Social inclusion is very much about making a difference and creating opportunity. Fishing is proving itself to be an effective means of helping people gain self-confidence though a very simple act achievement - catching a fish. Angling is regularly used to address social exclusion, in a variety of ways.
One of the big issues that Dreamstore has been reviewing over the past year has been the meaning of accessibility to everyone: considering accessibility in the very broadest of terms and starting with the barriers to access. The Dreamstore Academy addresses one barrier - creating coaches to provide someone to take you fishing. It is also clear from experience through the Academy and the Dreamstore Education Action Zone that having an appropriate place to fish is equally a barrier to angling.
The Social Inclusion Award 2006 goes to a project which has opened access fly/trout fishing in the very broadest sense. It has created an accessible fly fishery that is for everyone, young or old, learner or skilled, disabled or not. A family environment has been created, with all the necessary components that define an accessible fishery: good parking, toilets, a place to eat, well designed pegs, good location, and coaching programmes.
Go back to the 2006 Awards page