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Vranch House School Charity Challenge Fishing Matches

Submitted by Mandi on July 10, 2009 - 11:21am





Vranch House School
For children with cererbral palsy & all children with physical difficulties

Fly Fishing Charity Challenges
Over £180,000 has been raised since1992.

Pairs of anglers are invited to enter the Fly Fishing Charity Challenges to raise funds for children with cerebral palsy & other physical difficulties at Vranch House School & Centre, Exeter.
Heats and semi finals take place from April to September at Bellbrook Valley, Kennick, Stithians, Tavistock, Temple and Tree Meadow.
The prize bag is £3,000. Prizes include lines, leaders, day tickets, hooks and fly tying materials. Entry is free provided the minimum sponsorship of £20 per person is raised.
Anglers who wish to enter please contact the fisheries or Sue Gould, Marketing Manager of Vranch House: Tel Exeter 01392 873543.

Contacts for fisheries:

Stithians    Redruth   
01209 821431
Kennick    Bovey Tracey
01626 206027
Bellbrook Valley    Tiverton
01398 351292
Temple    Bodmin
01208 821730
Tree Meadow    Hayle
01736 850899
Tavistock Trout    Tavistock
01822 615441

The Wheelyboat Trust

Submitted by Mandi on July 10, 2009 - 10:32am

 

 

 

The Wheelyboat Trust is a small national charity dedicated to providing disabled people with hassle-free access to waterborne activities such as angling, pleasure boating and nature watching.  Formed in 1985 as The Handicapped Anglers Trust, it has so far supplied 125 specially designed wheelchair accessible Wheelyboats to fisheries, water parks and other venues open to the public all over the UK.

The Trust’s principal role is to promote and provide Wheelyboats to fisheries and other venues enabling them to accommodate the needs of their disabled visitors.  We can help these venues acquire their own Wheelyboat by fundraising to discount its cost.

The features that make Wheelyboats ideal for angling also make them ideal for pleasure boating and nature watching and, consequently, the Trust is keen to meet the demand for Wheelyboats wherever it exists.  Nowadays, 50% of the Wheelyboats we supply are used for activities other than fishing and as a consequence we are making a bigger impact and benefiting larger numbers of disabled people.

The Trust’s most versatile Wheelyboat to date is the Mk III.  Its design is very straightforward and has many of the features found in its two predecessors, the most notable being the hinged bow which lowers to form a ramp.  Its shallow draught means it can be driven ashore for boarding and disembarking directly from the bank or a slipway.  The flat deck ensures its disabled users can reach all corners of the boat enabling them to helm the boat independently without having to rely on help from others.  In standard boats, wheelchair users need lifting in and out and once on board are completely reliant on a boat partner.  In a Wheelyboat, however, disabled people can do everything for themselves and are thus provided with a measure of dignity and independence not available from other craft.  
Darren Bragg, disabled angler,with a fine Pike caught from a Wheelyboat.
The Trust supplies three models at present with more on the drawing board.  We are developing a portfolio of craft suited to different activities.  Our latest models are two specialist angling boats developed in conjunction with JM Coulam Boatbuilders.  The Coulam 15 Wheelyboat is a purpose-built river fishing boat and was designed for large game rivers like the Tweed.  The Coulam 16 Wheelyboat is a larger version of the 15 and is ideal for fishing on large stillwaters where the handling, looks and performance of the standard fishing boat it is based on are important to its disabled users.  This model won the CLA Game Fair’s Most Innovative Product Award.

The South West is the busiest region in the UK for the Trust and new Wheelyboats are being launched all the time.  For the latest list of venues and for more information on the work of the Trust, visit the website or contact the Director.  The Wheelyboat Trust is a registered charity and relies upon the generosity of charitable organisations, companies and individuals to enable it to continue providing this important service on behalf of disabled people.  Donations can be made via the Trust’s website:
www.wheelyboats.org

Wheelyboats are hired like any other angling boat except that venues tend to prefer at least 24 hours notice for a booking.
THE WHEELYBOAT TRUST
Reg charity 292216

Andy Beadsley, Director
North Lodge, Burton Park, Petworth, West Sussex, GU28 0JT,
Tel/fax: 01798 342222,
e-mail [email protected]
www.wheelyboats.org

Rex Harpham, SW Regional Coordinator
22 Chollacott Close, Whitchurch Road, Tavistock, PL19 9BW
Tel: 01822 615953

Wheelyboat venues in the region...
Avon
Blagdon Lake, Blagdon 01275 332339        Trout fishing    www.bristol-water.co.uk
Chew Valley Lake, Chew Magna 01275 332339    Trout fishing    www.bristol-water.co.uk
Cornwall
Siblyback Reservoir, Liskeard 01209 860301        Trout fishing, nature watching    www.swlakestrust.org.uk
Stithians Reservoir, Redruth 01209 860301        Trout fishing, nature watching    www.swlakestrust.org.uk
Devon
Roadford Lake, Okehampton    01409 211507    Trout fishing, nature watching    www.swlakestrust.org.uk
Wistlandpound Reservoir, Barnstaple 01598 763221    Trout fishing, nature watching    www.swlakestrust.org.uk
Dorset
River Frome, Wareham 01929 550688    Coarse fishing, pleasure boating        www.warehamboathire.co.uk
Gloucs
Bushyleaze Trout Fishery, Lechlade 01367 253266    Trout fishing    www.lechladetrout.co.uk
Somerset
Clatworthy Reservoir, Taunton 01984 624658        Trout fishing    www.wessexwater.co.uk
Sutton Bingham Reservoir, Yeovil 01935 872389    Trout fishing, nature watching    www.wessexwater.co.uk
Wimbleball Reservoir, Brompton Regis 01398 371372    Trout fishing, nature watching    www.swlakestrust.org.uk

South West - Fishing For Life

Submitted by Mandi on May 29, 2009 - 11:46am

South West Fishing For Life was started early in 2008 by Gillian Payne as a non profit organisation to help anyone suffering from, or recovering from, breast cancer. Fly fishing has been found to be very beneficial to anyone with breast cancer as it tones muscles and talking to other people in the same situation always helps. Tuition and tackle is provided to allow a mornings fishing, with lunch and is FREE, usually at Wimbleball Lake on Exmoor.

South West Lakes Trust have been extremely supportive in allowing us to use their facilities for which we are grateful. Other venues are sometimes used and during non fishing months we still meet for fly dressing, socials, talks and other activates of interest. After lunch participants are encouraged to fish independently, with friends or if tired are free to return home. Events are usually the first Sunday of the month but please phone or e-mail for details. All instructors are professional and hold suitable qualifications and insurance.

The lead instructor is Sally Pizzi who also trains instructors so you can be assured that coaching is of the highest level. South West Fishing For Life not only aims to provide fishing for participants but also would like to see other venues set up their own organisation in other areas.

For enquiries please contact: Gillian 01398 371244  Email: [email protected] or Patrick, 01398 323409 Email: [email protected]

www.southwestfishingforlife.org.uk

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