Angling 'to fight anti-social behaviour'

Angling 'to fight anti-social behaviour'

THOUSANDS of city-dwelling young people are to be encouraged to take up angling in the latest attempt to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The Scottish National Angling Programme (SNAP) hopes to attract 50,000 new anglers over the next ten years in the first sports development programme designed for fishing.

Organisers hope the initiative will boost the sport's flagging profile while giving teenagers a fresh perspective on life.

Ian Robertson, who has been hired as development manager by the Scottish Countryside Alliance Educational Trust, which is funding SNAP, believes it will help youngsters avoid abuse, anti-social behaviour and crime, as well as offering opportunities for personal and career development, skills acquisition and a healthy lifestyle.

Mr Robertson said: "Our aim is really about improving quality of life and engaging people with the countryside and all the benefits that come with that through angling.

"Rather than throwing trolleys into the canal, we'd like to get them to clean up the canal so they can use it for their sport."

good on them ,we could do with alot more of these projects everywere.it can only help.

We always concentrate on the negatives, we should be trying to get projects like theses & others (and there are lots) into the press as often as possible, also, how much money is made through charity matches/fish ins during the year, a "large cheque" pic a local paper leaves a good impression