Fishing 4 Schools Eastern region has recently received two major contributions to its projects.
The Thetford-based Shadwell Estate Company donated £1,300 to help provide a 10-session course to youngsters at Thetford Academy over the past two months.
The course focussed on children who had been excluded from mainstream education because of behavioural issues and F4s volunteer Andrew Matthews said the teachers have already seen pupil behaviour improvements.
Sessions covered fish behaviour, feeding habits. In addition fly-tying helped the pupils improve their knowledge of entomology and gain hand eye co-ordination. A further day outdoors is planned so that pupils can put into practice the knowledge they have gained about insect life, fish feeding and knowledge of water.
Additionally, nationwide tackle retailer Angling Direct has kindly donated a substantial amount of coarse and fly-fishing tackle to the Eastern group, plus reels, lines, nets and protective glasses and it is hoped other F4S regions can benefit similarly.
The high quality tackle will give pupils the opportunity to put into practice the skills they learn in classroom sessions given by instructors Mike Smith and Jim Gill.
Oliver Harper, marketing manager of Angling Direct presented the tackle to John Armstrong, Mike Smith and Andrew Matthews of the Eastern Region. Mike said: "The tackle will make a huge difference to the pupils and will help us in our teaching. Many thanks to Angling Direct."