GUIDELINES AND INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS.

These notes will explain the background to South Cumbria Kingfishers and provide you with sufficient information to help your child to get the most from their membership - particularly if you are not an angler yourself! The best advice we can give is don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions whatsoever about any aspect of an event or the club.

The Events programme is run by Windermere, Ambleside and District Angling Association. WADAA has been awarded Clubmark accreditation by Sport England after a rigorous assessment. Clubmark is a recognised professional standard for all agencies involved with children and young people in sport.

SAFETY AND CARE
Events are organised to strict safety guidelines and to high standards of care and child protection. At least two fully licensed Angling Coaches will be present at each event. Other adults act in the capacity of Coaching Assistants. At least one female Coaching Assistant will be present at any event involving female participants. The minimum coach/participant ratio is 1:4 and frequently less.

Licensed Angling Coaches are not only highly competent at a technical level but have also undergone training in coaching techniques, the organisation of events, first aid and child protection. They are fully insured and authorised by the Angling Development Board to run these types of activities. Coaching Assistants are selected from angling club members; they are technically competent and have undergone first aid, safety and child protection training. All adults working in a coaching capacity have submitted to CRB disclosure checks.

INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS AND GUARDIANS
We welcome as much involvement as you would like to have. We may even start you fishing as well! Parents and Guardians can offer support in all sorts of ways. Younger children in particular will be reassured by the presence of a parent and all youngsters are generally delighted that a parent can witness and share their successes and achievements. Having said that teenage members can be just as happy to use you as the taxi service!

INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR CHILD.
There is always a wide range of age, ability and personality at these events. The more we know beforehand about your child the better we can plan our coaching to suit their particular needs. You have already supplied contact details, medical information and other information on your child’s membership application. If there is anything else you think we ought to be aware of please let us know. All the information you supply will be treated in strict confidence.

CONTACT AND COMMUNICATION.
We send out regular newsletters and reminders that events are coming up. this website is kept up to date and provides a useful reference as well as a photo gallery for big fish!

THE ORGANISATION OF EVENTS IS DONE BY EMAIL. TO GET THE MOST OUT OF MEMBERSHIP YOU REALLY DO NEED AN EMAIL ADDRESS WE CAN USE THAT IS CHECKED REGULARLY. YOU CAN ARRANGE FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THIS FOR YOU IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COMPUTER AT HOME.

BOOKING YOUR CHILD ON EVENTS.
There will usually be adequate places at each event but it is wise to book early. All you have to do is contact us and let us know your child will be attending. We will send you more details three or four days before the event.

• Please do not just turn up on the day – we will not be able to include your child on that basis.

• Please let us know straight away if you have to cancel so that we can offer your place to someone else.

• Please make sure that you arrive on time and collect your child promptly at the end of each event.

SUITABILITY OF EVENTS
Apart from where noted the events are suitable for all ages and all abilities. However some children and some events are more suitable than others! Please bear these points in mind when booking your child on to an event. Seek our advice if you are uncertain.

• Younger children can find it difficult to concentrate for long periods of time particularly if on the day the fishing is slow. They are still very welcome but as a precaution you might like to turn up before the end of the event just in case they’ve had enough!

• In very cold, windy, wet, or in very hot weather, youngsters can soon become uncomfortable. We are well aware of these problems and would adjust or postpone the session in the event of truly adverse weather. You would be advised to avoid full day events for the youngest children if the weather is likely to be particularly bad or at least be prepared to collect them early.

• Coarse fishing is suitable for any age group, does not require any great physical ability, and most children from the age of seven or eight upwards will catch fish quite readily in good conditions. They can get underway after a very short period of instruction and enjoy a degree of success almost immediately.

• Learning to fly fish is initially more demanding, not only for children but for adults as well. Before they can catch fish regularly fly fishers have to achieve some degree of casting proficiency. This requires ability and coordination together with a level of persistence and practise. It is generally accepted that very few children under the age of 10/11 will have developed the physical ability and coordination to achieve a level of skill sufficient for success. But of course there are exceptions to the rule – in both directions. The first fly fishing session on the programme will allow us to gauge which children are likely to gain success and we may recommend that your child waits another year before picking up a fly rod. All part of growing up!

• On the plus side fly fishing is more energetic and more proactive – ideal for those that can’t sit still and wait for the fish to come to them!

CLOTHING AND OTHER EQUIPMENT
You will need to make sure that your child is adequately clothed for the prevailing weather. The weather at the fishery may be nothing like the weather you left at home so please check the forecast and err on the safe side. Too much clothing is far better than too little. It is always a sensible precaution to bring a spare change of clothes; these can be left in a vehicle and need not be carried around. Good waterproofs and good windproofs are the most essential items plus:

• A baseball type cap. Good at reducing glare from the water.
• Sunglasses or other eye protection. Eye injuries caused by hooks are very, very uncommon but can happen. Wearing sunglasses or other eye protection significantly reduces the potential risk to an absolute minimum. Good sunglasses will also protect your child’s eyes from UV damage – and if they are polarised will allow them to see into the water. Always a bonus!
• Waterproof boots or Wellingtons with good gripping soles are essential. Lake margins are invariably boggy in places, and banks can be rocky and uneven so good footwear is important.

FISHING TACKLE.
We can provide all the tackle needed for each event. If your child is just starting it is probably wise to see how things go before spending any amount of money. There will be chances to buy second hand tackle or we may well be able to loan tackle for practice. Once the bug has bitten and new tackle becomes a priority please talk to us. We will be able to impartially advise you as to what would be most suitable for your youngster. It need not cost a fortune but it is very easy to make expensive mistakes. South Cumbria Kingfisher members qualify for a discount rate at several local tackle shops.

TRANSPORT
If at any time problems with transport might preclude your child from attending an event please let us know. We may be able to arrange for them to travel with another member.

KEY CONTACT

Neil Birkinshaw. South Cumbria Kingfishers Project Manager

Neil is WADAA’s Association Manager. He is ultimately responsible for the South Cumbria Kingfishers and the Events Programme. His background is in Outdoor Education. He has been responsible for organising outdoor pursuits courses for literally thousands of children, young people and adults. Neil is a licensed Angling Coach (Game) and has fished extensively in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand.

Contact Neil on 015395 35630 or info@southcumbriakingfishers.co.uk if you would like to discuss any aspect of the project.