This will put the cat amongst the pigeons and I\'ll probably be shot down in flames, but here goes anyways.
Surely we should be supporting our sport, i.e. encouraging newcomers (especially youngsters) to the sport. This is the only way that the we can actively swell the ranks of anglers and continue to gather support against the anti\'s and any impending government legisation.
We are in a unique position to give something back to the sport which we all love. We have funds, tackle dealers as members and a wealth of expertise with regards to the actual fishing.
My suggestion is to take the Shore Fishing Comp funds which would normally go to the national pot (which appears to be a faceless, uncaring pile of wealth IMO) and put together fishing kits (ie rod, reel, tackle) which could then be distributed to residental care homes for children anywhere in the country (as Tony says by nominations from all members throughout the country)
It would work something like this:
1. We raise £? from the shore comp
2. Our friendly tackle shop members source decent rod, reel and tackle setups at cost (therefore more tackle to the £)
3. NESA members collectively put together a photocopied, stapled together, A5 sized basic instruction booklets containing tackle setup, knots, rigs, bait, SAFETY, tips etc etc
4. Nominations are put forward for residental care homes throughout the country by members.
5. The homes receive the tackle in time for Christmas (these kids get very little as it is) and hopefully a handful of NESA members give up 4-5 hours one day over the holidays to meet the children and care staff, and give them some basic instruction on casting, baiting up, and actual fishing.
6. End result, we (hopefully) actively encourage kids to take up the sport (keeping them off the streets due to boredom, which usually leads to crime), we (as anglers) receive some good press and publicity, the care homes may well join NESA (even if only to receive there 10% discount on tackle) and the tackle dealers benefit from the extra business (after all, they would have deserved it)
My wife used to work in care homes before becoming a family support worker for Social Services and all these kids need is something to keep them occupied, and somebody to show them that there is people who care enough about them to actually give them some time and attention.
The tackle would go directly to the homes, not the kids, so it couldn\'t be sold on for drink or drugs. The care home staff would supervise the outing, thereby eliminating the need for the anglers to be police checked before providing any tuition. These homes hold no more than 6 children on average, which would be an easily managed group which could feasibly receive one on one tuition from NESA members (depending on the location of the home). We would be able to provide tackle setups for several homes at once with the proceeds (say 6 sets to each home). Looks like a win/win to me.
Sorry if I\'ve went on a bit, but I feel that the money we raise could be put to a much better use than just sitting in a more than ample bank account to be used at the discretion of accountants who have probably got no interest in our sport at all.
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