools from across the Leeds area. Gareth works with small groups of children who are at risk of being excluded from school.
 
The money has been used to build three fishing ponds on his farm, buy fishing tackle, platforms and several types of fish.
 
Gareth has fully-equipped teaching workshops on the farm, from which he runs a number of courses including wood working, tractor mechanics, horticulture, cookery and art and media. 

Children who visit, work towards an official ‘Fishing and the Environment’ examination, giving them an opportunity to gain a nationally recognised qualification.
 
John Shannon, Environment Agency fisheries and recreation team leader said: “We are delighted to be able to support Gareth’s work. This is a great course that gives children who are having problems at school a chance to do something positive and work towards a qualification which they can use to get a job in the future.
 
“It also allows children from inner cities to experience the work of the countryside at first hand and hopefully encourage them to respect their surroundings and the importance of the local environment.”