Terry Fell, the President of the National Federation of Anglers today launched a new scheme called ‘Promoting Positive Images’. The NFA will pay for 16 anglers with disabilities to be trained as fully licensed Angling coaches utilizing money from the Ron Shirley Fund.
The aim of the scheme will be to create positive images of disabled people as coaches and leaders within the community. It will also enhance and promote the therapeutic value of coaching by providing access to meaningful work that disabled anglers enjoy.
The final details of this course are as yet to be decided, but the basic cost of the course will be free to disabled anglers.
In order to be eligible for the coaching course potential coaches will need to meet certain criteria to qualify. Potential participants will need to be claiming disability living allowance and willing to make themselves available to work during the week for schools, local authorities and other government organisations. However the most important requirement is the desire and dedication needed to become a qualified Angling coach.
There will be two places allocated for each NFA region and the course will be run at Holme Pierrepont mid week with dates to be confirmed. To be considered for the course, please contact your Regional Officer for the Disabled.
Terry Fell stated that “We all know that Angling is the most equitable of sports and unlike most other sports anglers with disabilities are perfectly able to coach able bodied people. We would hope that these coaches would then make themselves available to work with schools and local authorities in angling education”
Paul Cartwright Regional Officer for the Disabled in the North East concurred when he said that “This is not just good news for disabled anglers, this is good news for angling. This is a great opportunity to demonstrate what angling can do and what people with disabilities can do.”
