#Angling - Fishing Futures, a project targeting local community groups in Wicklow, has been awarded funding from Inland Fisheries Ireland to help support its work.

The project, which is organised by the Wicklow Travellers Group, allows young people to experience angling in a safe and supervised environment.

Sean Canney TD, Minister with responsibility for the inland fisheries sector, has welcomed the initiative and the funding by IFI of €1,630 through the National Strategy for Angling Development.

“This investment will support the purchase of new fishing equipment enabling larger groups to engage in angling trips and increase participation across the community,” said Minister Canney.

“Over the coming year, local volunteer anglers and an outreach worker working with Wicklow Travellers Group will provide access to young people to organised angling activities as an enjoyable and rewarding component of healthy outdoor pursuits.”

Participants in the project will learn about water safety, bait collection and preservation, healthy lifestyle as well as practical angling skills.

The project ultimately aims to provide novice anglers with the necessary skills to engage in mainstream angling with local clubs.

Since the inception of the project over 11 years ago, it has engaged with many groups from the community. Some of the volunteer anglers who support the project today took part in the initiative themselves over a decade ago.