Dear All,
The new school year has seen a shift in my working patterns; as the Fishing in the Community project I was working on with West Sussex County Council has come to an abrupt end.
Seeing the need to fill the gap, I have gone out and sought my own students from a range of places and am busier than ever! The stories are as bizzarre as ever but the job is just as rewarding.
I'm now coaching for 4 days per week with mainly boys with challenging behaviour, taken from a range of educational establishments in my local area. My intention is to formalise what I'm doing to seek a grant to set up independently. Things are looking good.
I'm currently training up an assistant coach, who is on extended leave/study leave/permanently or temporarily excluded leave from school! He's a fantastic angler, great communicator, keen, industrious; but doesn't fit into the "one size fits all state education system". As a result he has a fine grasp of the ineptitudes and inflexibility of the school system but can speak fluent Anglo Saxon! We make a good team.
We are still looking for sponsorship from tackle dealerships and from anyone who can help, including the local Police / Community wardens through the District Council.
I've been given tackle by the Gemini company making sea fishing rig tackle(many thanks!) and loads of verbal support from many bodies. Still looking for help from the big boys though! Any advice from you, the readership, would be much appreciated!!
Will keep you informed of progress, if any over the next few months.
Pip pip
Simon
