Lakeside Project

The Lakeside Fishing project is a partnership set up between The Friends of Lakeside, Gwent Police, Youth Offending Team (YOT) and Nantyglo Communities First. In May 2008, a taster-fishing project was held on Waun pond for young people, volunteers and the Police with the aim of tackling anti-social behaviour or perceived anti-social behaviour through engagement with young people. In July and August, fishing workshops were held (weather permitting!!), attracting both male and female young people aged between 13 and 25 years, including young offenders and those on an Early Intervention Programme.

The programme has been a great success with parents expressing how pleased they were that people were paying an interest in the youth. This project showed fishing as a hobby is not just for able-bodied males, but for disabled people and females too. This project was recognised by YOT staff and the Police as providing positive role models for young people, with examples of young offenders showing respect to the Police and others, and taking on responsibilities to assist other young people in a peer led fashion.

As the programme has proved to be a success, it is planned to be rolled out to provide weekly sessions with young people and volunteers throughout this summer period, with 10 young people already registering to participate.

For more information, please take a look at the communities first web site